Abraham's DNA - DNA of the Chosen People

Book "Abraham's DNA: Race, Identity and the DNA of the Chosen People
Jewish law is quite clear on the question "Who is a Jew?" (anyone whose mother is Jewish), yet the question remains vexing, calling up issues of religion, history, culture and sometimes politics. In his second foray into the world of genetics and race, Entine (an American Enterprise Institute fellow and author of Taboo: Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why We're Afraid to Talk About It) shows the degree to which genetics has been thrown into the mix. He presents fascinating evidence from DNA studies: the genes of Jewish males around the world can be traced back to the ancient Middle East; the genes of Jewish women cannot. Among Africans who claim Jewish ancestry, the Falashas of Ethiopia do not have Jewish genetic markers; but the less well known Lemba of South Africa do. A majority of cohanim, or priests, have a common genetic marker, but Levites (of whom priests are supposedly a subset) do not. But Entine can be sloppy (his grasp on the respective roles of high priests, priests and Levites is shaky; he seems unclear whether the Pilgrims were Quakers or Puritans), and he digresses from science to potted history, myths about the 10 Lost Tribes and an account of his trip to the West Bank. More problematic, his account of genetic science and DNA analysis is vague. Entine's final chapters broach the contentious topics of whether one can speak genetically of race and whether "Jewish genes" confer intellectual superiority on Ashkenazi Jews. While he cites scientists, some of the assumptions and conclusions (such as that medieval Jews' role as moneylenders contributed to a high IQ) are speculative.

The author, a secular Jew and an adjunct fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, has been driven by family health crises to seek out the genetics of Judaism. In doing so, he unravels an epic tale of "The Chosen People." DNA acts as a starting point for discussion of Jewish origins--Chapter 1 is entitled, "The Dead Sea Scrolls of DNA"--as Entine explains how it is now possible through genetic testing for apparent non-Jews to discover Jewish ancestry, and for Jews (and others) to learn more about their origins. The author disputes conventional wisdom, which cautious scientists have advanced recently, that genetic differences between individuals are minute and superficial. Instead, he embraces genetics as a method of discovering more about the diverse breadth of humanity. Nevertheless, Entine realizes that Jewish DNA does not necessarily make a Jew. To explore the question of Jewish origins, Entine takes the reader on a global tour, exploring both mythic and factual migrations of Jews across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and finally into the Americas. DNA testing has allowed scientists to explore the validity of direct ancestry claims for far-flung Jewish communities in such places as South Africa and India, while it has also identified hidden enclaves of "crypto-Jews" in places such as the American Southwest. Entine goes on to discuss the touchy subject of race, and how Jewish identity has been perceived by both Jews and non-Jews through recent history and into the present. He also bluntly approaches modern (and historic) stereotypes of Jews and offers possible reasons for their formation, as well as their potential validity in certain cases. Because the author's approach is broad and inclusive, the book is sure to cause controversy, but it serves as an excellent catalyst for discussion as many continue to ask the question, "What does it mean to be Jewish?"
Based on the anthropological and genetic record, weve been able to ascertain that the core Israelite population was not a single homogenous population, as the Bible says, but really an amalgam of local populations—Canaanites, Semites, and others—who merged in one form or another over many centuries and achieved a kind of tribal unity by about 1000 B.C.E., during the time of King Solomon. DNA then begins to come into play again after the development of a worldwide Jewish diaspora, which began in the aftermath of the Assyrian invasion of the Northern Kingdom in the 8th century B.C.E. and again after the destruction of the First (586 B.C.E.) and Second (70 C.E.) Temples in Jerusalem. For example, DNA research now confirms that groups in China and India are likely descendants of Israelites from the First Temple period. And God shall scatter you among all the peoples from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth... (Deuteronomy 28:64) And God shall return your captivity and be merciful to you, and will return and gather you from all the nations whither God has scattered you. (Deuteronomy 30:3) As the natural laws are set before Me, so shall the seed of Israel never cease from being a nation before Me, forever. (Jeremiah 31:36)

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[hansvancumalot]

jews are bad

[dizzy911]

Fake wanna be Israelites on here can't even back up anything they say! Our God see's thru you!

[dizzy911]

Fake Wannabe Israelites (jewish fakes|) on here can't back up anything they say!

[dizzy911]

@ZionistIDF And for you info... Only canaan was cursed and not the rest of the Hamites.

[dizzy911]

@ZionistIDF So according to you... There is more than 1 type of white person... but only 1 type of black?

[dizzy911]

@ZionistIDF You said "Ham was cursed and his skin turned black and his hair nappy". Your words. Now you say you didn't say that? Blacks were scattered in slavery because we didnt keep the laws of the Most High. Dueteronomy 28 will tell you of this. Shem was in appearance to Ham and scrip backs this up. Amos9:7- Are ye not as children of Ethiopians unto me, oh children of Israel? saith the Lord. have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? And the Phillistines from Caphtor, and Syrians

[ZionistIDF]

@dizzy911 I didnt say Black skin is a Curse, I said Ham was cursed by Noah that he should serve his Brothers, Ham was Cushite which is African Black. We see how Blacks have suffered slavery and still live under the White man, I am not a racist I dont hate blacks, but common, you know that Blacks need whites to survive just look at all the aid to Africa, its no shame to admit the truth. Again I am not racist I have allot of respect for many Blacks.

[dizzy911]

@ZionistIDF What are you... a Jewish Mormon??? Where do you get that Ham was cursed with black skin and nappy hair? Ham didn't molest his father either that's a lie, and for your info... all people looked like Ham at one time stupid. If anything I can prove that white skin is a curse before you can prove anything about anything!!! Prove what you say with some scrip!

[KingOfAfrica2012]

True jews are black, so is yashua

[ZionistIDF]

@dizzy911 Yea Whatever, it dont matter what you say or like to believe. We Jews are back in Israel and we will only grow and multiply, nobody takes your lies seriously anyway so keep preaching to the wind. Shalom.