The Ten Lost Tribes
ANCIENT MYSTERY from page 83
among people along the Khyber
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were living in a multicultural envi-
ronment and not in tribes.
Rabbi Burton Visotzky, chairman
of midrash and interreligious stud-
ies at the Jewish Theological
Seminary in New York, hasn't seen
the film either but also takes a
doubtful look at the subject.
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84 Detroit Jewish News
Pass really have only a superficial
linkage with those described in the
Bible, without any evidence to show
a strong relationship. The researcher
maintains that what is supposed to
be Hebrew lettering in Uzbekistan
actually is not Hebrew. He also
asserts that what is presented in
Afghanistan as the common script
of Jewish people is in fact a script
used by many people of different
nationalities.
Leuchter, who has begun making
his own films, points out evidence
that the tribe of Asher was not sea
faring, at all. Rather, he contends, it
is known that they were given ro
the kin., of Phoenicia.
"I don't think the film is really
academic," says Leuchter, who
recently completed an essay explain-
ing why he believes Psalm 77 was
written by a descendant of one of
the 10 lost tribes. "The film is
interesting for optimists and dream-
ers.
NX/hile Leuchter believes aspects
of the film often represent too great
a leap of faith, other scholars
address the subject as pure myth.
David Noel Freedman, professor of
Hebrew and biblical studies at the
University of California — San
Diego, has not seen the film but
considers the topic as myth making.
"Serious scholars reject these
claims," says Freedman, who is
averse to discussing the issue
because he thinks it tends to draw
attention to a subject that should
have no credibility. "The Bible tells
us what happened to these tribes,
and I don't regard it as a scholarly
subject.
John Kessler, who teaches Bible
at Tyndale Seminary, a Toronto the-
ological school of graduate studies,
told The Globe and Mail that the
word "tribes" can be misleading. He
maintains that before the Assyrian
conquest, Jews in northern Israel
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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"This is totally speculative," says
Rabbi Visotzky, who points out that
Jewish practices of 2,700 years ago
were vastly different from what they
are today. He urges historical per-
spective. In the time before the 10
tribes were dispersed, he notes, reli-
gious practices focused on animal
sacrifices and very limited Sabbath
observances.
Although Rabbi Visotzky's training
makes him a doubter, he does think
there can be a positive outcome from
taking the subject- seriously, and it
involves a message from the Bible.
"Feeling a tribal affinity with a
fellow human being is all for the
good," he says.
In defending his conclusions,
Jacobovici points to a recent genetic
study that linked the men of Lemba,
a Bantu-speaking people of southern
Africa, to cohanim, the Jewish priests
believed to be descendants of Moses'
older brother. Aaron. The Lemba
believe that they were led out of
Judea by a man named Buba, a leader
who-is not recorded in Jewish history.
They keep one day each week holy,
practice circumcision and refuse meat
from pig-like animals.
While the link has nothing to do
with the 10 tribes in Jacobovici's
quest, the filmmaker thinks it opens
the possibility that there could be
similar findings.
"The initial reaction of a lot of
scholars [to the idea of finding
descendants of the tribes] is to scoff,"
says Jacobovici, whose search cement-
ed his personal religious beliefs. If
you say 'lost tribes of Israel,' it's like
saying 'Martian Jews.' 'I'm going to
Mars and find Jews' sounds crazy.
"Once they see the movie, people
change their minds or are open to
something new " he maintains.
"Professor Havim Tadmor at the
Hebrew University, who is in the film,
initially laughed at this enterprise. But
once presented with evidence, he
doesn't say we've found the lost tribes
of Israel. What he does say is that he
will not say it's impossible." El
,
Quest for the Lost Tribes of Israel
has its U.S. premiere 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday, June 29, in the Scottish
Rite Theatre at the Masonic
Temple of Detroit. Doors open
at 6:45 p.m. Proceeds benefit
Children of Chernobyl, Bais
Menachem Academy and Lev
Achei B'Lvov. $36 general
admission/$180 includes post-
film gala with director Simcha
Jabobovici and valet parking.
Tickets are available through
Ticketmaster or by calling (248)
932-2889 or (248) 855-4482.