The Jews in the Khazar Kingdom
According to one hypothesis, the first Jewish settlers reached the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the first century CE, i.e. after the destruction of the Second Temple. Following the failure of the Bar Kokhba Revolt in 135 C.E. another wave of Jews arrived. Some scholars believe that already during the First Temple Period exiles from the Ten Tribes reached the region after the Assyrian Empire had liquidated the Kingdom of Israel at the end of the 8th century BCE. Likewise Jewish refugees from Persia and regions under Muslim and Christian rule found refuge in the Khazar Kingdom.
The Jews filled an important task in developing the Khazar Kingdom in every area. The Khazars, who were illiterate, even adopted the ancient Hebrew script. Some hold they also adopted the Hebrew language from the Jews, who were on a higher cultural and technological level.