Lost Ten Tribes Studies (16 February, 2015, 27 Shevet, 5775)
Contents:
1. Sharon Shane: Irish affiliation with the Jewish people?
2. New comments on Video Clips
(a) Conundrum?
(b) Better Late than Never?
3. Question on Confirming Israelite Ancestry
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1. Sharon Shane: Irish affiliation with the Jewish people?
Hello,
I've just come across your website and wanted to let you know I find it very intriguing and look forward to going through it in detail. I recently began a journey of researching my family's Irish roots: through records as well as dna tests. A probable error in the dna analysis I received for my father got me thinking about the the legends of the Lost Tribes of Israel and speculation that one of the tribes ended up in Ireland.Â
Although at a surface level all my father's dna tests match him with people of South Irish ancestry, in the more comprehensive Big Y test his top two matches -- based on many thousands of SNPs -- appear to be of Jewish ancestry. I am told by the ftdna project administrators to ignore these results as there is something wrong with the analysis; given these matches are from completely different haplogroups than my father. In fact, there probably is something wrong with the analysis as it wouldn't make sense that at this level he has no Irish matches; when all his matches on the base YDNA tests are Irish/British. Nevertheless it got me looking into the stories. I suppose this is because I feel an affiliation with the Jewish people anyway: my ex-husband was Jewish and so my daughter is "half-Jewish". I grew up in Montreal and -- though I'm of Irish Catholic heritage -- I always gravitated towards Jewish people; before I was even aware that Jewish wasn't just some alternate version of Protestant. :)  So, unlike some of the people who have corresponded with you, I would view ancient Israelite ancestry as a positive thing worth exploring. To be clear my motivations are not religious or political -- I am an agnostic and not drawn to practicing any religion. I simply find the possible connections in the languages and mythologies fascinating and I love a good mystery!
I do believe that sometimes an outside perspective can lead to advances and insights that might not come from people who are steeped in the culture and/or the "known" facts. I don't speak gaelic or hebrew but -- like you -- I've noticed using google translate turns up some fascinating things. You've probably noticed that the old Hebrew word Goi (Goy) for nation can be gleaned from the name/phrase Goidel Glas: Goi de(l) Glas = Nation of Green?
Best wishes,
Sharon Shane
Calgary, AB Canada
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2. New comments on Video Clips
(a) Conundrum?
Glenn Beck and the Ten Tribes in America
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEXPLJjrduk
Marcus Garvie
I wonder how these Melanin Lacked Cauc_Asians survived 40 yrs in the Hot Blazing Wilderness .. Even Todays invention of Sun-Screen cannot protect them from Skin-Cancer  ... How did they Survived
(b) Better Late than Never?
Redheaded Esau
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7IWBmPvK9Q
Valencia Fouther
TOO LITTLE TOO LATE
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3. Question on Confirming Israelite Ancestry
Norman McDermid wrote:
Hi there Yair. The work that you do is admirable and honourable. How do I help a friend who wants to know if her forefathers were Israelites.
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Brit-Am Reply:
The same way as you became conscious of this possibility should also apply to others.
We cannot say for certain that anyone is of Israelite descent BUT we may opine that based on Scripture, and secular studies, a significant portion of Israelites must be in certain areas.
If someone from such a region is aroused by this matter and also begins to feel an attraction to the Bible, Ancient Israel, and the present Jewish People and State of Israel then the chances are high that they are of Hebrew origin.
With further study and interest an inner conviction should develop.
God bless you
Yair