Genes set Jews apart, study finds (European Jews Descended from Ancient Roman Converts?)

Genetic testing raises an age-old question -- are the Jews a people, or a religion? -- The first study, by researchers at New York's Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, found that Jews across the globe share distinct genetic traits that are different from other groups and that trace back to the ancient Middle East. Researchers say the study, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, puts to rest age-old questions about whether Jews are a group of unrelated people who share a religious ideology or a distinct ethnicity with common ancestry. "The debate is over," said Dr. Edward R. Burns, one of the lead authors of the study. "The Jewish people are one people with a common genetic thread that evolved in the second or third century BC."
Studies Show Jews' Genetic Similarity
Events of Jewish Diaspora Seen in the Genomes
("large-scale southern European conversion")
Study finds genetic links among Jewish people
Penn Researchers Add Genetic Data to Archaeology and Linguistics
to Get Picture of African Population History
Articles Highlight Different Views on Genetic Basis of Race

True. The Levites were not given allotments of land, only cities, so were never considered as one of the northern 10 tribes.

The descendants of all Jacob’s 12 sons received land grants except the Levites. The remaining 11 tribes divided Canaan into 12 parcels, with Joseph’s heirs getting a double measure, his inheritance split between the descendants of his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

Judah and Benjamin and, as you point out, Levi, remained faithful. The northern tribes were scattered and absorbed into other nations.

Fair enough because I think you are getting the statement of the Israeli secretary backwards.

It’s not anti-American.

Of course Americans are not mere “residents of Iroquios territory.”

The absurdity of the statement reflects the absudity of Obama’s demand that Jerusalem be Judenfre.


GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe

Just updating the GGG info, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.