|
February 26th, 2004 |
Vol. III - No.14 |
||||
|
In This Issue
The Samaritan Update, is a Bi-Weekly Internet Newsletter, a Division of The-Samaritans.com.
Subscription is free via E-mail only. ----- Editor: Shomron Co-Editor: Osher Sassoni Staff Writer: Staff Photographer: Eyal Cohen Staff Translator: Guy Tsabary Special Contributors: A. B. - Samaritan News ---- Contact information: and to our Subscribe To the Bi-Weekly Newsletter -The Samaritan Update. Sign Up ! Donate to The-Samaritans.com
Sunset Times for Central Israel calculated by Abraham Cohen from HolonSabbaths begins Friday Feb. 27th, 5:36pm to Saturday 28th, 5:37 p.m. Mar. 5th 5:41pm- 6th 5:42pm Samaritan Calendar of Festivals Passover Sacrifice: May 3rd, 2004 Passover: May 4th Days of Unleavened Bread: May 4-10th Pilgrimage: May 10th Samaritan Studies and Related Conferences:
In Planning Stage SES:In Haifa, July 5-8, 2004 organised by Menahem Mor, and a session at the EABS in Grooningen, July 25-28, 2004 organized by Ingrid HjelmDo you have a question that you would like to ask: Join Us at The-samaritans
Plan on buying a Book? Buy through us and support our main website: www.the-samaritans.com
|
Shalom b.
Amram, the Samaritan High Priest is dead.
The new High Priest is Elazar
b. Tsedaka. The last picture the late High Priest Shalom b. Amram blessing the peoples who attend the special evening in Tel Aviv, Israel where the Government of Israel and the Parliament of Israel salute to the Israelite Samaritan People - Photographed by Nir Shmul. High Priest Shalom b. Amram was brought up in the Samaritan tradition from early youth by his predecessors of the priestly family. He was born in January 13, 1922 in Nablus/Samaria, and applied himself from an early age to practicing the Samaritan tradition. He devoted most of his time to his community, was unassuming, was always a lover of peace and was much beloved by the members of his community. The late High Priest served his community as a teacher of Samaritan tradition to the younger generation, as the community ritual slaughterer- the Schochet, and as a central cantor with a strong and melodious voice. He is survived by one son, two daughters and grandchildren. Around January 1996, when the election for the Palestinian Authority took place, Priest Shalom was among the three Samaritan candidates for the seat in the Palestinian Council reserved for the Samaritans, according to the decree of Chairman Arafat, who holds the Samaritan community in great esteem despite the small number of its members. Thousands of Palestinians gave him their support and he was elected to this special position. He represented his community faithfully and assisted many of its members through his connections with high officials in the Authority, particularly with Chairman Arafat who considered him a personal friend. On his 80th birthday, in 2002, the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Moshe Katzav, threw him a special birthday party in the presidential residence in Jerusalem. All of the high-ranking officials in Nablus were his closest friends. Thousands of mourners came from Judea and Samaria to his home on Mount Gerizim during the seven days of mourning to extend their sympathy to the community. On Tuesday 10.2.04, the Nablus Municipality opened a special mourning hall for a three-day duration, to be open three hours every day to many thousands of visitors who came to pay their respects. Since 1624 A.D. Samaritan High Priesthood is usually determined according to age. The oldest priest in the priestly family becomes the High Priest, whose residence is on the Mountain of Blessing. This system of election leaves no place to personal competition on this position among the priestly family of the Samaritans that holding the claim that the High Priest is elected from heaven. High Priest Shalom fell gravely ill last year with a
cancer disease from which he did not recover. Last weekend he was rushed
into Sheba hospital where his death was pronounced on Monday, February 9,
2004. At the same day at 3 p.m., he was brought to burial in the cemetery
of Kiriat Luza on Mount Gerizim. Hundreds of friends and acquaintances
accompanied him for the last time. The Palestinian Governor of Nablus
mourned him with warm words of appreciation. The Israeli governor of
Nablus, lieutenant colonel Raid Fares was also present. The President of
the State of Israel, the Israeli Prime Minister, the Chairman of the
Palestinian Authority, the Israeli Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime
Minister and the Chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council sent
telegrams extending their deepest sympathy to the new High Priest.
Hundreds of calls and condolence messages were received at the Chambers of
the new High Priest and at the A.B. - Institute of Samaritan Studies from
people from all walks of life and
Elazar b. Tsedaka b. Yitzhaq [born 1927] is the 131'st High Priest of the Israelite-Samaritan people since Aaron, Moses brother. Photographed by A. B. Samaritan News The late High Priest was succeeded by his cousin, the 77 years old priest Elazar b. Tsedaka b. Yitzhaq. The new High priest is a prominent scholar in the community, a poet, and an expert in the calculation of the Samaritan yearly calendar. He was born in Nablus/Samaria in 1927. He had been a high school teacher of mathematics for many years in Nablus and after his retirement devoted himself to matters of the priesthood, literature and research. High Priest Elazar participated in research delegations on Samaritan manuscripts in St. Petersburg in 1991 and in political issues to Washington D.C. in 1995. He regularly contributes to the A.B. Samaritan News bi-weekly and is also known in the sphere of Samaritan research. In 2000 he lectured in the fifth Congress for Samaritan Studies in Helsinki, Finland. ------------- The Associated Press ran an article by Ali Daraghmeh, 2/10/2004 called 'Saloum Cohen; was lawmaker and Samaritan high priest.' "MOUNT GERIZIM, West Bank -- Saloum Cohen, high priest of the tiny Samaritan community and a Palestinian lawmaker, died yesterday at a hospital near Tel Aviv. He was 82." Etc. Other papers picked up the Article: Saloum Cohen | Samaritan high priest, 82 http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/obituaries/7915316.htm ------- Former High PriestsThe remaining house of the sons of Phinhas, sons of Aaron, that the High Priesthood was allotted to, died out amongst the Samaritans in 1623/4. The last High Priest of this order was Shelemiah ben Pinhas (1613-24) died leaving no children to carry on the succession. He was murdered in a young age while traveling. Since that time the High Priest has been the oldest priest from among the Levites. If you notice the lengths of the duration of the reign of each of the priests are much longer than the reign of recent priests. This may demonstrate that there may have been fewer Levites amongst the Samaritan-Israelites from 1624. As the number of the Samaritan Israelites appear to increase from the 1900, also the shorter the reign of the High Priests. This may also be an indication not just that life expectancy has become much higher but that their number has become greater. Evidence from manuscripts have confirmed that the Samaritans were indeed small in number for some time. The number of Samaritans were estimated to be about 140 in seventeenth century. In 1908, the Samaritans numbers 155 souls. In 2003, the number increased to 654 souls, of which 186 are from the Priestly house. The below is a list indicated the reign of the High Priesthood amongst the Samaritan-Israelites. 1624-1650 Tsedaka b. Tabia Ha’abta’ai 1650-1694 Yitzhaq b. Tsedaka 1694-1732 Abraham b. Yitzhaq 1732-1752 Tabia b. Yiszhaq Ben Avraham 1752-1787 Levi b. Avraham 1787-1855 Shalma b. Tabia 1855-1874 Amram b. Shalma 1874-1916 Yaacov b. Aaharon b. Shalma 1916-1932 Yitzhaq b. Amram b. Shalma b. Tabia 1933-1943 Matzliach b. Phinhas b. Yitzhaq b. Shalma 1943-1961 Abrisha b. Phinhas b. Yittzhaq b. Shalma 1961-1980 Amram b. Yitzhaq b. Amram b. Shalma 1980-1982 Asher b. Matzliach b.Phinhas 1982-1984 Phinhas b. Matzliach b. Phinhas 1984-1987 Yaacov b. Ezzi b. Yaacov b. Aaharon 1987-1998 Yosseph b. Ab-Hisda b. Yaacov. Aaharon 1998- 2001 Levi b. Abisha b. Phinhas b. Yitzhaq 2001- 2004 Shalom b. Amram b. Yitzhaq also known as Saum Is'haq al-Samiri 2004- And today reigns Elazar b. Tsedaka (current High Priest)
Section from The Asatir, The Samaritan Book of the Secrets of Moses Together with the Pitron or Samaritan Commentary Written and translated by Moses Gaster, 1927. The Pitron- Pg. 221 and 223Know that every one of the Meritorious Ones had to suffer great troubles in his lifetime. These were trials from God to purify them from the sins of the world. Then he accepted their repentance and made them great in the world to come. Perhaps the letter ז is the initial of the word ןורכז, remembrance, that there shall be knowledge and reputation of them. And our master Markah- may God's favour be upon him- speaking of the Meritorious Ones, said, "The dead are like unto the living." And this is his saying, "Remember unto us the covenant of the dead like that of the living." And God knows. And another explanation of the letter ז (this is seven) is the Sabbath is the seventh (day), and that observance of it will purify man of his sin.\; and perhaps the explanation be that he is recounting the wars which happened in the days of the Meritorious Ones and the troubles which happened, came upon them to purify them, just as the Sabbath purifies those who keep it. And God knows. And this explanation will agree with the opinion of the masters of knowledge. It says in the Book Asatir, [the beginning of the wars of the dying with the living,] were the beginning of the wars, because the Lehadim, Enamin, Naftohim, Patrosim and Kaslohim gathered together with the others. And they chose for themselves a leader whose name was Gitt the first born of the Lehadim, which were called by his name, Gibtai. And they went from Philistia and made war first with the Canaanites and Perizites, and took the kingdom from the hand of Nimrod, and ruled from the land of Egypt unto the river of Kush. And Nimrod went (page 223) and pitched his camp against Gitt, and he asked the children of Joktan to help him against the children of Misraim and his seed. And the children of Joktan turned away and did not listen unto him, and went away until they reached a place for camping, of which it is said, "from Mesha until thou comest unto Sifra of the mountain of the East,) that is Timnata, whose name was called Yemen, Sifra, the mountain of the East until Timnata." And Gitt died in the land of Misraim, and when Nimrod heard of the death of Gitt, he rose up to fight the inhabitants of the town of Ashur, and that is the place called Almosa; and he ruled over it, and when he became king over it, he rose up and made war with Nahor.
For the Readers Circle: Religious Parties in Israel: Their History, Methods, and Perils by Abraham Burstein. Bloch Publishing Co. 1936, New York. 59 pages. Various groups within Judaism from Biblical days to present, such as Samaritans, Pharisee, Sadducees, Karaites, Hassidism, Kaskalah, Reform.
Jewish Antiquities, or a Course of Lectures on the Three First Books of Godwin's Moses and Aaron. Vol. I, Concerning Persons. By David Jennings, Rivington, London 1823. A chapter of the Sadducees and Samaritans, Essenes, etc.
A Journey to the Fringes of Jewish Identity by Dan Ross. St. Martin's NY 1982 The author discusses "Jewish Indians", Marranos, Samaritans. He tries to answer the question 'Are these people really Jews?'
Al-Baladhuri. The Origins of the Islamic State (kitaab futuuh al-buldaan) Subtitle: Being a Translation of kitaab futuh al-buldaan of Abul-l Abbas Ahmad ibm Jabir al-Baladhuri, by Philip K. Hitti Chapter XIV The Samaritans |
||||
|
Thank you! |
We would like to thank you for visiting our website, The-Samaritans.com in the past and hope you visit us again real soon. We ask you to forward this Update to your friends. The purpose at our web site is the education of the existence and history of the Samaritan-Israelites, descendants of the ancient Kingdom of Israel. Recently we have been working on expanding our web site. We do hope you enjoy visiting our site and recommend it to your friends. The-Samaritans.com . | ||||
Monday,
February 9, 2004, the nineteenth day of the Eleventh Month, after a very
hard illness. Priest Shalom entered office in May 23, 2001 after the
demise of High Priest Libi b. Abisha. The deceased carried out his duties
faithfully and conducted the central ceremonies as well as the personal
ones of the community. 
from friends
abroad. Dozens of dignitaries from Nablus sent condolence gifts to the
family of the deceased. 