Letter From Sana’a

An update on the Jews left in Yemen

Yemenite Jews clinging to the only life they have ever known.

But time is chasing after them, urging them to leave; but they don't want to go to Monsey or to Israel.

They cling fiercely: “There is no place like Yemen,” he tells a visitor. “Not in America, not in Israel, it is just not the same. When the people of Yemen say, ‘We don’ want a single Jew here,’ I will go, but until that day, Yemen is my home, and it is where I will stay.”

"Al-Marhabi is the rabbi and leader of this band of refugees — some of the last remaining Jews in Yemen — and it has been three years since these Jews have seen the village in which their ancestors have lived for centuries. Now, says 24-year-old Abdallah bin Suleiman Marhabi, the rabbi’s cousin, “There’s nothing for me there. They took everything after we left, and then destroyed our homes.”

"Prior to the 1950s, Yemen had more than 50,000 Jews spread throughout the country, but with the creation of the State of Israel, the vast majority left, in a legendary operation known as Magic Carpet. Several thousand remained until the early 1990s, until they, too, left for Israel. Now, only a few hundred remain. Besides the 67 refugees from Sa’ada now living in the capital, fewer than 200 live in a small village called Raida, roughly two hours north of Sana’a. It was in Raida that a Jew named Moshe Yaish al-Nahari was murdered one year ago, gunned down in the street outside his home. His murder sparked a new exodus of Jews from the country."

"The families of this community are particularly concerned about their children losing touch with their heritage and religious tradition, should they emigrate. Those who have gone to Israel and returned have told tales of scantily clad Israeli women, men without peyes who do not pray and the disintegration of traditional Yemeni Jewish life. Faced with a multitude of options in Israel, children are no longer bound to the Jewish community by default, and the retention rate within the community plummets. From this perspective, Yemen is a vastly more pious country, where the children will be raised with a strong and comprehensive Jewish education — in the distinctive Yemeni way."

A very nice article about their vanishing life was featured in the Forward January 6th.

In this audio slideshow, photojournalist Rachael Strecher recently spoke by phone with the Forward about her experience photographing the 67 Jews who remain in Yemen’s capital city of Sana’a.

The Jews of Sana'a from Jewish Forward on Vimeo.

These young girls like many young American Jews are very attached to their country and couldn't think of leaving; however in Yemen, while very submerged in the Muslim surroundings these girls will grow up living as Jews according to the Torah given to us by Moshe Rabbeinu

while many of the young girls in America are submerged in America's so-called 'freedom' and land of plenty are far from knowing how to live through their Mesorah.

Jews living in their respective Diaspora host countries are picturesque examples of their environment. Kaleidoscope puzzle pieces nearing their puzzle completion via the Geulah. And even though many are gathered under the blue and white flag of Israel, some how I don't think that this is what the total picture will look like. Returning to our Biblical heritage will take a few gentle transformations led by our generation's Ezra in the form of Moshiach.

Why is Edom/Eisav in Yemen? What about the Pirates?

Yemeni Israelite/Judean ancestors

migrated to Africa: Ethiopia, Havilah

"The earliest Hebrew settlements in Africa date back to the pre-Israelite period, when the first Habiru tribes traded and even dwelled in Egypt. Tzo'an, a city built on the Nile Delta, seems to have been originally founded by the Habiru and was their main residence in Egypt. Tzo'an was in some way related to Hevron in Canaan since before Avraham's times; in fact, Hevron was the favourite home of the Hebrew Patriarch and it was probably Tzo'an where he took residence during his stay in Egypt. Some decades later, when Yakov and his family settled in Egypt, it was given them the region of Goshen, of which Tzo'an was the main inhabited centre.

The same city became Egypt's capital during the Hyksos' rule, which was a natural choice, being the Hyksos a Habiru people closely related to Israelites (although the identification of Tzo'an with Tanis and this with Avaris is not certain, the Nile Delta region was anyway the main settlement of the Hyksos rulers).

Egypt was officially monotheistic during the Hyksos' period, and such influence might have been extended throughout the African lands with which a fluent trade relationship was held, particularly Ethiopia.

After the Hyksos' rule was overthrown, Tzo'an kept its importance. It is identified with "the Town of Ramses", because the oppressor Pharaoh rebuilt and embellished it by the forced labour of the Hebrews, and made it his northern capital. Pharaoh's court was probably in Tzo'an at the time of his various interviews with Mosheh and Aharon (Tehilim 78:12).

Therefore, when considering that any apparent influence of ancient Hebrews is still present in some African peoples, this should not necessarily be related to exiled Israelites, but may belong to earlier periods or ascribed to other Semitic peoples, as shown in the following schema:

First period:

* Habiru tribes play an active role in trade relationships between Egypt and the Semitic kingdoms of the Middle East. The Habiru establish their commercial centres in Egypt around Tzo'an. Avraham dwells in Egypt.
* The Hebrew Patriarch Yakov and his family settle in Goshen. Origin of the Israelites.
* The Hyksos rule over Egypt for more than two centuries. Israelites become a numerous people. Egypt is officially monotheistic. The Hebrew peoples of Egypt may have established their first colonies in other regions of Africa in this period.
* The Hyksos are overthrown and many of them, as well as some Israelites, may have migrated to Ethiopia and other lands fleeing the Pharaoh's new policy of oppression.
* The Hebrews leave Egypt and return back in Canaan.

Second period:

* King Shlomo establishes alliances with Egypt, Sheva and other kingdoms. The Israelites increase their commercial activity and some of them settle in other lands, including Egypt and Punt (the Horn of Africa).
* One of the favourite lands for Israelite settlements was the Kingdom of Sheva, in Yemen, which in that period controlled also Punt and most of Ethiopia. Therefore, Israelite colonies may have been founded on both shores of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, along two parallel land routes: the "Incense Road" in Arabia and the Nile in Africa (in addition to the sea route between Etzion-Geber and the Indian Ocean).
* Many Northern Israelites might have chosen to emigrate to these colonies in order to avoid the heavy taxation imposed by King Shlomoh to the Northern Tribes.

Third period:

* The Northern Kingdom of Israel is destroyed by Assyrians, that carried on three different deportations of the population to Mesopotamia and Media. Many Israelites took refuge in the Kingdom of Judah, but others may have settled in Egypt or even in Ethiopia during the last years before the definitive fall of Samaria.
* More than a century later, also the Kingdom of Judah fell under King Nebukhadnetzar. Most of the inhabitants were sent to exile in Babylon; a few of those left in Judah chose to re-settle in Egypt.
* The Persian Empire, that inherited Babylon's rule over Egypt, allowed Israelites to travel freely within the whole territory and even to engage in trade with other countries. The extension of the empire, that connected Central Asia and India with Ethiopia, favoured the development of intense exchange of goods between the African and Asian kingdoms, with the consequent flow of Jewish merchants.

Other migratory movements took place in later times, but the schema above may be taken as outline for a research concerning the probable origin of some Semitic or Hebrew elements found among some African peoples.

"From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering."

Tzephanyah 3:10

Source ImNinalu

Why Now the Pirates ... Somalia?

Some history of Ancient Piracy: Somali Pirates

Recent Pirate attacks: $4 Million Ransom.

Abraham the Blogger: A Jew in Somalia:

"Somalia is almost entirely Muslim, and Avraham could not feel more alone. "The hardest thing in my life is being Yehud, or Jewish, in a city where 99 percent of the people are Muslim," he writes in his blog. "Living as a Yehudi or Jewish person is not easy. I am surrounded by Muslim people all the time. Some are nice and some are full of hate. The people who are full of hate are ignorant people who are brainwashed in the Islamic school in Mogadishu." JPost article

Avraham was blogging at Greetings from Mogadishu but has stopped due to safety concerns. "Avraham writes that when his family came to Mogadishu from Yemen in 1901, there was no synagogue, but there was a Jewish cemetery. His grandparents and other family members are buried there, but he writes that the cemetery is now destroyed and houses have been built on it. "You can't do a thing or say something," he posted on his blog. "Just watch it and cry inside of your heart and soul."

Almost all the fighting in the world today

is on account of the Jews!

To find them and stir their neshomas,

to make them flee to Eretz Yisrael.

Ice Age Cometh

'This isn't just a blip.

We can expect colder winters for quite a while'

The bitter winter afflicting much of the Northern Hemisphere is only the start of a global trend towards cooler weather that is likely to last for 20 or 30 years, say some of the world’s most eminent climate scientists.

Their predictions – based on an analysis of natural cycles in water temperatures in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans – challenge some of the global warming orthodoxy’s most deeply cherished beliefs, such as the claim that the North Pole will be free of ice in summer by 2013.

According to the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre in Colorado, Arctic summer sea ice has increased by 409,000 square miles, or 26 per cent, since 2007 – and even the most committed global warming activists do not dispute this.

[...] Last week, as Britain froze, Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband maintained in a parliamentary answer that the science of global warming was ‘settled’.

[...] Meteorologists say that this is at its strongest for at least 60 years.


For the rest of the very long article: Ice Age Cometh

This is why Edom/Eisav is fighting in Asia!

Do the lost Tribes exist, or it is just a myth?

First of all, it is necessary to define the inaccuracy of the concept of lost "Tribes" and the preference for the more realistic expression "lost Israelites", or better than lost, "unknown" Israelites or unknown Hebrews. In fact, there are peoples that can rightfully claim Israelite origins or ancestry, as it is a matter of fact that many of the exiles of both former Kingdoms did not return back to the Land of Israel and intermarried or adopted other cultures and languages.

Nevertheless, there are some specific features that are unique to the Hebrew people and that have not been completely lost, but are still present within some peoples, mainly in Asia and Africa, and allow us to distinguish them from the non-Hebrew surrounding groups. These peoples also fulfill some prophetic requirements, like not having their own statehood or being a minority spread worldwide, besides the fact of keeping much of Torah rules not present in other cultural and legal systems.

There is with certainty some Israelite blood in the present-day Assyrians, who intermarried many of their exiles and are today sympathetic towards the Jewish People, as well as there is a strong Israelite identity within the Roma, with whom is concerned an essay in this set "Myths, Hypotheses and Facts" (here), and other groups in Asia and Africa. All these essays are founded on serious scientific research, leaving aside legends and fantastic accounts.

The Khyber Pass

The Khyber Pass is the best natural land route to India through the Hindu Kush mountain range. It is one of the most famous mountain passes in the world, with a long and often violent history. It has been not only a major trade route for centuries, but also an entry point for conquering armies carrying on their invasions. A very interesting curiosity is that "Khyber" seems to be a Hebrew name: its meaning is related to the Hebrew root chet-bet-resh, the verb "to connect", "to couple", "to join", implying also partnership, junction, intimate union. Even though this term may not be Hebrew, no other possible etymology has yet been found. How did a Hebrew name be applied to such an important place in the gates of India?

Kashmir

Kashmir, a valley surrounded by high mountains and rich of awesome sightseeing, is considered one of the most beautiful places in the world.

This country is inhabited by different ethnic groups: Kashmiris, Gujjars, Bakarwals, Dards, Ladakhis, Dogras, Hanjis, etc. The Kashmiris are known to be immigrated in the valley from the west in different periods, showing evidence of having been in contact also with the Greek culture. In general, they are different from the other peoples of India, having clearer complexions and remarkable intellectual qualities, as well as efficiency in business. Kashmiris traditionally trace their ancestry from the so-called "Lost Tribes" of Israel. This tradition is supported by extensive literature written by both the people of Kashmir and other scholars. The main elements that support the hypothesis that Kashmiris are descendants of Israelites are: 1) cultural features and traditions; 2) geographical names; 3) historical records.

1) Cultural features and traditions: Even though most Kashmiris are Muslims, they feel a particular attraction and sympathy towards Jews and the Israeli nation, of whom they claim to be descendants. Indeed, the name Israel - never used by Muslims - is very common among them. They have the "Magen David" as their emblem, and men usually have Jewish-style beard and side-locks. Kashmiris light a candle for the Shabbath, and celebrate in Spring a festival that they call Paskha; in this period they adjust their lunar calendar with the solar year, and the way they do it is similar to the Jewish system. Even their language has many Hebrew words.

Kashmiris' character, style of clothing, traditions and habits resemble those of Israelis. They do not use animal fat but vegetable oil in their food. The head cover of the old Kashmiri women is quite like the one for Israeli women. Kashmiri girls dance in formations in a similar fashion like the Israeli girls. The Kashmiri women, following the delivery of a child are considered impure for forty days, like the Israeli women (the same applies to Roma/Gypsy women). The majority of the old graves in Kashmir are aligned in east-west direction like the Jewish graves, whereas the Moslem graves are in the north-south direction.

There is a group of Kashmiri people that still today call themselves "B'ney Yisrael", meaning "Children of Israel" (different from the B'ney Yisrael of India, now fully recognized by the State of Israel as Jewish). They assert that this is the original name of all the people of Kashmir in ancient times. Indeed, the names of the Kashmiri tribes are amazingly very similar to the Tribes of Israel, and according to these names it is likely that they reached the Valley of Kashmir in different periods: one is called the Tribe of Israel, another is Abri [meaning "Hebrew"], and the tribe of Kahana [like the Hebrew word for priest], as well as the Tribes of Musa (Mosheh), Shaul, and Shulaymanish (Shlomoh) seem to indicate a migration before the Kingdom was divided. Other names correspond to single Israelite Tribes, like Gadha as Gad, Asheriya as Asher, Dand as Dan, and even Lavi as Levi.

There are legends and tales that link the Kashmir Valley to different events actually happened in the Land of Israel, or about Jewish historical people. For instance, a legendary site allegedly being the grave of Mosheh, and another claimed to be Yeshua's grave, that they say, reached Kashmir in his search for the "Lost Tribes of Israel" - it is very probable that one of his followers, perhaps Toma, who is known to have reached India, has been the one who actually did so.

2) Geographical names: more than three-hundred places in Kashmir have names that sound very familiar to ancient Israelites, mainly to the inhabitants of the Northern Kingdom. Some of these places are Mamre, Gilgit (Gilgal), Nabudaal (Nevo), Pishgah (Pisgah), Heshba (Heshbon), Bushan (Bashan), Medianpura (Midyan), Amunah (Amon), Goshan (Goshen, the region in Egypt where Israelites sojourned), Guzana (Gozan, that in Assyrian language is Guzana, one of the places where the Northern Tribes were sent in exile), and there is even Samaryah. Besides toponyms, also many names of people, male and female, are typically Hebrew.

3) Historical records: The history of the Kashmiris is shrouded in mystery. After accurate research, most scholars support the hypothesis that a consistent part of the Kashmiris are descendants of the Israelite Tribes that were exiled in Assyria in 3039 (722 b.c.e.). According to an Apocryphon ascribed to Ezra and other ancient records, many of these Israelites decided to emigrate into a distant country in the east. Along their route, many of them reached the Kashmir Valley and settled there.

Other historians' records: Kitro, in his book "General History of the Mughal Empire", said that the Kashmir people are the descendants of the Israelites. The travelling Arab historian El Bironi (12th century c.e.) wrote, "In the past, permission to enter Kashmir was given only to Jews". Another witness of the 15th century c.e. wrote, "all the inhabitants of this area who have been living here since ancient times can trace their ancestry, according to their race and customs, to the ancient Israelites. Their features, their general physical appearance, their clothing, their ways of conducting business, all show that they are similar to the ancient Israelites". The two outstanding historians of Kashmir, Mullah Nadiri, who wrote "The History of Kashmir", and Mullah Ahmad, who wrote "Events of Kashmir", have established without a trace of doubt that the origins of the Kashmiri people are to be found in the Israelites.

Conclusion: According to the above mentioned evidences, it is reasonable to credit the hypothesis that the Kashmiris are among the descendants of the ancient Israelites, though it is not possible to establish with certainty when did they reach the Kashmir Valley and settled there. The Greek influence that appears evident in some aspects suggest that they have migrated with Alexander's army in his campaign to the conquest of India and remained there.

Scriptures mention where many Israelites are to be found:

"Behold, these shall come from far away, and see, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim."

- Yeshayahu 49:12

*The Sindh river on the map is also known as the Indus River
Source Im Ninalu

Eliyahu HaNavi ... Part III

Eliyahu Hanavi to the Rescue:

Significant occasions when Eliyahu came to save the Jewish people

1) Purim: It was Eliyahu who revealed to Mordechai the secret decree of Haman and Ahashverosh to annihilate the Jewish Nation, thus enabling him to thwart the plan by inspiring the people to engage in repentance and prayer.[20]

2) The Oral Torah: In the aftermath of the Second Temple’s destruction (150-200 CE), the Oral Torah was in danger of being forgotten due to the harsh persecution suffered by the Jewish Nation. The famous sage Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi assembled all the scholars of his time and, with the help of Eliyahu Hanavi, composed the Mishna, the written version of the Oral Law and the basic outline of the Talmud.[21]

3) The Secrets of Torah: At around the same time, Eliyahu Hanavi revealed Kabbalah, the secrets of the Torah, to the great kabbalist Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai. Rabbi Shimon later put this wisdom into writing, producing the Zohar Hakadosh, the primary source of kabbalistic teaching.[22]

4) Our Present Knowledge in Kabbalah: During the 16^th century, Eliyahu appeared to the famous kabalistic master Rabbi Yizhak Luria Ashkenazi, zs”l, or the Arizal (1534-1572), revealing to him the forgotten secrets of Kaballah on a clearer level than ever before for over twenty years. His most prominent disciple, Rabbi Haim Vital, zs”l, recorded these teachings in his Sefer Ess Haim, forming the basic text of all Kabalistic writings which is studied by scholars of Kabbalah until today.[23]

Eliyahu thus quite literally saved much of the Torah from being forgotten, and is thereby responsible for our nation’s spiritual survival throughout the millennia of exile.

These are just a few of the literally thousands of episodes that have been recorded where Eliyahu miraculously intervened to save Jews – and Judaism – from danger.

[1] See Masechet Eruvin 43b; Abarbanel to Malachi 3:23; and Rambam, Hilchot Melachim chapter 12.

[2]Sefer Haim Sha’al by the Hida, chapter 98.

[3]Yalkut Shimoni, Yeshaya chapter 52.

[4]See Tana Debe Eliyahu, chapter 18; Tosafot, Masechet Baba Messia 114b.

[5] Yonatan Ben Uziel, Bamidbar 25:13.

[6] See Malachi 3:24 and commentaries.

[7] Mechilta, Shemot 17:32.

[8] See Rashi to Vayikra 26:42.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Sefer Mal’ach Haberit, p. 185.

[11]Melachim I, chapters 17-22; Melachim II, chapters 1-3.

[12] See Yalkut Shimoni,,Yonatan ben Uziel and Seforno to Bamidbar 25:13.

[13] Ibid.

[14] See Ralbag and Abarbanel to Melachim I, chapter 17.

[15] Yalkut Shimoni to Yehoshua, chapter 5.

[17]Sefer Aderet Eliyahu parshat Vzot Haberacha 34:1

[18] see Yalkut Shimoni in Melachim I chapter 1 and Abarbanel there.

[19] Parashat Vayigash 209a.

[20]Yonatan Ben Uziel to Megilat Esther, 4:1.

[21] See Masechet Baba Messi'a 85b.

[22] See Zohar Hadash, Parashat Ki Tavo; Sefer Toldot Talmide Rabbi Akiva by Rabbi Yoel Schwartz, page 129.

[23] See Sefer Vayashev Hayam by Rabbi Yaakov Hillel, vol. 2 page 206.

Source: Rabbi Eliyahu Haim Aboud

How many years is the Ingathering?

In my estimation the "Ingathering" has been occurring for many years now, but what do the prophecies say about how long this will continue, before Moshiach arrives? Anyone reading this have any text to contribute? We are getting closer indeed.

The Israelites (Ten Lost Tribes) are not really lost any more; only our knowledge of them was lost. The wars now being fought around the globe are shaking that rope connecting the remnants of the Israelites and penetrating their awareness to awaken them to their returning to their homeland, our Eretz HaKodesh. The bulk of the Israelites (Ten Tribes) ousted from the Upper Kingdom (that happened after Shlomo HaMelech's reign) are in the areas around the Khyber Pass, and in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir areas; and this is why there is fierce fighting, and why the English and Russians could not affect them (they have not forgotten that they belong to Bnei Yisrael and have not forgotten their mitzvos). They are steadfast in their living isolated (to protect their lineage) until they understand that it is time to return. (It is Eisav/Edom now stirring up the tribal clans in that area) One of the Tribes to be brought back to the Land necessary for the rebuilding of the Temple are the Cohanim (Leviim) in Djerba (Tunisia)

Regarding Moshiach's task of collecting the dispersed of Israel, R' Menachem Mendel of Rimanov asks:

"Are we to suppose that Moshiach tzidkeinu will go to all the places where Israel is dispersed, to all the corners of the earth, and collect its members like a shepherd...?"

He answers as follows:

"The Moshiach, with his elevated state of holiness, will concentrate his thoughts on exalted meditations and awesome forms of unification of Hashem's Names. Among the latter will be an especially petrifying and awesome form of unification which will produce the effect of gathering together all those that are born from the Jewish nation, who are dispersed over all the lands. Of their own accord they will feel compelled to come to the Holy Land. [Here he quotes Hoshea 11:11]

"At this time, each member of Israel will experience a faintness and trembling in his heart, which will hasten him to fly and reside in the place where he will be directed. This is what will be accomplished by Moshiach with a single thought concentration and by invoking a unique holy form of unification of Hashem's Names which "no eye will have seen" or known other then Moshiach himself, whom we aspire to have in our midst speedily in our days."

From the collected teachings of the Holy Reb Menachem Mendel of Rimanov (1745-1815) translated by Dov Levine, published by Ktav

Interesting reading:

Torah Sofer

The Jews of Djerba

More about the Pashtuns:

The Persian Empire dominated a vast area of Asia and established commercial routes to the east. The Israelites in exile were allowed to move freely within the empire, and many of them settled in Balkh, an important city between India and Central Asia. Balkh was the capital of the ancient Bactria, that roughly corresponds to modern Afghanistan. This land was rich in camels and horses; Parthians widely used the Bactrian camels to transport supplies for their army, and Bactrian horses were essential for their cavalry.

The original inhabitants of this region were largely Scythian, but the succeeding empires that ruled over the land enabled colonization and the population became heterogeneous. Many Israelites were sent there as soldiers to keep control of the eastern borders, and even a group of Libyan Jews were deported there by the Persian king after a revolt in Libya.

From this background descend the present-day Afghans, also known as Pashtun. According to their own tradition (explained in different versions), their eponym ancestor was Afghana, son of Yirmiah, son of Melek Talut (King Shaul). Afghana is said to have served at the court of Kings David and Shlomoh after his father and grandfather died in the same battle. The circumstances related to Afghana lead in some way to identify him with Mephivoshet, and his father Yirmiah with Yehonathan. There is also an explanation to the origin of their ethnic name, Pashtun, saying that they are descendants of Pithon, who was indeed Mephivoshet's grandson (1 Chronicles 8:35). The Afghan royal house was well acquainted of these facts concerning Israelite history, tracing their lineage to the Tribe of Binyamin.

Nevertheless, the meaning of the term "Pashtun" or "Pathan" seems to have a different etymology, and the alleged relation with Pithon is to be considered a coincidence. In fact, the Pashtun are a complex ethnic group divided in different tribes, and not all of them share a common origin.

The Afghan people seem to keep memory of the secession of the Northern Tribes, as they themselves declare to be "Bani-Israil but not Yehudi", obviously meaning "Children of Israel, but not Jews". Two branches of the Pashtun people, called Durrani and Galzay, are credited as "Ibrani" (Hebrews), and are divided in tribes having names very similar to some of the Israelite Tribes: the Yusufzai (Yusuf-Si, Yusufzad), are the "Children of Yosef"; the Efridi or Afridi may be related to Ephrayim; the Rabbani to Reuven, the Shinwari to Shim'on, the Lewani to Levi, the Daftani to Naphtali, and the Jaji or Gaji to Gad. Following this pattern, it would be also possible to identify the Ashurai tribe with Asher, though other sources suggest they are descendents of ancient Assyrians (who exiled the Israelites). Indeed, the term "Ashura" in the Indian sub-continent is applied not only to Assyrians but also to Jews, Gypsies and other peoples coming from Mesopotamia. In this context it is likely that Asher became Ashurai in the same way as Yosef became Yusufzai, by changing "e" into "u".

An enigmatic statement is written in an Apocryphon ascribed to Ezra, saying of the exiled Northern Tribes (Israelites) as follows: "then they resolved to leave the country populated by Goyim and go to a distant land never yet inhabited by man, and there at last to be obedient to their laws, which in their own country they had failed to keep". Crediting this book, it was suggested that part of the Northern Israelites in exile actually decided to re-organize their nation and appoint the House of Shaul, their first King, to rule over them. This might be the main original stock of the Afghans and their Binyaminite royal house.

Besides the tribal names, it is important to consider: 1) cultural features and traditions; 2) historical records.

1) Cultural features and traditions:

* The Pashtun call themselves "Bani-Israel", and they believe to have been carried away from their original homeland.

* Jewish names such as "Israel" - never found among the Muslims - as well as Shmuel and the names of the Northern Tribes, are frequent among Afghans.

* Besides the oral tradition, there are also scrolls of genealogy that have been kept among the tribes, reaching back to the ancestors of the Jewish nation. These scrolls are well preserved and some are written in gold on doe skins.

* Their legal system, called Pashtunwali, (the Pashtu Law), has many resemblances with Torah. They have in great esteem the "Tavrad El Sharif" (meaning "Torah of Mosheh"), and they rise at the mention of Mosheh's name.

* The Pashtun practise circumcision on the 8th day like Jews, while Muslims perform circumcision usually at the age of 12, because of Yishmael, the father of the Arabs.

* They rest on Shabbath day, not working and not cooking either. On 'Erev Shabbath they prepare twelve "hallot" -traditional Jewish bread- (1), and an elder woman lights a candle in honour of the Shabbath. After lighting, the candle is usually covered by a large basket - perhaps, this might have been done in the origin to hide their Jewishness.

* They are careful about not shaving their side-locks, keeping curled hair before the ears in a similar way as Orthodox Jews do, in accordance to the commandment (2).

* They use to wear a sort of small "tallit", a four-cornered garment to which they sometimes tie strings or fringes similar to the "tzitzit", which is a Torah commandment. Some of them even wear a small box that recall the "tefillin" (phylactery).

* Many Pashtun people pray facing Yerushalaym.

* They also keep "kosher", dietary laws like those observed by Jews. Some of them do not eat meat and milk together, and make difference between pure and impure birds.

* Pashtun women keep laws regarding their period of impurity. During this time and for a week after, no contact is allowed with the husband. After this period, she immerses in a river or in a bathhouse if a natural spring is not available. This is exactly like the Israeli "mikveh".

* The "Magen David" is widely used as their symbol. A Pashtun property, either house or vehicle, may be recognized for this emblem shown somewhere.

* There is also the practice of sprinkling blood on doorposts and lintels, and offering sacrifices during pestilence.

* Some customs related to marriage: endogamous, the wedding is done at the bride's family. There is also the law of levirate.

* Honour laws require the avenger of blood, as well as stoning for blasphemy.

2) Historical records:

* The Islam Encyclopaedia, published by the Turkish Ministry of Education, considered to be among the most authoritative sources, states: "The Durrani and the Galzay tribes originate from the Ibrani (the Hebrew people)...And it is asserted that many others of the Afghan composition are originally of the Ibrani as well."

* The most reliable Persian historians said that the Afghans are descended from the Jews, and that since they embraced Islam, they cautiously conceal their origin.

* The Pashtun language shows evidences of a Chaldaic influence.

It is however clear that not all Pashtun tribes are of Israelite origin. The Pashtun are a complex ethnic group, resulting from different migratory flows. Nevertheless, the tribes mentioned above have enough characteristics to be considered partially descendants of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

Source: Im Nin'alu

Gog MaGog Alliance

*Turkey's about face on Israel is part of the gog magog alliance, and 'danger from the north'.
*More signs Turkey propaganda.
*Syria and Turkey alliance foretells danger: The Syrian-Turkish military exercises were apparently being held at the same time that Turkey was informing Jerusalem that it would ban the IAF from participating in the joint 'Anatolian' Eagle exercise. Not to be trusted.

Addenda

Many of the exiles were assimilated and lost their Hebrew identity. Therefore, there are indeed Israelites among the "Goyim" (non-Jews) now, of all the twelve Tribes, and even some Levites. It would be correct to say "lost Israelites" or "lost Jews" rather than "lost Tribes". But they are not to be identified with any modern organized nation. There are peoples that keep many features and have enough historical background to claim Israelite ancestry, mainly in Asia and Africa, and some of them are being recognized by the State of Israel. These peoples have spiritual and cultural features, history and traditions that allow to perform a scientific research in order to acknowledge their origins * , but the Nordic and Western Europeans have not any of these features or historical background, neither any genetic link with any Semitic people.

In fact the Nordic and Western Europeans are more likely part of the anti-semitic alliance of Gog Magog.

Interesting literary proof:

* The Book of Tobith (Tobiyahu): The protagonist of the story belongs to the Tribe of Naphtali, and is one of the exiles in Assyria, apparently until the reign of Assarhaddon. The author of the book probably wanted to keep some record of the Northern Israelites in exile, likely being himself of the Tribe of Naphtali. Even though the story may have historical background, it is clear that it was written some centuries after the time of the events, probably under Macedonian rule. It is evident that the author belonged to the Northern Tribes because there are some superstitious elements that could have not been conceived by a Jewish writer, but may very well reflect the ideas of the Northern Israelites, that after centuries of exile in Media (one of the lands where the Assyrians settled them) had received the influence of the Zoroastrian cult. The main character indeed travels to Media - not to Europe! Before his death, Tobith summoned Tobiyahu and his seven grandsons and advised them to leave Nineveh and move to Media, reminding them of Nahum's prophecy concerning the coming destruction of Nineveh. Tobiyahu and his family settled in Ecbatana and witnessed the fall of the Assyrian Empire - There is not the slightest hint of a suggestion that any mass escape of the Israelites occurred, and the place where they moved was not northwards but eastwards.

Eliyahu HaNavi ... Part II

Eliyahu’s Job

What is the purpose behind Eliyahu’s arrival? What role will he fill in the redemptive process?

Firstly[5], Eliyahu will come to announce to the world the news of Mashiah’s imminent arrival and the dawn of a new chapter in the existence of mankind – “The Messianic Era.” Secondly[6], he will guide the Jewish Nation toward complete repentance and prepare them for the final redemption. Lastly[7], Eliyahu will bring back the special anointing oil for the anointing of Mashiah and the purifying waters of the parah adumah (red heifer) needed to purify the nation.

Our sages[8] explain the intent of why specifically Eliyahu was chosen to announce Mashiah’s arrival as Eliyahu was transformed into an angel and ascended to heaven alive, he is the only one on hand throughout the generations, with the ability to appear at any given moment should the need arise. Now that he has this mission, he will ensure that Mashiah does arrive for the Jewish Nation so that he can complete his task. The Midrash notes[9] that on five occasions in the Tanach, the name “Eliyahu” is spelled in an unusual fashion, without the letter vav. Correspondingly, the Midrash observes, we find the name “Yaakov” spelled with an extra vav five times in Tanach. The Midrash explains that Yaakov Avinu took the letter from Eliyahu as a security that he will fulfill his difficult mission to ensure that his children will be worthy of redemption in the end of days. Thus, Malachi’s promise that Eliyahu will come to us essentially promises that Eliyahu will fulfill his mission of preparing us for the final redemption. (Interestingly enough, Yaakov specifically took the letter vav, which has the numerical value of six, alluding to the guarantee that Eliyahu will come to facilitate the redemption by the Hebrew year six thousand.[10])

Who is Eliyahu Hanavi?

The book of Melachim relates numerous incidents involving the prophet Eliyahu and the miracles he performed, yet it provides virtually no information about his personal life and background. We are told only that he originated from the town of Toshav and resided in the city of Gilad. He lived and prophesied during the reign of King Ahav and his son King Ahazyahu, who ruled over the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the middle of the First Temple era. We also read that he ascended alive to heaven in a fiery chariot, elevated to the level of the angels.[11] However, nothing else about his life or origins is recorded.

The most famous and commonly accepted view identifies Eliyahu as the righteous zealot Pinhas[12], the grandson of Aharon Hakohen, who lived during the Jewish people’s travels in the desert and entered the Land of Israel. Gd rewarded Pinhas with everlasting longevity when he risked his life to kill Zimri, prince of the tribe of Shimon, in defense of Hashem’s honor, thereby rescuing the Jewish Nation from further spiritual deterioration and poosible destruction.[13] Indeed, Pinhas is mentioned on several occasions in the books of the Prophets, even during the times of King David – over four hundred years after the incident of Zimri![14] According to this view, Pinhas spent an extended period in seclusion and reappeared approximately 150 years later under the name Eliyahu. His life, then, spanned a period of 12 generations!

This connection between Pinhas and Eliyahu is reflected in the custom to prepare a special chair for Eliyahu Hanavi at every berit milah. The Midrash[15] explains this custom as the result of Eliyahu’s complaints to Gd that the Jewish people have betrayed their covenant with Him. Hashem sharply scolded the prophet for his accusation: “Why must you always zealously reprimand My children? You did so in the desert and now with My entire nation during the reign of the idolatrous King Ahav and his false prophets! From now on you must be present at every berit milah to witness the faithfulness of My beloved nation and how they devotedly bring all their baby boys into My special convent!”

Others[16], however, believe that Eliyahu and Pinhas were actually two different people, but they possessed the same neshama (soul). Their shared soul accounts for their similar character traits and the similar acts of heroism which they performed.

Eliyahu’s Greatness

The Book of Melachim describes in detail numerous miracles which Hashem performed at the hands of Eliyahu Hanavi. In response to King Ahav’s idolatry, Eliyahu declared the withholding of all rain for three years. He also conducted tehiyat hametim (resurrection of the dead) to the only child of a grieving widow, and brought a heavenly fire which consumed the offering he prepared on Mount Carmel in full view of King Ahav and his constituents. On another occasion, an angel provided Eliyahu with “spiritual” bread and water which enabled him to travel for forty consecutive days through the desert without any other food or drink.

Our sages express particular reverence for Eliyahu, calling him “the prince of the prophets” and second only to his master and teacher, Moshe Rabbenu, who was the greatest of all prophets.[17] He beheld prophetic visions with a high level of clarity and while awake and in full control of his senses – similar to the prophecies of Moshe Rabbenu.[18] A number of commentators also note that Eliyahu was the source of much of the prophecy that was present in his time. The intense divine spirit which constantly rested upon him was channeled to other prophets, enabling them to receive prophecy. When Eliyahu ascended to heaven, much of the prophecy of his time was lost.

Throughout the Ages

One of the highest praises that can be said about a saddik is that he learned or received advice from Eliyahu Hanavi. Our sages explain that since Eliyahu never physically died, he can return to this world. Hashem therefore frequently sends him to help the Jewish people when the need arises. In fact, the Zohar writes that all the miracles performed in the world are brought about through Eliyahu Hanavi.[19]

Over the course of Jewish history, thousands of instances have been recorded where Eliyahu has appeared and saved the Jewish Nation from calamity. It would be no exaggeration to say that our nation owes its very survival to this extraordinary prophet who has appeared countless times to rescue Gd’s people.

May we all be privileged to behold his shining countenance as he comes to herald Mashiah’s arrival and the end of all our suffering, speedily and in our days, Amen.

to be continued

Arctic Deep Deep Freeze

Sunday's Chill Factor looks something like this

the rest of the week looks no better at 10 degrees

A sharp Arctic front sweeping

the United States brought unusual snow to many of the deep southern states Saturday, and leaving normally balmy Florida shivering from record icy lows.

A nice look at Baltimore's inner harbor.

Europe endured weekend weather misery with scores of flights cancelled and key highways cut off Saturday as snow blanketed much of the continent.

Germans were warned to buy enough food and medicines to last for up to four days in the face of a blizzard, and then hunker down at home, avoiding all non-essential travel.

A 60-year-old homeless man was found frozen to death in the northwestern French province of Normandy, authorities said. And the latest victim of the coldest weather in Britain for 30 years was a 42-year-old woman who died after being found lying in the snow in Newcastle, northeast England, police said.
And in Salzburg Austria where is get's cold, it is now r.e.a.l.l.y cold