Jewish Ancestory

[vickylee]

It was brought to my attention that my surname might be evidence of a Jewish background.

someone told me not long ago that the Jews from Germany were forced to Italy and Spain and there they were required to take on last names that were flowers so they could be identified as Jews. DH's Rose surname is German. It has been a pain trying to track down this information to see if it's a rumor. Anyone know of this stuff? Not sure if the family was ever in Spain or Italy either.

[Rick]

You might be interested in this story

Some 3.5 million of today's Ashkenazi Jews — about 40 percent of the total Ashkenazi population — are descended from just four women, a genetic study indicates.

Those women apparently lived somewhere in Europe within the last 2,000 years, but not necessarily in the same place or even the same century, said lead author Dr. Doron Behar of the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel.

He did the work with Karl Skorecki of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and others.

Each woman left a genetic signature that shows up in their descendants today, he and colleagues say in a report published online by the American Journal of Human Genetics. Together, their four signatures appear in about 40 percent of Ashkenazi Jews, while being virtually absent in non-Jews and found only rarely in Jews of non-Ashkenazi origin, the researchers said.

They said the total Ashkenazi population is estimated at around 8 million people. The estimated world Jewish population is about 13 million.

Ashkenazi Jews are a group with mainly central and eastern European ancestry. Ultimately, though, they can be traced back to Jews who migrated from Israel to Italy in the first and second centuries, Behar said. Eventually this group moved to Eastern Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries and expanded greatly, reaching about 10 million just before World War II, he said.

The study involved mitochondrial DNA, called mtDNA, which is passed only through the mother. A woman can pass her mtDNA to grandchildren only by having daughters. So mtDNA is "the perfect tool to trace maternal lineages," Behar said Thursday in a telephone interview.

His study involved analyzing mtDNA from more than 11,000 samples representing 67 populations.

Mike Hammer, who does similar research at the University of Arizona, said he found the work tracing back to just four ancestors "quite plausible... I think they've done a really good job of tackling this question."

But he said it's not clear the women lived in Europe.

"They may have existed in the Near East," Hammer said. "We don't know exactly where the four women were, but their descendants left a legacy in the population today, whereas ... other women's descendants did not."

Behar said the four women he referred to did inherit their genetic signatures from female ancestors who lived in the Near East. But he said he preferred to focus on these later European descendants because they were at the root of the Ashkenazi population explosion.

[By MALCOLM RITTER, AP Science Writer]

Here is a link for information on testing to determine if you are of Jewish lineage.

www.familytreedna.com/jgene.html

Shalom,
Rick

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Yes, I also recommend Family Tree DNA. I had my DNA tested there with a postive result for mostly Asheknazic Jewery, but also a few matches for Sephardic Jewery. It will cost you a few hundred dollars...but, it may be worth it.

Shalom,

Reuel

[messimom]

What is the need beyond curiousity? Are we not all one in Meshiach? Have we not all been made priests? I guess I'm just failing to see a need for a DNA test.

Shalom

Messimom

[Yitzchak]

Shalom All,

I have to agree with Messimon on this one.

I have found far too many people over the years that will go to extreme lengths to prove that they somehow have some Jewish lineage.

If we are all part of one tree, then we are all part of the Commonwealth of Israel.

Shalom,

Yitzchak

[Chizuk Emunah]

Well, my personal opinion on this issue is that if a person wants to prove their lineage they should not be discouraged.

[Firestorm]

I realise that God cares for us all & that being saved is the singlemost important thing. Nonetheless, I can't help but find it intriguing indeed that many people attracted to the Messianic movement discover later on that they have Jewish ancestry. Often they discover it without having to go to a lot of effort at all and discover it quite unexpectedly. I think there's more behind this than coincidence, fabrication or wishful thinking.

[Chizuk Emunah]

firestorm said:

I realise that God cares for us all & that being saved is the singlemost important thing. Nonetheless, I can't help but find it intriguing indeed that many people attracted to the Messianic movement discover later on that they have Jewish ancestry. Often they discover it without having to go to a lot of effort at all and discover it quite unexpectedly. I think there's more behind this than coincidence, fabrication or wishful thinking.

I would be inclined to agree...

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

I don't think anyone is saying that it matters when it comes to joining Israel, or being observant, or being one in Messiah. A husband and wife is one in Messiah, yet they obviously are not the same in every detail...What if one finds that he is gentically a Levite....does it not matter in the future? The scriptures have much to say about the Jewish people and if one happens to be Jewish...I think that scripture agrees with me that it is significant to know...especially if Adonai is dropping you major hints that you may be Jewish. Do not the physical descendents of the twelve tribes of Israel have a significant place and role in the current and future Kingdom Of Heaven? If it doesn't matter, the twelve tribes of Israel don't matter because there would be no reason to distinguish them. I think with any serious study the answer to the question is, of course it matters. I think our Heavenly Father wants anyone that is Jewish to know.

There is one people of G'd with one , with many different roles...but, it is specifically the physical descendents of Israel that are prophesied to be regathered...right? It is the Jewish people that ten men from all the nations will be taking hold of one Jewish man as found in Zekharyah 8:23, right?

Shalom chaverim,

Reuel

[Yitzchak]

admin said:

I don't think anyone is saying that it matters when it comes to joining Israel, or being observant, or being one in Messiah. A husband and wife is one in Messiah, yet they obviously are not the same in every detail...What if one finds that he is gentically a Levite....does it not matter in the future? The scriptures have much to say about the Jewish people and if one happens to be Jewish...I think that scripture agrees with me that it is significant to know...especially if Adonai is dropping you major hints that you may be Jewish. Do not the physical descendents of the twelve tribes of Israel have a significant place and role in the current and future Kingdom Of Heaven? If it doesn't matter, the twelve tribes of Israel don't matter because there would be no reason to distinguish them. I think with any serious study the answer to the question is, of course it matters. I think our Heavenly Father wants anyone that is Jewish to know.

There is one people of G'd with one , with many different roles...but, it is specifically the physical descendents of Israel that are prophesied to be regathered...right? It is the Jewish people that ten men from all the nations will be taking hold of one Jewish man as found in Zekharyah 8:23, right?

Shalom chaverim,

Reuel

I agree Reuel. However, my comments were directed at so many people who I have met over the years in ministry.

Some go to extreme lengths to prove that they have some minute trace to Jewish lineage. In most cases these people seem like they are somehow inferior to those who are born Jewish. These were the people I am referring to. They cannot be satisfied with who they are in Messiah.

I am not coming against those who want to have a test, but I have seen those who would not even accept the results of a test.

You actually have me curious now to check and see if there is any Levitical background in my lineage.

Shalom,

Yitzchak

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Shalom Yitzchak,

You bring up some excellent points that need to be brought up. Because, you are right...many are not satisfied with just being a follower of Yeshua The Messiah (i.e. many in Two House Theology) and they develop a superiority complex to the detriment of themselves and others. Furthermore, Goyim (Gentiles) should not be ashamed of whom they are. In fact, Yeshayahu (Isai. 56) communicates that they will get even a better name than native born Israelites if those Israelites choose not to keep and break covenant.

Shalom achi,

Reuel

[skeeterbugs]

Do not laugh but this is the truth. Hashem told me I was a jew. I had no clue and so after he told me, I did some research and my family name on my mother's side is only found in the jewish race (hebrew) I am most interested in knowing what tribe I am from . I have gotton hints that I may possibly be from the tribe of Judah. I want to get a dna test to know plus I want to do Aliyah.

[Prodigal Girl]

I think DNA tests will get better and better, and eventually all will be clear. I do tend to think that many, many people on the earth are descendants of the 12 tribes. They have to be, because of the promise to Abraham and Judah and to multiply his/their descendants like the stars/sand. Would they be considered "Jewish" enough to get permission to do aliyah? Probably not, by today's definitions by certain sectors.

[alon]

If I had the extra cash for a DNA test, I would donate it to Jewish missions and let God worry about what tribe He wants to graft me into.

I was born a gentile, raised in the Christian church and became part of a pagan, secular world when I left home. Even if I were to find out my roots were Jewish I have no recollections that are Jewish. My experiences were not Jewish nor were the attitudes I was raised with or associated with. I'm an inheritor of the promise as well as the obligations by adoption. That's all I need to know.

In many ways this mania (and I've met some true maniacs in the short time I've been looking into MJ) to find our "Jewish roots" reminds me of the desire for everyone in the US to prove they have just a little American Indian blood in them. Why can't we just accept who we are in Yeshua and not worry so much about who our ancestors were?

Dan (probably NOT "tribe of") C

[yiska]

I think it would b e nice to know where your backgrounds comes from. I would love to know if I am jewish. Not to say that I am not since I am in the blood of yeshua's and that to me is enough, but at the same time, it would be awesome to know teh background of where my family came from.

I would love to know!