Afghans' Jewish customs
Some of the customs mentioned are practiced in specific areas or by specific tribes, others may not be completely unique. Nonetheless, the list is longer than any Jew could hope to find among the tribes that left Judaism so long ago. Tradition is not the only reason we believe that Afghans are the lost tribes of Israel. To find out more please see the Articles and FAQ sections.
1. No mix marriages.
Jewish source: Deuteronomy 7:3.
Details - Afghans: In modernized places like some big cities of Pakhtunkhwa, for example, it has become common to intermarry. In places like the Federally Administrative Tribal Area and rural areas of Afghanistan and Pakhtunkhwa, the intermarriage rate is close to 0%. The punishment for intermarriage is banishment, or in some extreme cases even death. It should be noted that we aren’t talking about interfaith marriages, but about international marriages, meaning that even marrying other Muslims is forbidden if they aren’t Afghans.
Details - Jews: Intermarriages are common among non-religious Jews, mainly outside of Israel. It is considered an abomination by traditional Jews, but usually won't cause a complete banishment of the sinner. Among religious Jews intermarriage rate is extremely small, the person who intermarries is thrown out of the community.
2. Covering slaughtered animal's blood.
Jewish source: Leviticus 17:13.
Details - Afghans: Widespread in Afghanistan and rural areas of Pakhtunkhwa. Afghans don't separate between different types of animals.
Details - Jews: Always performed during the kosher slaughter of birds and animals, for which covering blood is required by the Torah (animals that are part of the category "Haya", rather than "Behema").
3. It is forbidden to count the people of Israel, and doing so causes a plauge.
Jewish source: Exodus 30:11-12, Samuel 2 24, Hoshea 2:1, Talmud Yoma 22.
Details - Afghans: Widespread. If children or family members are counted, the families get upset and fear that something bad may happen.
Details - Jews: All religious Jews follow the custom.
4. Lighting candles on Friday before evening.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Mishna Shabbath 2.
Details - Afghans: Widespread.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious Jews.
5. No work on Saturday.
Jewish source: Leviticus 23:3 and Mishna Shabbath 7.
Details - Afghans: Rare. Most Afghans Friday replaced Saturday as a sacred day due to Islam, but some refrain from doing things that are completely permitted on Fridays according to Islam, but forbidden to do on Shabbath in Judaism as they are considered Melakha (craft). Among them are cooking, laundry and detaching plants from the ground.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious and traditional Jews.
6. Ritual washing of the hands before a meal with a special jug.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Talmud Holin 105. The commandment was set by King Solomon (Talmud Eruvin 21).
Details - Afghans: Even though the sink is still there, Afghans wash their hands with a special jug called koza prior to eating their meal. While this custom is widespread in Afghanistan, in Pakhtunkhwa this custom is rare. We should mention that Koza is an Aramaic word that appears in the Talmud to refer to tools such as the Pashtun's Koza (Talmud Eruvin 15, Yerushalmi Avoda Zara 13).
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious Jews.
7. Avoiding crabs, lobsters, shrimps and similar seafood.
Jewish source: Leviticus 11:10-11.
Details - Afghans: Widespread, even though it is considered Halal in Islam.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious and traditional Jews.
8. Avoiding camal meat.
Jewish source: Leviticus 11:4
Details - Afghans: Rare. Some Afghans consider camel meat forbidden even though it is permitted (Halal) in Islam and popular among some neighboring people.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious and traditional Jews.
9. Avoiding eating camal milk.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Talmud Bekhorot 7.
Details - Afghans: Rare. Some Afghans consider camel milk forbidden even though it is permitted (Halal) in Islam.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious and traditional Jews.
10. Not mixing meat with dairy.
Jewish source: Exodus 23:19, 34:26, Deuteronomy 14:21.
Details - Afghans: Rare. Some Afghans consider meat and milk forbidden even though it is permitted (Halal) in Islam.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious and traditional Jews.
11. Avoiding mixing birds' meat with dairy.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Talmud Holin 104.
Details - Afghans:Rare. Some Afghans consider it forbidden even though it is permitted (Halal) in Islam.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious and traditional Jews.
12. Separating between meat and dairy dishes.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Talmud Holin 108.
Details - Afghans: Rare.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious Jews.
13. Waiting for some time between meat and dairy meals.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Talmud Holin 104.
Details - Afghans: Rare.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious and traditional Jews.
14. Not mixing fish with dairy.
Jewish source: Custom - Bet Yosef Yore Dea 87.
Details - Afghans:Rare. Some Afghans consider it forbidden even though it is considered Halal in Islam.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious Mizrahi Jews.
15. Salting meat to get the blood out.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Talmud Holin 113.
Details - Afghans: Spread unknown.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious.
16. Avoiding meat of an animal slaughtered by a non-Israelite.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Mishna Holin 1:1.
Details - Afghans: Rare.
Details - Jews: Followed by all religious Jews.
17. Eating Matza/Patira in the spring.
Jewish source: Exodus 12.
Details - Afghans: Afghans eat flat bread called patira made only with flour, water and salt. This bread is also eaten by other nations, but only Afghans have a custom to eat it specifically in spring.
Details - Jews:Every spring during the month of Nisan Jews celebrate the holiday of Pesah. They eat Matza, called Patira in Aramaic (Onkolus translation for Exodus 12:15), which is usually flat and made of only flour and water.
18. Sheeps are called Pesah in Pashto, goats are called Oza.
Jewish source: Exodus 12.
Details - Afghans: Sheeps are called Pesah in Pashto, goats are called Oza.
Details - Jews: The holiday of Pesach is named after a goat or a sheep Israelites sacrifice on the 14th day of Nisan. It is eaten on the night of the holiday. Pashto word Pesah is pronounced withouth the Hebrew letter Heth at the end. The explanation might be that the letter Heth is close to the Hebrew letter He (for example, in the Talmud Yerushalmi, Rav Huna is sometimes called Huna with the letter He and sometimes Huna with Heth), which usually has no sound if appears at the end of a word. Even though the two words don't match perfectly, it looks like they might be connected. Goat is called Ez in Hebrew.
19. Rubbing blood of animals by the entrance.
Jewish source: Exodus 12.
Details - Afghans: Widespread in rural areas.
Details - Jews: The custom is no longer kept, but elderly Iraqi Jews report that when they came to Israel and lived in rural places raising and slaughtering animals on their own, their families practiced this ancient custom. They stopped mainly because of the modern meat industry.
20. Rocking while learning and praying.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Zohar - 219.
Details - Afghans:Afghans rock their body when reading Quran.
Details - Jews: Almost all religious Jews rock their body when praying or studying written and oral Tora.
21. Rotating chickens or money 3 times over people’s heads.
Jewish source: Oral Tora and Qabala - Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayim 605 (Rama) and the Ari Shaar Ha Kawanoth.
Details - Afghans: Afghans rotate chickens (or money when chickens aren't available) 3 or 7 times above people's heads to protect them from evil eye.
Details - Jews: Done by all religious Jews before the holiday of Yom Kipur. Anti-Semites tried to make fun of the Jews and posted videos of Jews rotating chickens, one of our Afghan friends saw those videos and were shocked to find out both Afghans and Jews had this seemingly strange and unique custom.
22. Not shaving above the cheek bone and growing long sidelocks (Peot).
Jewish source: Leviticus 19:27 and Shaar Ha Mitzvot.
Details - Afghans: Rare. Some Afghans don't shave their sidelocks and leave at least short hair above the middle of the ear (above the cheek bone). While other people don't shave this part of the beard for their looks, for Afghans it is a part of the culture. In addition, even though it has become rare lately, some elderly Afghans grow long sidelocks just like Jewish Peot.
Details - Jews: All religious Jews leave at least short hair above the middle of the ear (above the cheek bone) as shaving them is forbidden by the Tora. In addition, Growing them long is widespread among Hasidic, Yemenite and some Ashkenazi communities. While the Torah commandment forbids shaving them altogher, it is a Jewish custom to grow them long. Peot are sometimes called Simanim in Hebrew - signs of being a Jew. According to Kabbalah (Shaar Ha Mitzvot), sidelocks should be long enough to reach the middle of the ear.
23. Wearing a Kipa.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Talmud Sofrim 14.
Details - Afghans: Widespread. While covering one’s head isn't a unique Jewish custom, some Afghans, put on a Kippah which is identical to the Jewish one. While wearing a Kippah specifically is noticeable in old Afghan photos, according to Afghans' culture Afghans have to cover their heads with something. It can be a Kippah, a hat or Turban.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious Jews.
24. Talith/Shawl/Saadar.
Jewish source: Numbers 15.
Details - Afghans: Afghans wear rectangle garments called Saadar or Shawl, commonly made from wool, usually decorated with short fringes around its edges (but no Tzitzith).
Details - Jews: Religious Jews wear a small rectangle piece of cloth called small Talith all day long. They also wear a big Talith every morning during the prayer. The Talith is made of wool and has long knotted fringes called Tzitzith attached to its four corners.
25. Week days are named according to their sequential number, starting from Sunday.
Jewish source: Exodus 20:7 (see Ramban's commentary).
Details - Afghans: In Pashto, the language of Afghans, Sunday is called number one, Monday is number two, etc. Friday has a special name because it is sacred in Islam; Saturday is called Khaali and Pelanay.
Details - Jews: In Hebrew, Sunday is called first day of Shabbath, Monday is called second day of Shabbath, and so on. Some actually consider calling the week days by their number after Shabbath to be a Tora commandment. Saturday is called Shabbath in Hebrew.
26. Circumcision on the 8th day.
Jewish source: Genesis 17.
Details - Afghans: Most Afghans circumcise their boys when they are very small. They often do it during the first two weeks from birth, unlike other Muslims who get circumcised at a much older age. Although rare, some Afghans circumcise their sons exactly on the 8th day.
Details - Jews: Kept by all Jews.
27. Drawing extra blood after the circumcision.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Talmud Yevamoth 71. Zohar 32
Details - Afghans: Widespread in Afghanistan and in the tribal area, but rare in Pakhtunkhwa. We still haven't witnessed it so we aren't sure if the process called Murdara Weena (Ganda Weena in some dialects) is similar to Jewish Peria or Metzitza. According to the Qabala book - the Zohar - the Peria and Metzitza are what separates between the circumcision of the children of Ismail and the one of the children of Israel.
Details - Jews: Done by all Jews.
28. Sandaq: the baby is circumcised on the laps of the Sandaq, who is usually his grandfather or his uncle.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Tur Yore Dea 265.
Details - Afghans: Widespread.
Details - Jews: Widespread.
29. Fixed age to start following all religious commandments.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Talmud Nida 45
Details - Afghans: : It isn't practiced by all, but it is common that at the age of 13 the teenager is required to follow all of the religious commandments of Islam.
Details - Jews: All religious and traditional Jews celebrate boy’s 13th birthday, called Bar Mitzva. On this day the teenager reads from the Torah in public for the first time. In most communities the father blesses God for ridding him of being punished for the sins of his son. From now on, his son is considered an adult and is fully responsible for his actions.
30. Yibum, or levirate marriage.
Jewish source: Deuteronomy 25:5-6.
Details - Afghans: Widespread. When an Afghan dies without children, the brother of the deceased must marry the widow. Afghans do not have Halitza, a process that would free the widow from the obligation to marry her late husband’s brother.
Details - Jews: According to the Torah, when an Israeli man dies without children, the brother must marry the widow. This is called Yibum in Hebrew. The process that rids the widow of it is called Halitza. While in the old days Yibum was common, today all Jewish communities prefer Halitza over Yibum.
31. Hupa/Dolaye/Canopy.
Jewish source: Yoel 2:16, Oral Tora Mishna Avot 5:21.
Details - Afghans: Afghans get married under a piece of fabric similar to the Jewish Hupa.
Details - Jews: Jews get married under a piece of fabric called Hupa. The Hupa is also used when a new Torah scroll is written and given to a synagogue.
32. Breaking glass or clay at weddings.
Jewish source: Talmud Berakhot 30 on the basis of Psalms 137. Divre Moshe 560:2. Kaf Ha Hayim 560:21.
Details - Afghans: In some areas of Afghanistan and Pakhtunkhwa the groom or the bride break a glass or a clay plate at their wedding.
Details - Jews: All traditional and religious Jews break a glass at their wedding to remember the destruction of Jerusalem even in the happiest moment of their lives. While today everyone does it with glass cups, the original custom was to do it with clay cups (Rabbi Moshe Isralish in his book Divre Moshe. 16th century).
33. Not sleeping in the same bed with the wife during menstruation.
Jewish source: Leviticus 18:19.
Details - Afghans: Rare.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious Jews.
34. Immersing in a river or pool after menstruation.
Jewish source: Leviticus 15.
Details - Afghans: Rare. Practiced in places located near rivers and lakes in rural areas of Afghanistan. We should mention that theoretically it might be a result of not having showers in the house in some areas and requires further investigation.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious Jews.
35. Not calling babies over people who died premature or violent death.
Jewish source: Talmud Rosh Ha Shana 16.
Details - Afghans: Spread is unkown.
Details - Jews: Common among traditional and religious Jews.
36. Tearing the shirt from grief.
Jewish source: Genesis 37:29 (Reuven), Genesis 37:34 (Yaaqov), Samuel 13:31 (David), Kings 2 5:7 (Yehoram), Kings 2 22:11 (Yoshiyahu), Yeshaayahu 37:1 (Hizkiyahu), Ester 4:1 (Mordekhai), Talmud Moed Qatan 24.
Details - Afghans: Widespread, but we should note that this custom is also widespread among other nations in Asia.
Details - Jews: Kept by all traditional and religious Jews.
37. Praying at graves, asking God to have mercy on the living because of the merit of the dead.
Jewish source: Custom - Meharil - Taanit, Ben Ish Hai Nitzavim.
Details - Afghans: Widespread. Islamic figures try to stop its practice.
Details - Jews: Widespread.
38. Praying at graves: asking the souls of the dead to pray to God for the living.
Jewish source: Custom - Ben Ish Hai Nitzavim.
Details - Afghans: Widespread. Islamic figures try to stop its practice.
Details - Jews: Widespread.
39. Lighting candles for the soul of the dead.
Jewish source: Proverbs 20:27, Talmud Berakhot 52.
Details - Afghans: Widespread.
Details - Jews: Widespread.
40. Praying for the well being of the soul of the dead.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Midrash Tanhuma Haazinu .
Details - Afghans: Widespread.
Details - Jews: Kept by all traditional and religious Jews.
41. Giving charity for the well-being of the soul of the dead.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Midrash Tanhuma Haazinu .
Details - Afghans: Widespread.
Details - Jews: Kept by traditional and religious Jews.
42. Not engaging in sexual intercourse during the first week of grieving the loss of a family member.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Talmud Moed Qatan 21, Yore Dea 383.
Details - Afghans: Widespread.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious Jews.
43. Not shaving and not cutting hair during the first month of grieving the loss of a family member.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Talmud Moed Qatan 21, Yore Dea 390.
Details - Afghans: Widespread.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious Jews.
44. Not listening to music during the first 12 months of grieving the loss a family member.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Talmud Moed Qatan 21, Yore Dea 391.
Details - Afghans: Widespread.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious Jews.
45. Not buying new clothes during the first 12 months of grieving the loss a family member.
Jewish source: Custom - Yore Dea 389.
Details - Afghans: Widespread.
Details - Jews: Kept by all religious Jews.
46. Fasting every year in memory of the dead and for his soul’s benefit.
Jewish source: Custom - Shulhan Arukh 568:8.
Details - Afghans: Rare.
Details - Jews: Rare.
47. Putting stones on graves.
Jewish source: Custom - might have originated from Talmud Semahot 5:11 where it is said that putting stones on a grave can save the soul of the dead from punishments. Or maybe the source is Yerushalmi Ketuvoth chapter 12 end of Halakha 3 (page 67 in most books) where it said that Jews in Israel put mud on coffins to clear sins from the dead based on the verse "... and His land brought forgiveness to His people" (Deuteronomy 32:43). (The first is more likely to be the source as it mentions stones specifically rather than mud, and the second is only relevant inside the land of Israel.)
Details - Afghans: Widespread.
Details - Jews: Done by all traditional and religious Jews.
48. Cemeteries only for the people of Israel.
Jewish source: Oral Tora - Talmud Sanhedrin 47.
Details - Afghans: Widespread. Some families also have their own private cemeteries..
Details - Jews: Followed by all traditional and religious Jews. In the old days there were also family owned cemeteries, but not anymore.
49. The verse "Shema Israel Adhonai Elohenu Adhonai Ehadh" (listen and understand, Israelis, The Lord, God, is one).
Jewish source: The most important verse of the Tora. Deuteronomy 6:4.
Details - Afghans:Rare. Some elderly Afghans write amulets for good luck or protection. Some of those amulets contain words which are believed to be names of angels, and while some are indeed names of angels in Hebrew, the words Shema Israel also appear. You can see an example written in Latin letters by a person who was taught how to make such amulets. In the Latin version, our friend wrote Shome instead of Shema, but Pashto doesn't have vowels, so Shoma and Shema are written the same in Pashto.
Details - Jews:Jews say the verse of Shema Israel at least 4 times a day. It is also written inside of the Tefilin Jews put on every morning, and in Mezuzot Jews put on doorposts.
50. Not selling lands permanently and preserving the right to get sold land back to the first owner.
Jewish source: Leviticus 25:23.
Details - Afghans: In some areas (like Mohmand agency) it is preferred to sell lands to people of the same family or tribe. When a piece of land is sold to a stranger the first owner has the right to get it back. After a certain period of time the land automatically returns to its first owner. We should note that people from other ethnicities in Afghanistan are also following these rules.
Details - Jews: During the times of the First Temple, when all the tribes lived in the Holy Land of Israel, there was the commandment of Yovel (Jubilee) which is very similar to the Afghan custom. The Yovel is only relevant when most of the people of Israel live in the Holy Land. We are anxiously waiting for the Afghans to come home and enable us to follow this precious commandment again.
51. Not cutting hair and nails at night.
Jewish source: Custom based on Qabala - Ben Ish Hai Wayiqhal 11 based on the Ari.
Details - Afghans: Widespread.
Details - Jews: Kept by some Mizrahi Jews. The original custom is not to cut hair after midday. Some think that if cutting hair is a problem at those hours, then cutting nails must be worse because of the meaning hair and nails have in Kabbalah.
52. Not blowing out candles with the mouth.
Jewish source: Custom based on Qabala - Ben Ish Hai Pinehas 18based on Shaar Ruah Ha Qodesh of the Ari.
Details - Afghans: Rare.
Details - Jews: Common among Mizrahi Jews.
53. Not leaving shoes upside down.
Jewish source: Custom.
Details - Afghans: Kept by all Afghans.
Details - Jews: Kept by some Mizrahi Jews.
54. Touching the eyes and then kissing the hands.
Jewish source: Shaar Ha Kawanot.
Details - Afghans: Afghans have a custom to kiss their hands after rubbing the eyes. We should note that people from other ethnicities in Afghanistan are also following this custom.
Details - Jews: When Mizrahi Jews say Shema Israel verse in their prayer, it is common when they finish to touch both eyes and then kiss them the hands. Some Mizrahi Jews also do this when reading one of King David's songs (Tehila Le Dawidh) they say in the morning and afternoon prayers. Some Ashkenazi Jewish women cover their eyes after lighting Shabbat candles, and kiss their hands afterwards. According to Qabala (Shaar Ha Kawanoth), in one of the verses after Shema Israel Jews should kiss their Tzitzit (part of their praying cloth) and then touch both eyes with it. Also, in some Jewish communities it is common to kiss the hands after robbing the eyes for uknown reason.
55. Using Israelite names (credit to Yasmin Eliaz who discovered a lot of those names). We should mention that it's uncertain which of the following names are unique to Afghans and Jews, and further investigation is required.
Israelite names used by Afghans:
Asaf - Prophet Asaf wrote Psalms 83 and other Psalms chapters.
Hanan - means gave for free in Hebrew and is widely used as a name. Not unique to Afghans, but according to a short facebook search most people named Hanan who are not Jewish, are Afghans.
Israel - one of the names of our father Yaakov. Not unique for Jews and Afghans, but generally rare for other people.
Yaakov - one of the names of our father Yaakov. While it is also widely used by other Muslims as Yaqub and by Christians as Jacob, as far as we know, Afghans are the only ones besides the Jews who, at least in some cases, pronounce it accurately, as it should be pronounced in Hebrew.
Benyamin - to the best of our knowledge the name Benyamin is very rare among Muslims, but very common among Afghans.
Aharon - while Aroon is a common Muslim name, to the best of our knowledge, Afghans are the only ones who at least in some cases pronounce it accurately.
Kenan - a Biblical name which is common in today's Israel as both first and last name.
Tamir - a common name in today's Israel, is used as both first and last name.
Shir - a common name in today's Israel, is used as both first and last name.
Ermiya - close to Yermeya, a Biblical name which is still used today. To the best of our knowledge, the name is rare among other Muslims.
Ehezkel - close to Yehezkel, a Biblical name which is still used today. To the best of our knowledge, the name is rare among other Muslims.
56. The Star of David is a common Afghan symbol, like, for example, this bus decoration in Pakhtunkhwa.
57. In his book The History of the Afghans the writer mentions a tradition of Aj, who fought the people of Israel. Aj was a giant who was so tall he managed to hang on to the ark of Noah and survive the flood. The source of this story is Talmud Zevahim 113 about Ogh, king of Bashan. It is of course possible that Jews once told this story to Afghans and they believed it, but it is still worth mentioning.
58. While it was never scientifically proven (although a research is actually possible), Afghans look very similar to Jews, and a lot of times it impossible to know the difference. Other people living in Southeast Asia like Persians, Punjabis, Tajiks, Uzbeks and others, do not resemble the Jews. Even Arabs, who are the Jews’ cousins, do not appear even remotely as similar to Jews as Afghans.
About Us
We are a group of Afghans and Jews who believe that our people originated from prophet Yaaqov, and once existed as a single nation, known as the people of Israel.
Most of our Afghan activists are nationalists who work for the unity of the Afghan nation. They work to explain to the Jewish side that Afghans are not terrorists, but actually are suffering from terrorism used by foreign powers against them. Most of our Jewish activists are unapologetic right-wing religious Israelis who are happy to explain Israel’s side in the Arab-Israeli conflict to those who are truly ready to listen. They are not willing to waste their time with people who hate Jews and deny Israel's right to defend itself.
Such approach helps find open-minded people, free of prejudice, able to see world’s utter hypocrisy regarding Afghanistan and Israel.
Afghans, better than anyone, know what it’s like when an artificial nation, that was created by European colonialists about 70 years ago, occupies the land of their ancestors. It chooses terror and starts a war primarily targeting civilians. It sends terrorists to crowded streets, blows up buses and coffee shops, fires rockets at peaceful towns and villages. Afghans and Jews are in a similar situation, as many of the countries that support and finance terror against Israelis also support and finance terror against Afghans.
Regarding our religious differences, we find it counterproductive to debate this topic and convince others to convert. We do not preach Judaism and we expect Afghans to respect that by not preaching Islam.
Instead, we prefer to focus on all those things we have in common like history, tradition and the blood of Prophet Yaaqov. For now, we see how scared our enemies are of the reunion. This fact alone should motivate us to overcome our differences and work together for our common future as Twelve Tribes of Israel.
Our team
Asif
Asif is a Pashtun from Afghanistan and a proud member of the association. He is happy about the origin of his nation, and he loves the children of Israel more than anything. Ohev Etkhem Ahim Sheli. Am Israel Hai!
Sahar Kakar
Sahar is from Quetta, Southern Pashtunkhwa. He has Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Quetta, Master in Sociology from York University, Toronto, Canada and earns his living as a journalist. He is Interested in Pashtun history, culture, language, and Afghans' Jewish roots.
Dana
In 2015, together with her husband Nadav, started researching the lost tribes of Israel. A couple of months later she came up with the idea to create a group on Facebook which would serve as the first ever online ground to connect between regular Afghans and Jews. That’s how The People of Israel’s Jirga - Pashtuns and Jewswas born.
Talia
A researcher and the association's marketing expert
Yeshaya
Yeshaya Rosenman, music student and translator. Trying his best to believe in the full redemption, wherever it may take us. He got interested in the Lost Tribes at a young age after reading a booklet from Rabbi Eliyahu Avihail of blessed memory.
He took an interest in contact with the Afghans. Even though their culture is so different, He found them warm, dignified, brave, and respectful. He hopes that one day Afghans and Israelis will be able to visit each other freely, and forge a true bond and relationship that will benefit both sides materially and spiritually.
Nadav
Nadav is an Israeli Jew, the chairman of the association. He sends warm regards to his not-lost brothers and sisters and wishes them all the blessings of the world. Khoshaala aw âbaâd wosay.
שו"ת קצר של פעיל העומתה, ישעיה, עם הרב שרקי על עשרת השבטים.
מתי ואיך שמעת לראשונה על התיאוריה בדבר מוצאם הישראלי של השבטים הפשטונים?
דרך ידידי הרב דוד אביחיל שליט"א בנו של הרב אליהו אביחיל ז"ל חוקר עשרת השבטים, בשנת תשל"ח (1977).
מהי החשיבות הרוחנית של חיפוש עשרת השבטים על ידי היהודים?
זו השלמת הזהות הישראלית. עיין מאמרו של הרב קוק בעניין בספר "מאמרי ראיה".
מהו עיקר כוחם של עשרת השבטים לעומת היהודים?
אנו רואים שמדובר בחברות שונות מאד באופיים. עיין מאמר הרב קוק "המספד בירושלים".
מדוע היהודים זכו כבר לשוב לארץ ישראל ועשרת השבטים לא?
כי אשמת שומרון היתה גדולה יותר.
מה צריך לקרות כדי שיווצר החיבור המלא בין היהודים לעשרת השבטים? כיצד היהודים יוכלו להפנים את היסודות הרוחניים החיוניים של עשרת השבטים, וכיצד הם יוכלו להפנים את היסודות היהודיים?
נראה שעליית האיסלאם הקיצוני מאז הפלישה הסובייטית לאפגניסטן דווקא יצרה חציצה אידיאולוגית קשה ביננו במקום קירוב הדעות. צריך לראות אצלם רצון אמיתי להתחבר לעם ישראל ממניעים רוחניים טהורים.
מה יכול האדם הפשוט בארצות האיסלאם לעשות למען השלום?
לחנך לכבוד לחיים ובכלל לקיום שבע מצוות בני נוח.
מה היית מייעץ לפשטוני המחפש להעמיק את זהותו הישראלית השורשית?
לקרוא תנ"ך, לבני, כוזרי ויהדות הלכה למעשה של הרב לאו.
לו הכח היה בידך, כיצד היית רוצה לראות התקדמות בנושא הקשר לעשרת השבטים? מי צריך לפעול ליצירת הקשרים?
יש לבחון איפה יש כוונות לש"ש אצלם ואיפה מדובר בנסיון לקבלת תמיכה צבאית ומדינית לשם מאבקים שבטיים. במידה ויזוהה עניין אמיתי יש לפעול אצל הרה"ר לשם הקמת ועדה קבועה העוסקת בנושא ולהקמת זרוע קבועה מטעם משרד ראש הממשלה.
עשרת השבטים על פי הרב יהודא ליאון אשכנזי 'מניטו'
מאת ספי גלדצהלר
הרב יהודא ליאון אשכנזי (1922-1996), המכונה מניטו, נולד כיהודי ספרדי באלג'יריה שם נחשף לדת האיסלאם, היגר בהמשך לצרפת ופגש ביהדות האשכנזית ובדת הנוצרית ולבסוף לאחר מלחמת ששת הימים עלה לארץ ישראל וחי בה עד פטירתו.
מניטו הרבה לעסוק בשאלת הזהות העברית לענפיה ושבטיה השונים כגון: זהות יהודה, זהות יוסף וזהות בנימין ואף זהויות עשו וישמעאל כאבות הנצרות והאיסלאם. בעיסוקו בשאלות אלו השתמש בפרספקטיבה קבלית ובמתודה האנתרופולוגית והתייחס רבות לתהליך שיבת ציון והקמת המדינה היהודית בזמננו. עשרת השבטים צאצאי ממלכת (צפון) ישראל במשנת מניטו, נחשבים בראש ובראשונה כממשיכי זהותו של יוסף המקראי – אצלם מצוי הכשרון לנהל ממלכה, לכלכל את העם ואפילו את האנושות כולה, בדומה ליוסף בתפקיד שליט מצרים. מאידך החולשה אצל ממשיכי יוסף עלולה להיות היחלשות החיבור אל התורה, כך שבהפרדם מממלכת יהודה ומאיזור המקדש, מיד תרבוץ לפתחם סכנת ההתבוללות והפגניזם.מי הם עשרת השבטים בימינו?
א. חלק מהגרים הם בבחינת 10 השבטים
החל מקום המדינה גברה בעולם תופעת הגיור, יש מחכמי ישראל שרואים זאת לחיוב ויש שרואים זאת לשלילה. מניטו עסק לא פעם בגיור ונהג להבחין בין גויים שמעוניינים בפשטות להמיר את דתם ועמם לבין גויים החשים זיקה פסיכולוגית לזהות היהודית. מניטו ציין לחיוב את הרב אביחיל שנודע במסעותיו לאיתור עשרת השבטים באיזור מרכז אסיה וקרא למפעלו זה "עבודה נפלאה". הרב אשכנזי הוסיף כי מצויות שם קבוצות בהן תחושת הזיקה לזהות היהודית מגובה במנהגים או אלמנטים דתיים יוצאי דופן: "כמה רמזים שיש כמה זרמים מהם שהיה בזכרונם כמה שמות של השבטים של בית יוסף, זה ידוע, מגלים את זה עכשיו. הם נמצאים לרוב בפקיסטן, באפגניסטן, בצפון הודו וכן הלאה" [שערי אורה, 65]
ב. זהות 10 השבטים חוזרת דרך החילונים הציוניים
חשיבות זהותם של עשרת השבטים כה גדולה כי לא יתכן, על פי מניטו, שהיא תאבד, אפילו מממלכת יהודה עצמה! בעקבות המהר"ל מפראג מאתר הרב אשכנזי את נטיית עשרת השבטים לעסוק בענייני עולם הזה, בציבור הציוני-חילוני ועל כן הוא מזוהה אצלו כ'משיח בן יוסף' . נטיות אלו הכרחיות דווקא בזמן חזרת ישראל לארצו שכן אז הוא צריך לפתח את תחומי החול: התיישבות, כלכלה, צבא, שלטון וכד'. זהו ממד אבסטרקטי של חזרת עשרת השבטים באחרית הימים.
ג. גויים אוהבי ישראל
ממד נוסף ואחרון של עשרת השבטים מצוי במשנתו של מניטו ספק ברצינות ספק בצחוק בדמות הגויים אוהבי ישראל. בהקשר זה ציטט מניטו את אחד מרבותיו בילדותו – הרב בועזיז שאמר: "אם אתה פוגש גוי שאוהב את ישראל, תדע שהוא מעשרת השבטים; כי נס כזה גוי שאוהב את ישראל, זה לא יתכן" הרב אשכנזי הוסיף: "זה קצת גוזמה אבל בכל זאת זה ברור" [שערי אורה, 124]
האם יחזרו 10 השבטים? מניטו מסביר את הרמב"ם ומבין כי יש לחלק בדברי הרמב"ם על ימות המשיח בין היהודים לבין "נדחי ישראל": "המלך המשיח עתיד לעמוד ולהחזיר מלכות דוד ליושנה לממשלה הראשונה, ובונה המקדש ומקבץ נדחי ישראל" (רמב"ם הלכות מלכים יא א)
מניטו מדקדק בסדר האירועים: קודם כל מגיע המשיח ומקים ממשלה, אחר כך בונה את המקדש ולבסוף מקבץ נדחי ישראל. על כך מקשה הרב אשכנזי: אם נניח שהרמב"ם הקפיד על הסדר, אז למי המשיח בונה ממשלה, למי המשיח בונה בית המקדש -אם רק אחר כך מחזיר את נדחי עם ישראל? לכן צריך להבין שיש שני חלקים בעם: הגולים היהודים, בשבילם זה המדינה, בשבילם זה הבית המקדש; ואחר כך חוזרים הנידחים.
השלב הראשון זה משיח בן יוסף, זה מדינה, השלב השני זה בית המקדש, רק אחר כך בשלב השלישי מקבץ נידחי עמו ישראל. השלבים הראשונים זה בשביל היהודים, וכשהכל יהיה מתוקן, חוזרים עשרת השבטים [שערי אורה: שיעור 65 קלטת 55 א' 10.1.93 + שיעור 124 25.2.96] לפי דברים אלו, הרמב"ם סובר שעשרת השבטים ישובו לארץ אך יקדמו להם צאצאי יהודה, ביאת המשיח ובניית המקדש.
לסיכום: עשרת השבטים על פי מניטו, הם קבוצה מובחנת בעם ישראל שגלתה ועתידה לחזור. חזרת עשרת השבטים היא בכמה אופנים: על ידי הגרים, ועל ידי חזרת נדחי ישראל בימות המשיח. ומבחינה אנתרפולוגית זוהי הזהות הציונית חילונית.
Hebrew - Pashto Duet
Music is the best way to touch hearts of many people at once. It unites and raises us above our differences. This is why we decided to produce a duet song for famous Afghan and Israeli singers. Sung in both Pashto and Hebrew, it will help raise awareness about our common origins, as well as promote peace and unity between the tribes. We need your help to make this possible. Please support us and let’s write history together!
Academic Research
With the help of ITribe we conducted an initial poll to map Jewish customs practiced by Afghans. We hope to soon transform this data into an academic research about our common origins.
For reasons why DNA studies were not perform yet, see our FAQ section.
Organized Trips to Israel
We believe that it is very important to enable Afghans to learn about their ancestral land and fall in love with it again, just like their ancestors once did. For that, we are planning to organize unique trips for Afghans to Israel. The travel itinerary will include such sites as the graves of their fathers and mothers: Avraham and Sara, Yishaq and Rivka, Yaaqov, Lea and Rahel, and Yosef. They will visit their ancient lands in Shomeron, and, of course, the eternal capital of the people of Israel, Jerusalem. Together we will ascend the mountain of Bet Ha Miqdash, where during king Solomon’s reign all Israelites used to pray to Gd and celebrate Israeli holidays.
Citizens of Afghanistan are required to obtain tourist visas in order to travel to Israel. This process might take up to several months and there is always a possibility of being rejected. We decided to start with Afghan foreign passport holders as they shouldn’t have problems entering Israel.
Facebook
Facebook might be the greatest gift Gd has given us in order to reconnect. We spend time and money on our Facebook pages which are our most important tool for raising the awareness of Afghans and Jews to our cause.
Customs Book
We know of a lot of Jewish customs, both from written and oral Tora, practiced by Afghans. Due to Islamization and modernization some of those customs are becoming rare. This is why we are planning a book in order to document those customs and discuss their origins and different form of practice among Afghans and Jews. In many cases Afghans don't know the origins of their traditions, and frequently religious athorities claim they have Kafir roots. We hope that the extinction of those precious ancient Israeli customs will be prevented once it becomes common knowledge that they are part of the original religion based on one God, commanded by God to the people of Israel through prophet Moses.
Diplomatic Relations between Afghanistan and Israel
We are dedicated to promoting friendship between our people and raising awareness about our common roots. We are hoping that our efforts will eventually inspire our governments to develop friendly relations and establish diplomatic ties, which will create endless opportunities for cooperation of our people.
In order for that to happen we must overcome some major obstacles. For example, many Afghans hate Israel due to lies spread by the media. Also, Afghanistan may lose support of some Arab countries if it develops official relations with Israel.
On the other hand we must realize that Jews and Afghans are one nation. We are not enemies. Unlike Arab countries surrounding Israel, Afghanistan had never had any wars with us. Still, countries like Egypt and Jordan have diplomatic relations with Israel. Why not Afghanistan?
Send an email to info@halavi.org or contact us on Facebook:
What is the proof that the Afghans are the (not) Lost Tribes of Israel?
The Israeli origin of the other tribes of Israel is not something that can be proven mathematically, nor can it be easily tested in a lab. Currently, there is no DNA test available to determine whether the Afghans and Jews do have a common father who lived 3500 years ago for the following reasons.
First, We know for sure that for the last 2500 years of exile the other tribes did not inter marry with the Jews. Even before that, the Israelis lived as separate tribes and the rate of inter-tribal marriages is unknown. Even when such marriages did occur, the children belonged to their father's tribe, creating a separated paternal lineage for each tribe.
We also know for sure that the other tribes of Israel and the Jews do not have a common maternal origin. The wives of Prophet Yaaqov's children were not neccessarily related, and we don't how many of wives each one had, nor do we know their origins. Only having a paternal common roots makes mtDNA (inherited through maternal lineage) tests completely irrelevant.
Not only that, but our common paternal ancestor Prophet Yaaqov was the grandson of Prophet Avraham, and thus shared his Y chromosome (inherited through paternal lineage) with his brother Esaw, his uncles Ismail and the children of Qetora (Genesis 25) who were sent east by Avraham, and with the rest of Avraham's family. Their descendants included the people of ancient Aram, Moav, Amon, Edom, Arabs and others, all of which lived in Asia. Today they might be very large in numbers and might have DNA which is indistinguishable from one or more of the tribes of Israel. Therefore, the expected extent of generic similarity between the other tribes and the Jews in comparison to other nations, even in their Y chromosome, is unknown. If Yaaqov did not have unique mutations to separate him from his brother and uncles, such similarity might be even theoretically impossible to test.
In addition, a mixture of people of unknown origins joined the children of Israel during the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12) and other foreigners joined them through religious conversion over the years. Those people weren't descendants of Yaaqov at all, their number unspecified, and their descendants live with the other tribes as well as with Jews. They are now an integral part of the nation of Israel. If all of the above mentioned obstacles are not enough, a quick Google search shows that in some cases different companies and researchers come to contradictive conclusions about the ethnical background of the same person or nation. It strongly suggests that ethical genetic testing is very far from being exact science at the moment.
In order to conduct a serious genetic research to check whether the Afghans are the other tribes of Israel, we must first theorize the expected genetic similarity between the other tribes and Jews from different communities. Considering all of the issues mentioned above, and given that recent research shows there might be environmental effect on mutations, the standard methods of ethnical genetic tests are bound to fail in our case. If and when we do a serious innovative DNA research, we will have to closely examine what kind of similarities we are expected to have and how we can find them if they exist. Even if we do everything right there is a high chance of only getting inconclusive results. Due to the complexity and high cost of such research, it wasn't done yet.
That said, the old fashioned logical approach is always available. From Jewish prespective, it is certain that there are millions of descendants of the other tribes who are part of one or more nations of the world. Nowadays, expecting them to be found as mystical people, living in some unexplored land is absurd. All lands are already explored, all nations discovered. Every nation has internet access, and at least some information about it is avaiable online. We can thus make a full list of nations on Earth, and even talk to them through facebook, skype and whatsapp. One or more of them belong to the children of Israel. We can choose an objective criteria, apply it to each nation and rank it according to how well it meets the criteria. If even the top-ranked nation doesn't meet most of the requirements, the search for the tribes fails. Alternatively, we might find that a few nations fit well objectively and much better than the rest. If that's the case, we could conclude that they are the lost tribes with variable certainty depending on their rank.
One such criterion would be having a tradition of being Israelites. If such tradition exists, it would add to the nation's ranking depending on how well it is documented in written and oral history, how many people claim it and its acceptance by Jews living with them. They can also be ranked according to how well their geographical location fits the expected location of the other tribes based on the Bible and oral tradition. Another obvious criterion is the amount and uniqeness of Jewish customs they practice. Once such a comparitive research is done, a highly reliable conclusion can be reached.
Even though we do hope to eventually conduct an anthropological academic research, we see it as a formality rather than a neccessity given the short research we have already conducted. Regarding the first criterion, the Afghans are by far the best fit. The tradition of Afghans being Israelites is documented in Maso't Binyamin (12th century, Hebrew), The History of the Afghans (17th century, Persian), Kushal Khattak's poems (17th century, Pashto), and more recently by Israel's second president Yitzhak Ben Tzvi and Rabbi Eliyahu Avichail based on a research of Afghans in Kashmir and the testimony of Afghan Jews. To the best of our knowledge, no other nation has a similarly documented tradition of being Israelites. In the middle of the 20th century a theory proposing Arian origins of Afghans was invented based on linguistics. Unlike the scholar-invented theory, the tradition of being the children of Israel was passed down from generation to generation in almost every Afghan home. Its incomparable antiquity, acceptance by Afghans and Afghan Jews and the uncertainty that Arian is even a race (it was a name of an area that included Afghanistan, so the Afghans can be both Arians and Israelites), makes the Israelite origins the only real tradition of Afghans about who they are.
Regarding their location, while some portion of them might have gone to Africa according to the Talmud, the majority should be in Asia around the area of ancient Medes which was a neighbor of Persia. According to Jewish oral tradition (Sefer Ha Yashar on Dor Ha Palagha) and historical geography scholars, the location of Medes was the Khorassan, which includes today's north Iran, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Given this consideration, the list of nations to check is limited. To the best of our knowledge, based mainly on Afghan and Jewish testimonies and information available on the internet, the other nations living around this area don't have any written or oral tradition of being israelites, making the Afghans not only the best match, but the only match.
Jews always knew that the other tribes of Israel are not Jewish by religion, meaning they don't follow the laws of the Tora. Therefore, it is not expected to find them observing Shabbath or celebrating Israeli holidays. It is unclear how much Jewish customs the other tribes are expected to practice. Based on Afghan testimonies, as well as an online poll, the Afghans practice dozens of Jewish customs, some of them unique (See our Home section for the list). To the best of our knowledge, other nations in Asia, and in particular around the area of ancient Medes, do not come even remotely close to the Afghans in the amount and uniqueness of Jewish customs they practice.
We admit that our research focused on Afghans, relaying mainly on online information about the other nations of Asia. However, we believe that the Afghans fit so well objectively that even if an accademic research would yield another nation that fits well, it would just mean that the other tribes were divided into two nations.
If the Afghans are Israelites, why isn't their language Semitic?
No one expected to find the other tribes speaking Hebrew. During the exile, the Jews used Hebrew mainly for praying and learning Tora while speaking a Jewish-specific dialect of the local language for daily matters. Jews spoke Judo-Arabic in Iraq and Morocco, Persian in Persia, Dari in Afghanistan, Yidish in Eastern Europe, Ladino in Spain. The only thing that kept Hebrew alive was Jews practicing Judasim. Once the other tribes stopped following Judaism as a religion they naturally lost Hebrew. Actually, the exact same thing is happening today in non religious Jewish communities around the world.
I'm an Afghan and there are some customs in the list I've never heard about
Some of the customs are only practiced in specific tribes or areas. For example, during our research we asked about breaking glass in weddings. Some Afghans said it doesn't exist, while others said it is common in Kandahar and that they saw it with their own eyes but with clay dishes instead of glass. One Shinwari Afghan from Peshawar even admitted to doing it himself.
When we heard about the Koza we immediately noticed its striking resemblence to the Jewish Natlan. When we asked about it, one Afghan from Peshawar said that it belongs to the past, and now they use sinks. Then an Afghan from Kabul answered him that they have sinks too yet they still use the Koza for washing hands before eating. We can only assume that in another generation or two some Afghans in Peshawar would not even know what Koza is.
We believe that one of the reasons for customs extinction is Islamization, as some Mullahs are saying those customs have Kafir origins not realizing they are insulting the Afghans and Yehudi prophets of God who started them. Another reason might be modernization which causes people all over the world to abandon their family customs, especially when they don't know their source and purpose.
Why do are the other tribes of Israel are called Afghans all over the website instead of Pashtuns or Pakhtuns and what's the difference?
The term Pakhtuns or Pashtuns is based on the Pakhto language which is also spoken by other nations living in Afghanistan like Syeds and Nooristanis. The Afghans usually say that speaking Pakhto is the criterion for being Pakhtun, yet they also say that the Syeds and Nooristanis are not Pakhtuns, sometimes even calling them the non-Pakhtuns Pakhtuns. It is true that the term Afghans is also confusing because there are other nations living in Afghanistan, and because some Afghans live in east Afghanistan which is occupied by Pakistan since its invention.
There are reasons to believe that the Pakhto languange was used by local people who lived in Afghanistan before the Hebrew speaking Israelites came. This local people might have been the ancient Pakhtas who were briefly recorded by ancient historians (and they might be one of the "non-Pakhtuns Pakhtuns" unless they were exiled by Assyria elsewhere). By contrast, according to the book The History of the Afghans, Afghana was a grandson of king Shaul and his descendants were the largest group among the Israelites who were taken to Afghanistan. Because both terms are confusing from different reasons, we chose the term Afghans which is associated with the people of Israel.
Why should anyone be interested in this cause given the fact that the Afghans follow the Quran while the Jews follow the Tora?
Belonging to the same family (or nationality, which is just a family in a wider sense in our case) is the strongest and most natural thing that connects human beings. We belive that all Afghans and Jews should take interest in this cause because it is the next big thing in the way to complete and eternal redemption of the people of Israel and the whole world. We know we have differences regarding what God expects from us, but that shouldn't stop us from creating a meaningful relationship that benifits everyone, based on our blood bond.
Isn't it racist to love someone just because you share a blood connection?
It is racist to hate someone because of his race. There is nothing racist about loving someone. Also note that if loving someone because of a blood connection is racist then every parent who loves his child is a racist.
Why didn't the Jews do anything about this connection before?
First, the Afghans Israelite origins was mostly unkown except for the Afghan Jews. Second, the Jews were mostly in survival mode for 2000 years before they finaly returned home. So until recently, there was nothing that could have been done and no one who could have done anything about it. Some Israeli Jews did try to connect to the Afghans just a few decades ago but before the internet and social networks there options were very limited and the attempt failed.
Why doesn't Israel bring all the Afghans to their homeland of Israel?
First of all, the Afghans don't want to come to Israel. Second, most of the Jews in Israel didn't hear the "news" yet. Third, some Jews would except the Afghans to be Jewish, which is not something the Afghans are ready to do, and some Afghans would expect the Jews to be Muslims, which not something the Jews are ready to do. Fourth, unfortunately, a lot of Afghans hate Jews and Israel. There are too much self hating Jews in Israel already, and filtering out such people would be very difficult. In conclusion, it is premature to talk about how all the Afghans will come to Israel. We are focusing on practical things we can do in the present and near future that will do good to the great, united nation of Israel, as well as to the rest of the world.
Why doesn't Israel help the Afghans?
Afghanistan has no diplomatic relations with Israel and never asked for any kind of help. We pray for the day when Israelis could contribute to Afghanistan's recovery from its civil war. Please note that we are not a governmental organization and can't promise anything, but for sure the first step towards getting any kind of help from Israel is recognizing the simple reality that Israel exists.
Is it possible and safe for an Israeli to visit Afghanistan?
With foreign passport - yes. With an Israeli one - no.
Isn't Israel the enemy of Muslims?
No. About 20% of Israel's citizens are Muslims who enjoy equal individual rights as the Jews. Israel also has friendly relations with Muslim countries such as Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. There is a state of ongoing conflict with some Arab countries over a piece of land, not religion. At the current state of affairs, countries like Iran, Qatar and Pakistan are funding and supporting Arab terror groups such as Hamas and Fatah who apply tactics such as suicide bombings, shooting rockets at Israeli civilians from Arab schools and hospitals, and knife attacks against elderly women and babies in their sleep. Those countries, who interestingly also support terrorists in Afghanistan, are using their media channels such as Al Jazira, and bribe corrupted Mullahs and Imams to spread the lie that Israel is in a war with Muslims, to advance their own interests. They also manipulate the truth by saying, for example, "2 Palestinians shot by Israeli police", forgetting to mention that an 80 year old grandmother and her baby grandson were stabbed to death by 2 Palestinians terrorists who were shot by police with their bloody knife in hand, while chasing after unarmed Israeli civilians (based on many true stories). We suggest following Israeli news sites such as Israel National News to hear Israel's side too. Israel has never had any war with Afghanistan and Israelis don't see it as an enemy at all.
Can an Afghan visit Israel? Is it safe for Muslims?
With foreign passport - yes. With an Afghan one - no. That said, there might be ways to enable orginized visits in the future. It is 100% safe for Muslims in Israel.
Can an Afghan marry a Jewish woman?
Most Jews are against inter-faith marriages and would not marry even another Jew if he or she converted to another religion. Jews who assimilated would marry whoever they fall in love with, but because of that same assimilation, a lot of those assimilated "Jews" are not really Jewish, neither by blood nor religion.
How can we unite if we can't marry each other?
There are Afghan tribes who only married inside their own tribe for centuries and possibly forever. Still they are all part of one Afghan nation. There are also some communites of Jews who only marry within their own community. Still they are part of one Jewish nation. Following the same logic, we believe that even though we can't marry each other, we can all be part of one Israeli nation.
How can we unite if our countries don't have diplomatic relations and Afghanistan doesn't even recognize Israel?
Creating diplomatic relations is one of our most important goals, but there are things we can do and are doing even before accomplishing it.
Can you help me convert?
No. While some people from both sides would be happy to help and even convince and brain wash the other side into changing his religion, we don't do conversions. We actually believe that not doing conversions is one of the most important keys to our current and future success.
How many people on both sides known about this connection?
Large percent of Afghans and about 5-10% of Jews in Israel heard about it one way or another.
I am an Afghan in Europe/USA. Will the Jews of my city accept me?
If they never heard about our connection, given the news about the Taliban people hear all the time, they will probably be terrified. Even more so with ISIS inspired terror attacks in Europe in recent years. We are working very hard on raising the awareness in Israel, and afterwards we hope to do it abroad as well. Until then, you should approach it with caution, and consult our Jewish activists before this kind of a meeting.
How can I help?
We need help in English - Pashto translations. We have wonderful Afghan volunteers helping us, but if we had more man power we could boost our efforts greatly. Creative ideas on what could be done at the moment can be helpful as well. We always hope for more people in our group. And of course donations will help too :) .
Donations through PayPal coming soon. Meanwhile it's possible to transfer donations directly into our bank account:
האגודה למען באני ישראל מאפגניסטן
Israel's Postal Bank - בנק הדואר
branch 1
account no. 8580583