Report: DNA tests support Zimbabwe tribe's claim of Jewish roots

#49 thanks for your comment chifamba,we are happier here.

#38 please dont worry yourself,there is a bad condition called "stress"avoid it, have a good sleep,we are not interested in coming to Israel,NO,we are very happy and comfortable here in Zimbabwe and south africa.we have our city the Zimbabwe ruins which our forefathers built,which we cannot leave behind, and our ark of the covenant.we are only stating our position and one is free to recogonise it or not ,end of story.

Some people go crazy without paying attention to what an article says. This one says that DNA tests support their Jewish roots. Well that is fascinating. And, they may have bits of history to share with us, that we don't have ourselves. They aren't claiming to BE Jewish. Yeesh.

Not eating pork big, ritual killing of animals deal and draining blood from food big deal, some jewish customs have been adopted by many sects or religions over the centuries & mostly these people are muslim & christans and islam has adopted alot of jewish customs. The kipa ( skull cap ) is not a traditional jewish religious symbol its one of those head coverings thats evolved over the years and later was adopted in other parts of the world. They were not even worn during the time of the bible, back then people didn't have special head covering like this. Circrumsising was adopted by plenty of others. The Magen David is not a religious symbol & started to be used long after the destruction of Judea & the tribes becoming lost. Indiana Jones had an Ark, it went missing at the end of the first movie & they found it in Area 51 in the fourth movie. An Ark like object proves nothing, certainly doesn't prove its the original. Non of this proves any connection to judiaism.

Are you sure that you don't want me to make ALIYAH and bring my 3 fnancial pensions with me?

to CM #23 To me that means they should behave as close parents and work together for a peaceful sincere, and efficient collaboration. Also stop all those stupid madness about this sacred and holy land for them all.

1. Before the Torah which is our Constitution made us a nation, there were neither "Jews" nor "gentiles". Avrahan Itzhak and Yakov were "Bnei Noah" (ie:gentiles) in spite of the fact they undoubtedly have "Jewish genes" since they fathered the Jewish Nation! 2. Jews who have no belief in G-d are Jewish for being born into that Nation. 3. The DNA test is racist because if being Jewish was defined by DNA, no gentile could ever convert! The fact an "evangelical can be a better friend to Israel" does not make him Jewish, and a self-hating Jew is still a Jew. This general outline will clear your confusion. Stick to it and you will be safeguarded against all the theories that aim at undermining Jewish identity.

Well now, they are found Jews and entitled to return to the Land of their ancient forefathers if they so wish to, with God's help & blessings.

What a load of rubbish has been posted on this subject. It's like the Ethiopians all over again. If they want to come to live in Israel, then bring them home. I read this on the BBC website two days ago it has taken Haaretz too long to publish it.

Let us hope they all exercise their right of return.

Yes, for sure these scientists got the chronology wrong ! Before going out with the statement they should have consulted either a Rabbi or some expert on Hebrew history at their own university !

Judaism is a faith, a religion. That's why jews like christians, moslems or buddhists are of any race and continent.

I hate to be the non-jew non-christian African to point this out, but while you are debating the finer points of the Lemba attire, has any of you actually done the maths with the Bible in hand? 3000 years ago is 1000 BC, which is the time of Kings Saul and David, not of Moses and Aaron. Samuel annointed Saul and David, not Aaron. Even when a scientist gets the very basics of Biblical history completely wrong, nobody questions it, everyone is just so keen to see how far Judaism has spread around the world. Well, that's great, but can you possibly prove it without having to resort to inaccurate representation of the Biblical stories and timeline. And why is no explanation given for the origin of the rest of the Lemba DNA sequence? Why is priority given to the one DNA marker which is from the ME, but not to the majority of markers which are OBVIOUSLY AFRICAN? I don't expect Jewish people to know genetics any more than others, but I am surprised that no Jew noticed the bad timeline used.

I notice some commentators here have been quick to spew out racist remarks, saying the Lemba are the wrong colour and therefore not welcome to Israel. For the record, the Lemba are proudly Zimbabwean and have no intention of leaving their country for yours, so stop the nonsensical comments. Secondly, there's no such thing as the 'wrong' colour. The Lemba carry the melanin in their skin as any race or species carry their phenotypical qualities. However, what's important is that they know who they are and where they come from and they have successfully maintained their heritage. End of story. So stop fulminating about the Lemba not being welcome to your country, they have their own and they have no intention of leaving it.

...so how would it considered amongst religiously learned Jews, if you compare an "accepted Jew" NOT following the 10 commandments to, for instance, a Moslem Palestinian following the 7 commandments of the Noahide laws. Who is nearer to G-D and to his expectations on a G-d fearing human being ?

There are so many groups of 'imaginary Jews' around the world. They usually develop on the fringes of Christianity. (People really want to belong to the 'chosen people' themselves you see.) I bet you those stars of David cannot be found on those gravestones before the 19th century when missionaries brought knowledge of these things to the region. And if I mix a 'shalom' or a 'salaam? through my prayers, does that prove my ANCESTORS were Jewish or Arabic? The Lemba story, including the Cohen-gene nonsense is at least 10 years old. Since then other research has shown that the so-called Cohen modal haplotype is not unique to the Cohanim AT ALL: It is for instance THE MOST COMMON TYPE among Iraqi Kurds, Italians from South and Middle Italy and Hungarians. And the Lemba have it too. So what? Are all these peoples now Jewish, and what?s more, descendants of Jewish PRIESTS? The researcher takes Moses and Aaron as historical reality, and chased the Ark to Harare...need I say more?

Weren't all of Jacob's lineage Jews by birth? There are some Jews who have no belief in G-d are they Jews or not? Israel has, as you know, several meanings. A man, a place, and a people and the name itself, as G-d says, He put His name there. How can we be 'racist' with a DNA blood test? You confuse me. Unfortunately, we Jews are lumped into definitions others may asign to us. In my mind, even an evangelical can be a better friend to Israel than many others, and they aren't Jewish. Some Jews are the worst enemies Israel has, at least, that's how I see it. Too bad more Jews aren't believers in the ten commandments, either. What do you call them? Shalom

Well I thin you should Google "Tsvi Misinai" and look at his beautiful research. 85 % of the present Palestinians can claim direct ancestry to the Israelites, including the Jews (Juda). You do not need to go to Africa to find offspring on that great tribe of yours, just accept the Palestinians as your nearest kindred. Even if Moslem or Christian. Loads of evidence, including genetic.

Bring them back to Israel. There is a good place for them here.

The Jews are a people defined by a shared covenant with God, not by their DNA. People can become Jewish through Halachic conversion by accepting 'Torah min haShomayim', i.e. that the Torah is Divinely revealed and binding as understood and applied by generations of Sages. A person with 'Jewish DNA' who comes from generations of Christians or Muslims is no longer Jewish and would need to convert in order to be accepted by the Jewish community.

In cases like this in the poast the Israeli Chief rabbinate ruled that they should undergo a conversion to remove doubt. Not all of this tribe have become Muslim or Christian.Bringing back the lost tribes is foretold by the Prophets.

Those who base themselves on DNA to determine Judaism are racists! There are no "Jewish genes". Being Jewish is not a racial definition, but a spiritual one - the Chosen people of the God of Israel to whom the Torah was revealed at Sinai, and which every convert takes upon himself, whatever the color of his skin or the composition of his DNA.

Yigal Yadin, amatuer archeologist, and zionist general postulated years ago the the Palestinians are the descendants of those Jews that stayed behind with the exile subsequent to the fall of the 2nd temple. Remember that those exiled then were the ruling classes,including the priestly class and the guild leaders; all told about 10-15% of the Jews. This of course makes them, genetically, and perhaps even in Jewish lore Jews. The racist state of israel is not so happy to accept those etheopian Jews, no way wll it accept the Lembda. And the palestinians, they should apply under israel's law of return.

Arab Morrocco is Israel's best friend in the Arab World.

So we will soon see some of these Jews in Tel Aviv? Wrong color--sorry!!

I had my Y-DNA tested and my results say I'm J1E, the same as the cohen priestly class..I also have what they call the Abraham marker...L147, a lot of palestinians and jews have these same markers..too bad we can't see past religion to find a common bond...

Why is this story being carried now? The BBC programme was broadcast in 2008, and the book has long been out.

In response to Hussein: Sure! If the test shows that you are Jewish, are you then agreeing to convert to Judaism to receive your land?

That's nice ! now there is more innocent Jews for the BBC and the world to hate can they just keep those findings secret?

Did the ever test test the DNA of Jews in Israel and those with the Palestinians to see that they are identical?

Arabs from Palestine: If their DNA is close to Jews? Maybe it is closer to Arabs, from Arabia. I particularly don't find important this DNA thing. A Jew is someone that follows the Jewish religion and Arabs from Palestine ara muslim (and some Christians)

Mr. Me, You are living proof that the ghost of the "seleksia" in the Jewish Agency haven't given up the futile attempt to create the Ashkenazi-Secular-Socialist-Humanist State of Israel by keeping the Jews who don't fit your set of cookie cutters. By the system has proved how hollow it is. It Buzaglo's the Sepharadim whenever they succeed too well, so that Deri get five years in the can for attempting to redress the Sodomite Beds in the National Health system and Danker gets less than a year for treating Bank HaPoalim as if it were his private slush fund. Yeah, Yitzchak Mordechai, too, and Iraqi, gets trashed because he does what Moshe Dayan did all the time, but that was "in those days . . . " you tell me. After the State was established people were told they had to be young, healthy, and productive to come on Aliya. Don't worry, the State of Israel is like "O-o-o-k-lahoma where . . .", the way it says in Bible, a book that the "Old Man" thought was important, do you?

and monotheism " by Sigmund Freud could help better understand the blacks-jews coomplexe relations.

What does it tell you? Do you still insist that Palestinians have no right to live in a country of their forefathers?

anyone who believes in fairy tales will believe in "Jewish DNA" come on, are you guys stupid or just playing on the same b.s of the Jewish people and their "history" Which history? the Khazars, the Ashkenazim (whom are Arabs) or the Mizrahi (whom are Arabs as well) or the Falasha Mora///? get a life will ya?

participate in jewish/israeli history. they are in a cul-de-sac. if they rejoin jewish/israeli history they become meaningful, if not they are a dead end.

Take a break from Marx

What does it tell you? Do you still insist that Jews should be thrown into the see? That Jews have no rights to live in a country of their forefathers ?

I have just read a heart breaking story on Haaretz. The father of 16 year old deceased Israeli boy is having difficulties obtaining burial for his son because he, the father, failed his "conversion" to Judaism because he failed the Hebrew language test! Does your all seeing, all knowing God speak Hebrew? Is the "Hebrew" God unable to read a human heart? Calm yourself down, EZ, the 'lost' African tribe are not asking for a place in Israel, or your reserved seat on the right hand of God!

and Monoteism" by Sigmund Freud could help better undertand the jews and blacks relations.

It's wonderful that science is proving a physical link to ancient Israel. However, DNA does not determine your right to BELONG to any nation. No one can claim to be Jewish unless they observe the laws of the TORAH. To become a member of any nation, for example, America, one must swear allegiance, uphold and keep the laws of the U.S. Constitution. The nation of Israel is the only NATION ever established by the Creator. He charged them, as a nation to swear allegiance, observe and keep the laws of their constitution known as the TORAH. G-d did not tell Avraham Avinu, "I will make you a great religion" Being a Jew means BEING a Jew. Modern Israel will only be that nation when ALL of its citizens fully embrace Torah and recognize it as their charter from the Creator to be called Israel. May it come speedily in our time.

From what I've read, apparently Jews (including European Jews) and Palestinians are genetically closer than European Jews and European non-Jews.

Someone said something quite interesting. Did any jewish DNA have been conducted amongst palestinians? I am convinced that tey are at least very close to. May be closest than are many european jewish.

if I was religious I would say that this is a sign from god that we are a people made up of all colours and races and beliefs and that we have no superiority to anyone else. We as Jews are not wasps. It offers us an opportunity to show the world once again that Israel is not founded upon racism and that it regards the colour of a mans skin as of no account. But being myself a firm believer in the Darwinian account of mans origin I feel that this discovery is more amazing than any religious explanation because to find scientific proof of a tribe in Africa that has direct links to the Mosiac era is a truly incredible dicovery for Jews. If those who cannot see this must be so lacking in imagination as to be half brain dead. We should regard this discovery with wonder, exitement and pride and explore the myths and traditions of this tribe and do our outmost to welcome them back to Israel and being part of the Jewish people to which they have right to be part of.

I have seen this story on TV before. Most certainly ancient jews were there. DNA evidence should not be a consideration in the decision to welcome them. To accept them would open the door to accept Palestinians. Here is my suggested rank: 1. Loves Israel 2. European or American (Canadian) 3. Zionist and fiercly anti-Islam. 4. Knowledge of Jewish law and customs. 5. Young, healthy, and willing to join the IDF or work on a kibbutz. Absolutely no Muslims. I would like to see a small school and medical facility set up there to evaluate the potential of fulfilling their dream of coming home as their prophets promised them.

For crying out loud - stop bringing more people over here. We can barely take care of the way too many people currently residing in Israel. Encouraged Aliya is an obsolete policy with difficult social and economic ramifications. Its an interesting academic discovery, but please don't make it any more than it needs to be. When russians with advanced academic degrees can find proper work, and we don't have nearly a third of our children near the poverty line, and our educational system is not on the verge of collapese, then we can talk about mass migrations of people possibly living 300 years ago. Ask the Ethiopians if, once the excitement subsided, their having been brought here has been a positive experience.

Mmmmmm, Zimbabwe GDP per capita $200, Israel GDP per capita $28200. I wonder how long it will take for the 80000 Lembas to start banging on the doors asking for their Right of return?

The poor Copti is hurting the Israeli Arab citizens. Do we see any enlightened progressive hunamistic leadership in the Arab circles in Israel. Some, but too many people are loyal to Islamic and Christian myths. And remain in opposition with some violent trends. The rich Israeli Arabs should be shamed into a moderate position, to assist the poor to get liberated from the past.

they look at tribes in zimbabwe and elsewhere, and they deny the original owners of the land. who said palestinians are not descendants of the jews.

We imported people from india and Ethiopia so why not from Zimbabwe? If they are strictly cosher, as the BBC declare, all we have to do is to send there some Chabad inspectors and we have it. Dont take it lightly, they are beside it direct descendants of Aharon, what can you have purer than that?

so, Jews can also live where they choose, Africa, Asia, Europe, and you a hater of Israel can also go to hell, if you choose. Why bother to live in a nation you hate?

If they live as Jews, believe as Jews, have DNA as the Cohen's, who are to say otherwise? Bet you haven't met one muchless know of their bloodlines that prove they are Jews. Wake up! Jews come in all colors and these are definetllely NOT muslims..

I may have been wrong all along about my heritage, I could be Jewish and I don't know it,I will do a DNA test, it my get me my land back stolen in 1948.

If Israel is in the wrong place. And the Jews of Europe should have been resettled in the Yemen, whose geographicl position fits better with the tales in the Bible, parting the sea, wandering the desert etc.

They may be distantly related to the Jews, but they've been muslims and christians for centuries and have NO connection to us anymore. They should stay put, practice what they believe and stop laying psycho claims to something they don't even want: its appalling. "My religion is Christian, my heritage is Jewish"??? Same as saying: I'm not Jewish, my ancestors left Judaism centuries ago. So...who cares? They've been non-Jews for way, way too long to be considered 'ours.'

What on earth are you talking about (#2). Who cares what their political views are? and what makes you think they want to come to the holy land. i watched the bbc show on the lemba tribe, and was amazed to see the religious/cultural resemblance.

The hell does it matter? If they're Jews, then they can come to the Jewish state, nachon?

Bring them home. They are the most important missing part of our people that we will ever find.

... right, left, or impartial... ... then we'll decide on whether they are kosher for aliya... ... nefesh-be-nefesh, are you listening?...

We come in all colors and are still the very best that there is. wonder how many more Jews who don't know their Jewish still reamain to be identified? Could be millions, if not billions.