Had a PM with some pretty amazing information: The 4 major Ashkenazi lineages did NOT come from confused tribes wandering in the desert for 40 years saying, where are we? They came from "Jewish" women of Europe 20,000 years ago! This is even 14,000 years before Adam and Eve were birthed--definitely no Levi's or Cohen's were around then!
So is being Jewish a race, a religion, or a people?? I guess this latest research shows it is mainly an attitude! :-)
The question is" Just WHEN did those European women become Jews?????
per. Overall, at least 80 percent of Ashkenazi maternal ancestry comes from women indigenous to Europe, and 8 percent from the Near East, with the rest uncertain, the researchers estimate.
Dr. Richards estimates that the four major lineages became incorporated into the Ashkenazi community at least 2,000 years ago. A large Jewish community flourished in Rome at this time and included many converts. This community could have been the source of both the Ashkenazim of Europe and the Sephardim of Spain and Portugal, given that the two groups have considerable genetic commonality, Dr. Richards said."
20,000 years ago! European WOMEN! WOW!
nytimes.com; |
