Based on what I read (in a Russian history book from years ago), the Khazars were told they had to become either Christian, Muslim or Jewish. The Khazar leader chose Jewish, supposedly because he was surrounded by Christians and Muslims, and he wanted to be different.
My understanding is also that the elite Khazars don't care about anyone but themselves, that being Jewish is just a label to them (because they continue to practice their original belief system), and that the rest of the Jews are just grist for their mill like all the rest of us.
Based on what I read (in a Russian history book from years ago), the Khazars were told they had to become either Christian, Muslim or Jewish. The Khazar leader chose Jewish, supposedly because he was surrounded by Christians and Muslims, and he wanted to be different.
My understanding is also that the elite Khazars don't care about anyone but themselves, that being Jewish is just a label to them (because they continue to practice their original belief system), and that the rest of the Jews are just grist for their mill like all the rest of us.