genetic analysis shows that roughly 300 semetic men took italian wives, and eventually migrated up into the ukrain area. all ashkenazi jews descend from these men. over the years, there was intermixing with different populations along the way. eventually many settled in the us. i dont think its certain that these semetic men were israelites or jews, i dont think the genetic analysis is that tight. they could have been canaanites and in fact some people hypothesize that they were canaanites that became disillusioned after the romans crushed their empire, and converted to the monotheistic jewish religion. actual jews/israelis in that time were seen as backwards rural farmers and herders, while canaanites were urban people and renown traders. merchants, basically today, a lot of people claiming jewish heritage may have a very small percent of their heritage that can trace back to what we now call ashkenazi jewish
United States