The Stream - Israel's religious resistance

[@RicTic66]

2000/3000 years? The Ba'al Shem Tov founded the Hasidic movement 250 years ago. I am not Jewish but I have studied Jewish and Israeli history. The Haredim will continue to have a birth rate well in excess of the secular population and the stresses and strains this places on the economy and the non-orthodox Israelis must lead to resentment and backlash. As the Haredim numbers have increased their abuse of all other communities religious and secular in Israel has escalated. Attacks on soldiers, Christians, women and young girls considered inappropriately dressed, people driving on Shabbat etc etc. You don't have to be a prophet to see this will end in tears.

[@joshuapearl7842]

Actually, Chasidim and Charedim are not the same. You are right in that Chasidism was founded by the Ba'al Shem Tov. However, Charedi is a term used for those who reject the "Torah im Derech Eretz" philosophy, i.e. those who remained exactly as religious as had been since they came to Europe over 1000 years.

[@YehudaLion]

The people who identify themselves today as Palestinians are in reality a hybrid community largely made of Israelites (Jews and Samaritans) who were gradualy Arabized and converted to Islam and Christianism and, to a lesser, other people who settled in the region during the Roman, Arabian and Ottoman occupation periods, in particular, since the second half of the 19th century.

[@Biyou89]

That one girl was completely excluded from the conversation

[@iLikeTigerz101]

Reform and conservative judaism is like having your legs gone. They only follow a portion of the holy torah.

[@YehudaLion]

In the case of the Muslim and Christian refugees of Israel it's more complicated, since most of them actually have Israelites roots, thus they should have the chance to learn about their Israelite roots and the option of being reintegrated in Israelite society. In other words, as long as they dismiss their local and foreign leaders and their anti-Israelite ideology, there will be no problem having them reintegrated in Israel.

[@YehudaLion]

Zalmy, the majority of Sudanese live within Israel's 1967 borders, not outside, specially in southern area of Tel Aviv. I've never heard of 200.000 Bedouins from Sudan inside Israel, only recent migrants. On the other hand, there are Bedouin tribes such Mahamra, Khaldi, Sawarka, Kawazbe whose members define themselves as Israelite and still preserve Jewish rituals. Some of them even serve in the IDF.

[@ronitwit]

There are different degrees of people in the ultra orthodox community. If it is for work, it allowed even in the ultra orthodox community. There are varying levels in the ultra orthodox community, and I happen to be of the less sheltering variety, who do use internet with the approval of my rabbis. -Ronit Peskin

[@zalmykinn]

As a ex combat soldier and a resident in the ''WB'' and can tell that way more then 1% of the people in the ''WB'' are from Sudan and in the Negev the majority of the 200.000 Arabs there have Sudanese origin.

[@RoxyRocksChannel]

I must say, it is very reassuring to see "AlJazeera" reports with multiple views, including that of an Israeli, and it is very fair reporting. I was skeptical at first, naturally, but I like this news channel.

[@YehudaLion]

Why couldn't they stay there? Perhaps because they were discriminated and brutaly slaughtered in those countries? Perhaps because they realized they cannot rely on other people to ensure their survival and self determination? Perhaps because Israel is the land of origin of the Israelite people?

[@YehudaLion]

The second main argument, is the reconquest of Israel's independence after 1400 years of Arabian and Ottoman occupation is fundamental in order to ensure the survival and self determination of the Israelite people. If there's a lesson to be learned after all these centuries of discrimination and massacres across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East is that no ethnic group can ensure its survival and self determination without its own land and armed forces.

[@noooreally]

what is this big push to separate? we are all citizens of the planet earth, we need to be more unified Israel is a state with the sole purpose to separate and isolate. further if they really felt they needed a new home land, don't pick an inhabited place pick an uninhabited place... like Antarctica or some uninhabited Caribbean islands.

[@Ngamotu83]

What this basically comes down to is the desire of the Haredi to maintain an isolated community that exists independently of the wider Israeli society, but at the same time be counted as part of that society but with exemptions from the conditions of membership in that wider Israeli society. They're isolationists, but they want the outsiders to sustain them.

[@YehudaLion]

The tragedy is that the people they've been fighting against are actually a lost and forgotten part of their nation (regardless of their admixture with other people who settled in Israel during the Arabian and Ottoman occupation periods).

[@YehudaLion]

The Jews also remained in Israel after the destruction of the second temple. In fact, they kept fighting the Romans/Byzantines until the 7th century CE. They even managed to reconquer Israel's indepependence for a few years (614 CE - 625 CE) under the leadership of Nehemiah Ben Hushiel.

[@YehudaLion]

The main point I'm making here is that the Israelites emerged as nation in Israel around 3000 years ago. It's where they developed their own cultural identity. It's the land they fought for over many centuries against Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans. And now those who settled in Europe, North Africa and orther parts of the Middle East had no option but to fight for its reconquest after all the discrimination and massacres they've suffered throughout the centuries.

[@YehudaLion]

I have much respect for the Muslims and Christians (except Fatah and Hamas) who live in Israel and I feel connected to them though. They're brothers and cousins. I just hope one day we can live united as one nation together under the principles of Humanism, Secularism, Liberalism and Social Democracy. We have to be the light of the Middle East.

[@YehudaLion]

Most of the ancient Palestinians who survived the Babylonian and Persian occupation joined the Israelite nation through admixture and conversion to Judaism. The Romans/Byzantines decided to name our land "Palestina" in order to humiliate the Israelites because of their resistance against the Romans, which lasted until the 7th century CE. The name "Palestina" continued to be used in Europe since then until modern times. However, it's always been Israel to us.

[@joewilder]

A woman or man that spends hours and hours a day in religious devotion is contributing to the GDP of the country, It's an intangible service, but nevertheless it's thought to be a substantial contribution. Israel is a religious state and this practice is an integral part of it.

[@mustangsally3296]

Thanks for sharing that because I am so lost reading these replies.

[@YehudaLion]

So far, most people in Israel ignore the Israelite roots of its Muslim and Christian population. The general perception is that they're outsides from Egypt, Arabia and other places who settled in Israel during the Arabian and Ottoman occupation periods. Of course, when the leaders of Fatah and Hamas tell them same things, in order to gather suport from neighbouring states, and because they've been preaching so much hate towards Jews, it only makes it worse.

[@AlComorya]

Nice topic and good debate.

[@YehudaLion]

You're dreaming abotu a world where everybody respects each other but that's not the reality of the world we live in and honeslty it may be an utopic idea because human socieities have a certain need to diferentiate themselves from each other and that's a factor that can be used to generate conflicts.

[@YehudaLion]

I support Israel's independence the same way I support the independence of Kabylia, Assyria, Circassia, Armenia, Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, Dagestan and Chechenya. The occupiers must leave in peace and respect the independence of those countries.

[@majmfg5462]

sorry to say that issues is in Africa which we all will fixed in the name of lord and father name.Amen

[@MrSussify]

How odd that of all the channels that this debate is being had, Al Jazeera is the one. Bizarre.

[@YehudaLion]

In the specific case of the Israelite nation, its land of origin is Israel, not America, nor Europe. Israel is not just the place where our ancestors came from. It's also where our cultural identity was formed. Moreover, as I already mentioned to you, we can only ensure the survival and self determination of our people by preserving Israel's independence.

[@YehudaLion]

Nevertheless, despite all these tribal and religious divisions among Israelites and all the foreign occupations of our land, the fact is we Israelites have kept awareness that we're all part of the same nation and our land of origin is Israel. As time evolved, the tribal divisions were replaced by religious divisions. Right now there's a main division between Jews and Samaritans and those Israelites who were converted to non-Israelite religions: Christianism, Islam and Druzism.

[@NimDod]

what makes you think that "most of them are against zionism or at least the way that zionism has been being practiced lately"?

[@zalmykinn]

For example, Ra'anana has 52 congregations, of which only 1 is Reform. In all of Israel, there are only 26 Reform and Conservative congregations, compared to thousands of hareidi/national religious congregations. 38 MK’s are halakhically observant out of 120 and only a few are dedicatedly irreligious.

[@YehudaLion]

What I said in regards to the Israelite nation also applies to other ethnic groups such as Kabylians, Assyrians, Circassians, Armenians, Inguchetians, Dagestanis, Kurds, Azeris, Chechens, Balochis, Uyghurs and Tibetans.

[@YehudaLion]

In addition, Islam is not just a set of beliefs and moral principiples, but also contains a a set of laws, just like Judaism and Samaritanism. In fact, some of them are quite similar.

[@scabw]

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." John 1:1-3. The term “Word” (Greek logos) designates Jesus with respect to His deity.

[@RoxyRocksChannel]

Israel has the only official democracy in the Middle East. Maybe the Muslim countries should be questioning how well their "democracies" are working and not criticizing the Israeli law that helps protect their country. Another fun fact: Israel is also the smallest country and no Israeli feels "forced", it is their natural duty because Israelis LOVE their country. Everyone needs to understand true loyalty to one's land, because Israel has it!

[@YehudaLion]

The people who identify themselves as "Palestinians" are largely descendants of Israelites (Jews and Samaritans) and other people who settled in the region during the Arabian and Ottoman occupation periods. The real Palestinians though were a Southern European people who conquered the coastal areas of Southern Israel and ceased to exist as a distinct ethnic group around the 5th century BCE, as most of them joined the Israelite nation.

[@YehudaLion]

I personally support the reunification of both sides under a one state solution, based on the principles of Humanism, Secularism, Liberalism and Spcial Democracy. However, both sides have to be educated first about their common Israelite roots (regardless of their admixture with other people) and the benefits of this solution. The other option left is a two state solution.

[@YehudaLion]

It's important that they learn about their Israelite roots so that they realize they're fighting their brothers and the same should be said about the other side. Both sides need to learn about their common roots and the benefits of a one state solution based on this principles I've mentioned: Humanism, Secularism, Liberalism and Social Democracy.

[@brianmorgan2725]

muslims think that jesus was a prophet equal to muhahmed and not god becoming man. they also think that jesus never died on the cross but instead skipped that step and ascended up to heaven. their story of his birth is different but interesting where he performed a miracle right off the bat that amazed everybody. he was said to turn clay sculptings of birds into real birds as well.

[@palitube416]

Didn't you hear the tone of voice he had at the end? He said it out of disparity because no one stands with Gaza.

[@palitube416]

@yehuda I agree though the one of the differences between Christianity and Islam is that Christianity branched out of Judaism, while Islam emerged by protesting polytheism (just like Zoroastrianism). though I can agree that Islam did adopt some ideas from Judaism.

[@YehudaLion]

The only reason why the Romans named our land Palestina was to humiliate the Israelites. They knew that Palestinians had been enemies of the Israelites so they fell apropriate to name our land that way. They named our capital city, Jerusalem as Aelia Capitolina. This is historicaly documented. Any Greek or Italian historian will tell you the same. You know why? Because the History of our resistance against their occupation is also part of their History.

[@YehudaLion]

I strongly suggest you do some research about the Maccabean Revolt and the Jewish-Romans Wars and the following revolts which lasted until 625 CE. Arabians only invaded our land a few years later, in 638 CE.

[@YehudaLion]

The Israelite nation (which includes Jews and Samaritans) emerged around 3000 years ago. It were the Israelites who fought for Israel's independence against Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans over many centuries. The real Palestinians (also known as Philistines) were a people of Southern European origins who waged war against the Israelites for some period but ceased to exist as a distinct ethnic group around he 5th century BCE.

[@YehudaLion]

The majority of Muslims in Israel have Israelite roots, despite some admixture with other people who settled in Israel during the Arabian and Ottoman occupation period. They're descendants of those Israelites who remained in Israel during those periods and also other who returned from Portugal and Spain. In fact there are many Sephardic families with Muslims branches inside and outisde Israel's 196 lines, including the Amsalem, Elbaz, Aboulafia, Tawil, Salem, Tayeb, Habib, Zakout...

[@xplosivelilly]

any civilized modern society shouldn't even have military service. not everyone is patriotic and not everyone is happy to waste years of their lives in the military. Everyone should have the right to choose if they want to join an army or not!

[@YehudaLion]

It's a tragedy that can only be stoped by educating people about thier common Israelite roots and the benefits of their reunification under a one state solution, based on the principles of Humanism, Secularism, Liberalism and Social Democracy. Israel can be the nation of all Israelites (either by ethnicity or citizenship), regardless of their religion. If both sides can achieve this, then it will be possible to set an example to the rest of the region.

[@oliber585]

its time for these freeloaders to pay up!

[@YehudaLion]

On the other hand, the people who identify themselves as Palestinians today, are a hybrid community largely comprised by descendants of Israelites (Jews and Samaritans) who were gradually converted to Christianism and Islam during the Roman, Arabian and Ottoman occupation periods and other people who settled in our land during those same periods, including Arabians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Romans, Greeks, Ottomans, Albanians, Bosnians, Armenians, Circassians, Ossetians and Chechens.

[@YehudaLion]

The Middle East was of course part of the route form Africa to Europe, but that's going back to more than 10.000 years, when there were no civilizations. I'm talking about events that took place 2500 years and nations/ethnic groups that already existed back then. The Israelite nation has been around for about 3000 years.

[@YehudaLion]

That's because the Germans don't mind being called "Germans" in English or people calling their land "Germany". It's up to them. Keep in mind though that there was no sense of humiliation behind the name "Germania". The same can't be said about "Palestina". As a descendant of the Jews and Samaritans who sacrificed themselves for the independence of Israel during the Roman/Byzantine occupation period, I just cannot accept this name.

[@mansao0518]

Wenn Minoritäten das Leben der Majoritäten bestimmen, vorschreiben und beeinflußen wollen, ist keine Demokratie möglich. Das Ergebnis ist eine laue Gesellschaft und läßt Krebs im gesellschaftlichen Körper wachsen. Wehret den Anfängen . Die Freiheit des Einzelnen endet an der Freiheit des Anderen.

[@YehudaLion]

The majority Israelites who remained in Israel during the Arabian and Ottoman occupation were Arabized and converted to Islam, just the majority of Babylonians, Assyrians, Fenicians and Berbers. There was some admixture with Arabians for sure, but the core of these populations remained the same. The invading Arabians were just a few thousand. There are still Muslim families in the WB who are aware of their Jewish roots, but are afraid to openly speak about it.

[@YehudaLion]

Thirdly, the majority of Jews that lived in Europe (i.e., the Ashkenazi community) has ancient Israelite roots, despite its strong admixture with local Europeans. Even if we assumed the false hypothesis that most Ashkenazim were just converts with no ancient Israelite roots, they would still be eligible to live there because they would have become part of the Israelite nation once they were accepted by other Israelites (i.e., Sefaradim/Mizrahim).

[@YehudaLion]

Egyptians were the first monotheists, under the reign of Akhenaton. The Israelites adopted their monotheitstic beliefs and many of their laws, mostly likely by influence of the tribe of Levi, which probably lived for some time in Egypt or was even originated there. The Levites had no land of their own in Israel, unlike other Israelite tribes, and that's probably because the other tribes never left the land, although part of its people may have been enslaved during war periods.

[@YehudaLion]

The people who wrongly identify themselves as Palestinians today are a hybrid population comprised by Israelites who ancestors were gradually converted to Christianism and Islam during the Roman, Arabian and Ottoman occupation periods and other people who settled in Israel during those periods, namely Arabians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Romans, Greeks, Ottomans, Persians, Albanians, Bosnians, Armenians, Circassians and also Chechens.

[@YehudaLion]

There are some positive signs though. Thanks to the internet there's a growing awareness of the Israelite roots of Muslims and Christians in Israel (inside and outside 1967 lines). Most of them are descendants of Mizrahim who remained in Israel since the Roman occupation period but there are also those who are descendants of Sefaradim who returned in 15th and 16th centuries. Some of these families have kept awareness of their Israelites but it's not safe yet for them to admit it in public.

[@YehudaLion]

Firstly, why would Jews migrate en masse to the countries where they have been discriminated and slaughtered and secondly, what makes you think most most Jews in Israel ever lived in such countries. For your information, the majority of Israel's Jewish population is Sefaradi/Mizrahi (around 57%). It was settled in North Africa and the Middle East (including Israel), not Europe. The majority of Ashkenazim live in America today, not Israel.

[@YehudaLion]

The first record of the name Palestine dates back to the 5th century BCE. It's the Greek translation of Pelesht (Hebrew) /Palasht (Assyrian). As you may know, the Plishtim (Philistines/Palestinians) were a people of Southern European origins. They conquered the coastal areas of Southern Israel and brought Mycenean culture with them. They ceased to exist as a distinct ethnic group around the 5th century BCE though, long before the Greeks and Romans invaded our land.

[@YehudaLion]

It's not an injustice if it's the truth and I don't see how that would be offensive for them. It only shows that this conflict is more tragic than most people think. The only major difference between them and Mizrahi/Sefaradi Jews is their religion - Islam.

[@YehudaLion]

Well, I can agree that the Judaism became most influent monotheistic religion in the if we consider that Christianism and Islam are largely based on it.

[@YehudaLion]

Also keep in mind that I'm not religious. It's possibel there as an Israelite leader known as Israel who could have been a common ancestor of the leaders of the Israelite tribes, but there's no evidence beyond the Torah to confirm it. We only know form the Merneptah's Stele, that Egyptians were already aware of Israel's existence around 1200 BCE.

[@YehudaLion]

The land of Israel was divided between its tribes. The tribe of Yehuda was the most powerful one in the south of Israel and gradualy absorbed the other southern Israelite tribes of Binyamin and Shimon. When the Assyrians invaded the territory of the northern Israelite tribes, many of its people fled to Yehuda (Judea), while many others remained there and other were deported to other areas of the Assyrian empire. Those who remained became known as Samaritans (Shomronim in Hebrew language).

[@YehudaLion]

It's possible to have them reintegrated in Israelite society once they learn about their Israelite roots (despite their admixture with other people, which many Jews also have) and accept a one state solution based on the principles of Humanism, Secularism, Liberalism and Social Democracy. The people in general are not the problem. It's their Islamist and corrupt leaders that need to disapear.

[@SalafeeSpot]

The only ultra orthodox I am aware of protest again the internet. Idk if Chabad is considered ultra orthodox but I don't think they outlaw the internet. If some groups allow it, which ones?

[@DonaldKronos]

In my opinion it is INSANE for any people to allow their government to coerce people to join their army... insane for MANY reasons! It is also insane to keep anyone from doing work which would benefit society, in my opinion. I certainly hope that opinion is common, but it must not be ubiquitous, or such problems would simply not exist. The real question then is whether the people have actually endorsed such insanity or the religions or governments or both have IMPOSED them on the people somehow.

[@YehudaLion]

The people who identify themselves today as Palestinians are in fact a hybrid community mostly made of Israelites whose ancestors were Arabized and converted to Islam (just like most Babylonians, Assyrians, Fenicians, Egyptians and Berbers) and, to a lesser extent, other people who settle din Israel during the Arabian and Ottoman occupation periods (such as Yemenites, Arabians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Circassians, Armenians, Bosnians, Albanians and Chechens).

[@zalmykinn]

Were does it say in Torah that you can't use the internet?

[@palitube416]

Yehuda you're actually wrong in the case of first monotheists, the first monotheists were actually Zoroastrians which like Islam emerged from the protest of polytheism. even during Akhenaton the majority of ancient Egyptians believed in complex systems of different deities. Note that I said abrahamic religions not regional religions. No matter who and what adopted what Judaism was still the first abrahamic faith in which a variety of beliefs that link to abrahamism either branched from it of a

[@noooreally]

I agree on most of that, the main thing I disagree with is learning about Israelite roots. They can do what ever they want as long as they don't hurt other people. Their leaders may be bad, but the current leaders of Israel are pretty bad and also say some outlandish things. It would to do this, but they should start by becoming completely secularized with strict rules against racism and start screening Palestinians who want to come back to make sure they are not a danger to society.

[@YehudaLion]

Of course you can, as long as the rest of the people don't discriminate and massacre you or expell you, which was the case in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. What you fail to understand though is that we have no guarantees that won't happen again outside Israel. As I mentioned before, History has taught us that without our independent land and our own armed forces, our chances of survival and self determination become very scarce. This also applies to other ethnic groups.

[@zalmykinn]

Affairs MInistry released that 51% of all children who entered Kindergarten this year are enrolled in hareidi/national relgious classes. Three whole cities are entirely hareidi, most of the towns of Judea and Samaria are national religious, and every other city in Israel has a large percentage of hareidi/religious Zionsit citizens. Most of the inhabitants of Jerusalem are hareidi or religious Zionist.

[@YehudaLion]

The term "Israeli" is a modern English concept used to designate people who are citizens of Israel. In Hebrew, Israeli can be both a citizen of Israel or a member of the Israelite nation. In other lnaguages such as Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, there's no such diferentiation. You only have the word "Israelita" to describe ethnic Israelites or citizens of Israel, whcih makes sense. There's no concept such as "Germanis" either to describe citizens of Germany, regardless of their ethnicity.

[@YehudaLion]

I get your point, but I'm not talking about rights to the land. I'm talking about historical connections to a specific land and the survival and self determination of specific ethnic groups. History has proven to the Israelite nation that they need Israel's independence annd their self defense means in order to ensure their survival and self determination. The same could be said about Kurds, Armenians or Tibetans.

[@YehudaLion]

By the way, I didn't say that Jews can't live in other countries. They can, as long as they are well treated there. However, nobody can ensure us that things won't change in the future as it happened in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East before and after WW II. Moreover, there's still a lot of prejudice regarding our people in those regions and it's rising again.

[@palitube416]

Cont. israelites made their conquest. It's the same reason why the called Germany "Germania" due to the germanic tribes that lived in the area, it's also the same reason why they called today's UK Britannia because of the Britons and many other places like Gaul today's Basques Spain France and Catalonia or Franca which is today's Netherlands and Belgium named after Franker tribes.

[@6SLipoJuice]

Style of life is to mooch off government support and call it historical culture

[@martinsgakke]

Well I heard (from Bibi) that Israel was a modern secular civilization in a sea of medieval muslim neighbours. He was clearly "mistaken" judging by this guest. He's very much the paragon of medieval thinking.

[@w584450]

There is no such thing as democracy in Israel. There are only tribes and which tribe gets preferential treatment.

[@xxbrefo]

2000 years ago there was no dependence on the welfare state and donations surely.

[@YehudaLion]

I had already understood your point but I still asked you to confirm it in a previous comment and now you did that. I'm not a religious Zionist and I don't believe in any god. In a utopic or primitive world maybe we could have no national borders but we we have to think about the real world and that's what I'm focused in.

[@zalmykinn]

"Abu Sitta" =In Arabic' Abu means father and sitta means six. Translated it actually means father of six. The Abu Sitta family primarily received this name because around the year 1700, a well known knight of the large Al-Tarabeen tribe always had six slaves (i.e. fedawyah, bodyguards), 3 on each side, with him. They were with him wherever he went, day or night. Hence the name "ABU SITTA." =Egypt (Bedouins) "Salman Abu Sitta " "Nuba, Hebron" =founded by the "nuba people"

[@ErnestJay88]

so does christian who truly follow the original bible, since Jesus never said "I'm a God who create this universe !" or "I'm son of God, please worship me !"

[@zalmykinn]

"Khamis"= from Bahrain "Salem Hanna Khamis" "al-ubayyidi" or "al-Obeidi"= from sudan "al-ubayyid" "al-Faruqi"= Mosul iraq "al-Araj" = Morocco,a member of the Saadi Dynasty "Hussein al-Araj" "al-Lubnani" =the lebanese "al-Mughrabi" = the Moroccan ("Maghreb" -- meaning "West" in Arabic, and usually referring to North Africa or specifically to Morocco) ,"Dalal Mughrabi" "al-Djazair"=the Algerian "al-Qurashi"=saudi arabia "clan of Quraish"

[@bigmedge]

Well said, indeed

[@noooreally]

Israel needs to be appealing to the world... they are loosing support in america which could be disastrous. I would really like to know why Israelite believe they have rights to a land that was not theirs.

[@SalafeeSpot]

That's why I said IDK if Chabad is Ultra Orthodox. I've read alot of UO groups don't like Chabad. What's the reason?

[@VonnFareed]

that picture in the background at 9:39 is hilarious loooool

[@zalmykinn]

Its a fact and not only I say it so does the PA and Hamas. The only people that we know that lived in Israel since the second temple and never left is the Samaritan's. Half of the Arabs living in Israel (including the ''west bank'' and Gaza) came in the last 200/250 years. The most common Jewish last name is Cohen and Cohen is someone that is a descendant from a priest that worked in the temple.

[@YehudaLion]

Why keep divisions among people? It depends on what you mean by division. You have to keep in mind that each ethnic group has its own cultural identity and feels the need to have its own territory in order to ensure its survival and self determination. Why does it feel this need? Because it can learn form history that people from other ethnic groups can invade its territory and impose its own cultural identity. Think about the Arabization of the Middle East and North Africa.

[@YehudaLion]

Oh, yeah Antartica is such a great place to live in. Howcome we never thought about that? Why would Sefaradim and Mizrahim like myself move from the Middle East (including Israel), North Africa and Southern Europe to such place? You keep forgeting that our land of origin is Israel, not Antartica. We emerged as nation in that land more than 3000 years ago, not to mention the fact that we also descend from ancient Levantine people and Hebrews who already lived there long before that.

[@zalmykinn]

80% of Israelis - Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Yemenite - are faithful to the Torah to some extent and there are only 26 Reform and Conservative congregations, compared to thousands of hareidi/national religious congregations But they want to control the rabbinate.

[@littlebrother5361]

Israel's time of judgment has come your walls shall fall, the Pharisees time of judgment for the judgment of Jesus is upon them!

[@YehudaLion]

No, I'm not refering to Sudanese, although it's also possible some of them have mixed with other Muslims of Israelite origin. Sudanese, however, do no represent the majority of Muslims in the WB. Not even 1% of population there.

[@YehudaLion]

Fact is 55%-60% of Israel's Jewish population is made of Sefaradim/Mizrahim, mostly from Islamic countries. Ashkenazim do have a significant degree of admixture with Europeans but they're still part of Jewish tribe and accepted as such by Sefaradim/Mizrahim. Most of them live outside Israel though, mainly in America.

[@zalmykinn]

Yes Israelite nation I friend of mine explained to me that there is NOT a ''Jewish religion'' and there never was one we are a ''am'' (people/nation) you either keep the law or you don't. Zionism is a part of ''Judaism'' Jews have prayed for the complete return of all Jews to Zion Herzl did not invent a new thing (he took a old thing).

[@brianmorgan2725]

that's what i was told by several people.

[@Wanderlust1972]

traditions are fun to follow

[@YehudaLion]

Thirdly, the Jews have been living in that land for more than 3000 years, unlike Arabians and other people that settled there during the Roman, Arabian and Ottoman occupation periods. Jews are Israelites and are descendants of ancient Levantine tribes and the semi-nomadic warriors of Hurrian (Caucasian) and Babylonian (Mesopotamian) origin known as Habiru (regarded by several historians as the biblical Hebrews or related to them).

[@adamclark1972uk]

KZbin has really gone downhill with Google's influence.

[@zalmykinn]

Maybe Greek is Hebrew but not the other way around because dates back 3000 year's in Israel.

[@YehudaLion]

It's not a matter of havinga right or not. Anybody can subjectively claim to have a right. What's not subjective, is whether they have an historical claim or not. Israel is the land where Israelites emerged as a nation around 3000 years ago. It were the Israelites who fought for its independence over many centuries against Egyptians, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans. The Israelites are also descendants of ancient Levantine tribes (Canaanites) and the ancient Hebrews.