[LauraleeBraswell]

My God. Everyone assimilates excepts for the Jews. There is something so strong about their culture religion that wherever they go- their faith survives. If that isn't proof enough for something then I don't know what is.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[CarrotAndStick]

This is true of Hinduism too. I mean, just look at it, Christianity arrived India two thousand years ago, Islam did so about a thousand years ago, but both religions are a minority in the country. Maybe this has got to do with people refusing to change old ways, and that can be detrimental. On the contrary, it could also be that these very same people are constantly and consistently updating their culture, and hence able to survive the ravages of time. What do you think?

[GreyFriar]

LauraLee,

From what I've read on this over the years these people are totally assimilated into Indian Culture except for their religious faith. From the tenor of your comment, for one to 'assimilate' into a new culture is to give up previously held religious beliefs, or am I misunderstanding you on this?

[newzjunkey]

Having read the whole article I don't believe these are true Hebrews or a lost tribe at all. There's no real evidence. There was just some guy claiming a vision and an influx of Christianity threatening pagan traditions. Of course they'll latch on to belonging to something similar and who wouldn't want to be a lost tribe of Israel after almost three thousand years? The fact remains they're a lot of similarities among religions in that greater area and even among disparate tribes in history. Folks are seeing what they want to see in the absence of *real* proof. Shame on Israel for putting them up in occupied territories.</p>