Sunday, March 1, 2015

What Do The Samaritans And Ukraine Have In Common ???

One thing they have in common is that the Samaritan community has taken Ukrainian brides:

The women, located by specialist internet-based agencies, have converted from Christianity in order to join the community, whose members are forbidden from marrying non-Samaritans. The brides now adhere to strict biblical traditions, including isolation during menstruation and for long periods following childbirth.

The Samaritans – who share many beliefs and practices with Judaism, as well as marked differences – peaked at around a million during the Roman era. But their numbers fell dramatically as a result of bloody rebellions and forced conversion to Islam. By the early part of the 20th century there were fewer than 150 left.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/11/ukrainian-women-samaritans-mount-gerizim

Considering what has been happening in Ukraine, moving to Israel must seem like a blessing.

If you've never heard of the Samaritans, here is some of their history:

In about 516 BC, after Judah returned from Babylonian captivity, the Samaritans chose Mt. Gerizim as the location where Abraham sacrificed Isaac. To the Samaritans, Mt. Gerizim is their "Jerusalem". This has caused the Jews to hold the Samaritans with contempt to this day.

http://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-samaritans.htm

In America, we allegedly don't hold people in contempt because of their religious beliefs. In the Middle East, however, it seems to be the national pastime.

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