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The Pathans have custom of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is considered a
day of rest and they do not labor, cook or bake. The Pathans prepare
12 Hallot (traditional Jewish bread, Leviticus 24:5) in honor of the
Sabbath as was done in the ancient temple. One of the significant indicators
proving the Israeli origins of the Pathans is the lighting of the candle
to honor the Sabbath. After lighting, the candle is covered usually
by a large basket. The candle is lit by a woman past her menopause.
Pathans Live in Customs of Israelites
Pathans have custom of Kosher, dietary laws same as Jews. Pathans do
not eat horse or camel meat, which is most common in their area but
of course forbidden to Jews. There is some evidence to their not eating
meat and milk together which is also an ancient Israeli tradition. And
they have a tradition regarding differentiating between pure and impure
birds which means permitted and not permitted birds similar to the Torah.
Some still wear a small box which Jews call Tefillin (phylactery) containing
a verse of the Bible. This box resemble Japanese Tokin of Yamabushi's
forehead, too. This is an ancient custom of Israel. In the Jewish box
there is the verse of Shema Israel, that is, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord
our God, the Lord is one!" (Deuteronomy 6:4) This custom of Tefillin
came from a verse of the Scriptures, "You shall bind them as a sign
on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes" (Deuteronomy
6:8).
It is interesting to note that the Pathans retain family names of the
Lost Tribes such as Asher, Gad, Naphtali, Reuben and Manasseh and Ephraim.
Among them there are people who are called by these names, which are
of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. There are also people who are called
Israel, Samuel, and so on, which are never found among the Muslims.
There are also many areas as locations, neighborhoods and villages with
names of places that are similar to names in the land of Israel.
The region has archeological finds testifying to a Hebrew past, and
they also resemble Jews of the area and their language Pashtu surprisingly
has many Hebrew words. The Pathans are also called Afghans, or sons
of the Pashtu which is their language, were mostly called "Bani-Israel"
meaning children of Israel even though they live today as devout Muslims.
The external appearance of the Pathans resemble the Jews of the area.
Together with their ancient customs and other data there is a definite
connection that can be made to the Tribes of Israel.
The Pathans number 6 to 7 million in Afghanistan and 7 to 8 million
in Pakistan. They live in the border area between these two countries
and about 2 million live as nomads. These Pathans desire for their independence,
which is supported by Afghanistan and is a cause of constant tension
in Pakistan which does not desire their independence.
Pathans' Law Resembles the Torah
Afghanistan is one of the least developed countries of Asia and the
majority of the population is illiterate. They work primarily in farming
and sheep-raising and other domesticated animals.
Most people still live in villages and some even live as nomads. It
is a country that is ruled by Islamic religious law and more than 90
% of the population are Sunni Muslims. But whatever modernization has
taken place, it has not reached the mountainous border areas. Here the
Pathans continue their centuries old tribal life.
The legal system which is known as Pashtunwali, the law of the Pashtu,
is very similar to the Torah, which is the holiest Jewish book and the
book of ancient Jewish way of life. There are pages and even complete
books among the pathans and they honor greatly what is called Tavrad
El Sharif (the Torah of Moses), and they rise at the mention of the
name of Moses even though it is not important in Islam.
The Pathans are very healthy, tall, and have strong light-skinned appearance.
They are warriors and carry arms from a young age, they are hardworking,
wise, truthful and extremely loyal and they also have a worldwide reputation
for exemplary hospitality.
The ethnic origin of these Pathans has puzzled people for some time
because they are different both externally and in the character traits
from the other groups around them such as the Turks, the Mongolians,
the Persians, or the Indo-Iranians. It is also difficult to trace their
past history in a region in which tens of nations and major tribes of
various origins have come and gone.
The personal identification of the Pathan Tribes with their Israelite
origin is expressed in various ways. Besides the oral tradition related
by the elders of the tribe, there are also interesting testimonies of
keeping of scrolls of genealogy among the tribes, reaching back to the
Fathers of the Jewish nation.
These scrolls are well preserved and some are written in gold on the
skins of a doe. No less interesting and significant are the names of
the tribes which bear close resemblance to the Tribes of Israel. The
Rabbani Tribe is really Reuben, the Shinware Tribe is Shimon, the Lewani
Tribe is Levi, The Daftani Tribe is Naphtali, and the Jaji Tribe is
Gad, and the Ashuri Tribe is Asher, The Yusefsai Tribe is sons of Joseph,
and the Afridi Tribe is really Ephraim. These are the names of the Ten
Lost Tribes of Israel.
The Pathans themselves point out the differences between the original
names of the tribes and their present names are because of the different
dialects of the languages so that, for instance, Jaji was actually called
Gaji for the tribe of Gad.
There are some Jews of Afghanistan today who count the Tribe of Israel
among the Pathans. The physical similarity between the Pathans and other
Jews is exemplified by the British ruled Afghanistan for a great length
of time and called the Pathans Jews. When not wearing their traditional
clothing Pathans are indistinguishable from other Jews of the area.
Among the 21 nations of Afghanistan only the Pathans and the Jews have
Semitic features, their faces are longer and lighter, and some even
have blue eyes. Like the Jews of the area, Pathans grow beards and sidelocks
which further serve to make them indistinguishable from Jews.
Israeli Features of the Pathans
The Pathans have many other features as descendants of Israelites.
Their wedding is like Jewish. Wedding ceremony with the Pathans includes
a marriage canopy and rings similar to the Jewish custom.
Women of the Pathans keep laws similar to the Jewish laws regarding
menstruation. During this time and for 7 days after, no contact is allowed
with the husband. After this period, the woman immerses in a river or
spring or in a bathhouse if a natural spring is not available. This
is exactly the same as the Israeli tradition going back to the days
of the Bible.
Pathans have custom of levirate marriage, which is the custom when a
husband dies without children, his brother marries the widow to keep
the name of the house. This custom no longer exists today, but was an
ancient Israeli custom mentioned in the Bible (Deuteronomy 25:5-6).
The commandment to honor one's parent is kept in exemplary manner in
these tribes. The son must obey the parents in all matters. When the
father enters the room all stand and bow their heads in his honor. This
was a Israeli tradition as well.
Pathans have custom of Yom Kippur. We know of some of the members of
the Lewani Tribe who came to the Jewish synagogue on Yom Kippur each
year in Afghanistan. He would stay there until sundown without uttering
even one word. He spoke of the tradition of the Temple on this day and
of the high priest and his work there.
One year he erred in his calendar and did not come, he wept bitterly
for one week for missing the observance of this day.
The Pathans have custom of scapegoat. In ancient Israel there was the
custom to put sins of the nation onto a goat and send the goat away
to desert. This custom of scapegoat was done to atone the sins of the
nation (Leviticus chapter 16). Similar custom is found even today among
the Pathans.
The Pathans usually pray in mosque. However some pray towards Jerusalem
which is most unusual. There are some very old synagogues in their area
and Pathans come to these synagogues on special days in times of great
stress or tragedies or for special prayers. The individual who seeks
help comes there to touch the lock and to pray. There are those who
say that these places once contained scrolls of the Torah. This is interesting
because today they are actually devout Muslims.
At the time of plague the Pathans slaughter a sheep and sprinkle its
blood on the doorpost of their homes. This is what the Israelites did
in ancient Egypt during the plagues that occurred there.
An interesting testimony relates to the placing of a wrapped book of
Psalms of the Bible under the pillow of the ill in order to heal that
person.
There are those who have said that there are Amulets written in Hebrew.
Some contain the phrase "Shema Israel" and it is secretly written by
the head of the tribe and it is forbidden to open it.
And the symbol of Shield of David (Star of David) is found in almost
every Pathan house. The wealthy make it out of expensive metals and
the poor out of simple wood. It can be seen in towers, in schools and
also in tools, bracelets, and jewelry. I saw it at least 20 times in
a variety of places. In Minerajan, the center of Afghanistan, there
are even schools that have the Shield of David on the door or in the
stone above the door.
Overview
· Afghanistan · Burma
· Pakistan
· Kashmir
· Japan
· Ecuador
· China
· Ethiopia
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