Is the Taliban Jewish?

[Jon Ford]

A news item a found in the SF Chronicle today datelined Jerusalem presents 
evidence linking the Taliban, whose tribe is the Pashtun, also called the 
"Pathan nomads," with one the fabled ten lost tribes of Israel. An Israeli 
anthropologist, Shalva Weil, points out features and acts that linked the 
traditional Pathans(note: the current Taliban, of course,no longer observe 
these activities) to Jewish custom  and practice: 1) the men had to wear 
side curls 2) they lit votive candles on Friday evenings 3)some circumcised 
sons on the eighth day after birth 4) Their cloaks were decorated by a 
symbol similar to the lamps lit by Jews at Hanukkah 5) they wore prayer 
shawls similar to those of the Jews.

To make matters even more confusing, the Northern Alliance forces are likely 
to include former "Mashhadi Jews" of Southern Iran, who were forced to 
convert to Shiite Islam in 1839, and who migrated across the border into  
western Afghanistan  around Herat to excape Iranian harassment and pograms. 
Bin Laden, watch out! You are surrounded by American soldiers,native 
Afghanis who dislike Arabs and other foreigners, and individuals of Jewish 
descent.

Jon

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