Between 20 - 25 % of all Nobel Prizes have gone to Jews.

A most remarkable statistic is that between 20 - 25% of all Nobel Prizes have been awarded to Jews. Given how few relatively speaking compared to all other ethic groups this on a per capital basis is extraordinary. Why so many? Education and learning are greatly valued as part of their culture. The Rabbinical tradition has a 'trickle down' effect to the wider community. However on the other hand there have been no followers of the Muslim faith so awarded. Why is this the case? Some have argued that their recent tradition has not supported basic research in the same way as other ethnic groups. The empirical method is part of some cultures and not others. However if we consider for a moment in the Middle Ages they were at the forefront of thinking especially in areas as algebra and mathematics. Those days are long ago. In my opinion its more to do with the authoritarian paternalist top down structures. You are told what to think and any deviation from this narrow corridor of thinking is considered an aberration and heretical. Until they experience what we have in the West namely the Enlightenment there will be no change. The Newtonian world has not made it into their world.