Huh. Who knew?
Huh. Who knew?
http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/10/09/496869349/the-lemba-jews-of-zimbabwe-are-having-a-hopeful-new-year
http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/10/09/496869349/the-lemba-jews-of-zimbabwe-are-having-a-hopeful-new-year
http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/10/09/496869349/the-lemba-jews-of-zimbabwe-are-having-a-hopeful-new-year
http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/10/09/496869349/the-lemba-jews-of-zimbabwe-are-having-a-hopeful-new-year
There are Jewish populations all over the world. There are communities in India, China, and lots of other places. There are the Beta Israel, the Ethiopian Jews who were air lifted to Israel in the 1980s and 1990s.
ReplyDeleteThe "rule" that Judaism is passed through the mother rather than the father, could make sense in a day and age where there was no genetic testing - if the purity of the line is something that concerns you[1]. However, even the most frum should recognize them due to the obvious connection to the Kohen.
Side note (that amuses me, at least): While many tallis' look alike, (mostly white with some blue, though you can get all white ones, ones with black stripes, etc), there are many variations of how the stripes are on there and even the particular shade of blue. The one that the Rebbe is wearing? It looks exactly like the ones that my parent's shul uses. I'd almost bet that it's exactly the same as the one my father has, but the last few times I've gotten to shul with them he's used ones at the temple rather than bothering to bring his tallis bag with him.
[1]I'm indifferent to that, personally.