BENJAMIN KWESKIN / DARSHAN YESHIVA / WWW.BENJAMINKWESKIN.COM OBSCURE JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST Jewish Taliban? • Multiple theories re: origins of Pashtun tribes: King Saul? Last king of Afghanistan claimed family from tribe of Benjamin • "According to their own tradition they believe themselves to be descendants from the Hebrews… they preserved the purity of their religion until they met with Islam." • 2000s: Jerusalem anthropologist Shalva Weil, "Taliban may be descended from Jews" • Jewish-like customs: sidelocks, ritual circumcision at eight days, cities of refuge for accidental killers, four-cornered garments, ritual immersion for women, practiced Judaic, levirate marriage: only brothers can marry only childless-widows • Afridi tribe: origin from Tribe of Ephraim: R’ Avichayil,“The Pathans, 22 million strong, include not only the Afridic tribe, some 7.5 million people, but also the Rabanis, the Gadis, the Asheris, etc.” Yibir Clan Alleged Jewish origins 1,000 years ago as “Arabic speaking teachers” —> lowest cast tribe “Yibir” = Hebrew Almost 1,000 years since practiced = 25,000+ 2000: “Sultan of the Jews,” Ahmed Jama Hersi Young Yibir decline to mention their tribe For many years, law forbade them an education Usually only worked in base trades (metalworking, shoemaking) Framers of recent constitution gave them one seat in the lower house of assembly (of 225) Custom: baby born religious Yibir blesses child for payment; amulet placed on child's neck to protect it from evil eyes Mountain Jews *2,500 years ago, groups from the tribes traveled to Persia and Caucasus Mountains *Speak Juhuri, or Judeo-Tat: 15,000 and 25,000 today *Jewish Village: Krasnaya Sloboda is inhabited almost exclusively by Mountain Jews, between 2,000 and 5,000 (2 souls) *Known to be accomplished warriors and horseback riders *21st c: Azeri gov’t encourages cultural life of minorities. *Dagestan & Kabardino-Balkaria, Judeo-Tat and Hebrew courses offered in Mountain Jewish schools. Dagestan: plans to review Judeo-Tat-language theater and & publication of newspapers Amazigh Jews Madagascar • May 2016: 100 convert to Judaism organized by Kulanu; used to be Messianic Christians • Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs formed a special committee to reach out to them Karaites • San Francisco (250 families), Egypt, Turkey, Crimea, Israel (40,000) • Don’t accept “Oral Law” only Tanakh • Don’t celebrate Chanukah—use a different calendar • Eat milk and meat • Patrilineal descent • Remove shoes in shul/prostrate themselves in prayer • No minyan, no tefillin Samaritans • Claim descent from tribe of Ephraim and Manasseh from the period of their entry into Canaan • Holon (400); Nablus (400); Current high priest is Aabed-El ben Asher ben Matzliach • Believe Mt. Gerizim was original Holy Place from the time Joshua conquered Israel, not Jerusalem • Those with Israeli citizenship must join IDF; those with Israeli & Palestinian citizenship do not • Kept ancient Hebrew script, High Priesthood, animal sacrifices, eating lambs at Passover, and celebration of Aviv in spring as the New Year, not Rosh Hashanah.