Upcoming Festivals

Tuesday, May 26, 2009,  Evening, Memorial day of Sinai Assembly

THE SEVEN DAYS OF SHAVUOTH [FEAST OF WEEKS]
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - Memorial Day of Sinai Assembly
May 30, 2009 - Special Shabbat of the Ten Commandments

- May 31, 2009 - The Festival of Pentacost- THE HARVEST  FESTIVAL

or Shavuoth, the years second pilgrimage to the holy sites
on Mt. Gerizim.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Displayed Feb 18, 2009

Professor Kori Translated Samaritan Writings

Professor Alexis Abdullah Ben Kori, (b. Feb 10, 1873- July 1, 1925) of Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon, translated Samaritan writings for Dr. William E. Barton in 1906-08. Translations include, History of Samaritan people Biblio 2404, the Sanctuary of Mount Gerizim Biblio 2406, the Sabbath Biblio 2408, On Circumcision Biblio2403. as well as The Messianic Hope Of The Samaritans.1907 Biblio2405, The book of Enlightenment Biblio 2402. The published works are well known to Samaritan scholars.

Photo: Scanned from the Heart of Oak, the Pacific University Yearbook. Photo of Prof. Kori credited to “Pacific University Archives.”

The translations were the first 4 chapters of a Arabic work (cc.1906/7) sent to Dr. Barton by Jacob, son of Aaron, High Priest of the Samaritans. From the  JD Purvis collection we have a reference:  “Ten chapters: 1. On the History of the Samaritan People; 2. On the Sanctity of Mount Gerezim; 3. On the Sabbath; 4. On Circumcision; 5. On the Reckoning of Time; 6. On Ritual Defilements and Purifications; 7. On Dietary Regulations; 8. On Marriage; 9. On Torah; 10. On Death and Judgment.  The first four chapters were translated by Abdullah ben Kori and published by Dr. Barton. The remaining chapters have never been translated.”

Dr. Kori, was born in Tripoli, Syria, studied at Patriarchal College, Ain Traz, Beirut, Greek Pontifical College of Rome, receiving his A.M. from Texas Christian University in 1903 and a degree from the University of Chicago. In 1906, Dr. Kori received a chair of the Department of Modern Languages at Pacific University. He also was translator for President Woodrow Wilson at the League of Nations at the Treaty of Versailles in Paris 1919. More on Prof. Kori

http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Kori_A._331484704.aspx

The William E. Barton Collection of Samaritan Materials at Boston University is as follows: “A Brief Sketch of Prof. Abdullah Ben Kori,”  by J. W. Reynolds, Wilson, N.C.  Includes newspaper clipping from 1908. (C-062 WEB Box 4, Folder 3, Item 7).

Also mentioning Kori information can be found  in box 3: American Samaritan Committee correspondence, to WEB and others, from A. Ben Kori, Abu-l Hassan, Gaskoin Wright, and the Samaritan community, regarding Palestine, the Samaritan Committee, and the Samaritans.  Approx. 150 letters, 1902-1926.  (C-061 WEB Box 3, Folder 20: 1902-1918;  C-061 WEB Box 3, Folder 21: 1919-1926)

c. Letter from A. Ben Kori to Dr. Barton, dated Nov. 6, 1907, on the reverse is a key to the annotations on the picture, in Hebrew and English.  (C-061 WEB Box 3, Folder 13, Item 3) http://www.bu.edu/sth/archives/sth/barton1.html

References cited in A Bibliography of the Samaritans, Third Edition. Edited by Alan David Crown and Reinhard Pummer, Scarecrow Press 2005.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From this Editor

This Editor feels an interest to all Samaritan scholars of the following listed in the William E. Barton Collection:

1. This needs to be added to the Biblio under Jacob ben Aaron The Samaritan Pentateuch: the story of a survival among the sects, by WEB.  Oberlin OH : Bibliotheca Sacra Co., 1903.  Two copies, one with parts cutout.  Printed, 42 p. (C-061 WEB Box 3, Folder 27, Item 1).

2. This needs to be added to the Biblio “The Last Remnant of Great Samaritan Race Being Cared For by Americans,” by E. K. Warren.  The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times (June 9, 1918). (C-062 WEB Box 4, Folder 1, Item 9)

3. This needs to be added to the Biblio“How Samaria Keeps the Passover Today,” by Ismar J. Peritz.  Christian Observer (March 27, 1918): 8-9. (C-062 WEB Box 4, Folder 1, Item 8)

4. This needs to be added to the Biblio "On Bloody Sacrifices in Palestine” by Hans H. Spoer.  Reprint from Journal of the American Oriental Society 27 (1906): 104-107. (C-062 WEB Box 4, Folder 1, Item 4)

5. This needs to be added to the Biblio “The Unchanged Passover Supper,” by F. Naseef.  The Christian Herald (April 12, 1916): 446-447. (C-062 WEB Box 4, Folder 1, Item 6)

6. This needs to be added to the Biblio “Books of All Ages:  Papyrus and Parchment Books,” by J. Eugene Reed.  Christian Observer (January 9, 1918): 20-21. (C-062 WEB Box 4, Folder 1, Item 7) (believed by this Editor to contain information of Samaritan writing)

7. This needs to be added to the Biblio “Has the Samaritan Book of Joshua Been Found?”  The Literary Digest (October 3, 1908): 464.  Detached copy.  Authored by WEB?  Incomplete?  (C-061 WEB Box 3, Folder 27, Item 5)

8. Investigation is needed for the Unidentifed letters (2) in Arabic.  (C-061 WEB Box 3, Folder 25)

9. English translation and publication should be taken for the Commentary on Genesis.  Unbound, in Arabic, holo., 211 p.  (C-061 WEB Box 3, Folder 7)  JDPurvis:  “The Biblical text is written in cursive Samaritan letters, the commentary in Arabic.”

10. And more important of all an English translation and publication should be taken for the last unpublished chapters of The Samaritans: a History and Book of Ritual, by Jacob, Son of Aaron, High Priest.  In book form, in Arabic, holo., 296 p.  Noted inside front cover: “William E. Barton, Oak Park, Ill., Purchased from Jacob, son of Aaron, High Priest of the Samaritans, 1907.”  Noted on back cover: “Microfilmed for Univ. of Leeds, April 1957.”  (C-061 WEB Box 3, Folder 12)  JDPurvis:  “Arabic; ten chapters: 1. On the History of the Samaritan People; 2. On the Sanctity of Mount Gerezim; 3. On the Sabbath; 4. On Circumcision; 5. On the Reckoning of Time; 6. On Ritual Defilements and Purifications; 7. On Dietary Regulations; 8. On Marriage; 9. On Torah; 10. On Death and Judgment.  The first four chapters were translated by Abdullah ben Kori and published by Barton… The remaining chapters were never translated.”

 This editor wishes to thank the William E. Barton Collection for displaying the information shown on their website (cited above) and Ms. Sandra Agnes for her contribution of information and letters of her great uncle A. Ben Kori.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Web Links

Samaritans celebrate Passover near Nablus

Nablus – Ma’an – Members of the tiny Samaritan sect gathered on Thursday on the hilltop of Gerzeim Mountain, south of Nablus in the northern West Bank, to celebrate the Passover holiday.
The entire Samaritan community totals just 723, and is considered the smallest sect in the world. They live only near Nablus and in Holon inside Israel. The Passover holiday is the most sacred for this sect and it symbolizes freedom from slavery under Egypt's Pharaoh. Both men and women traditionally dress in white while celebrating Passover.

Continued: http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37040

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photos:

The Samaritan Passover Sacrifice(45 images)

 http://pa.photoshelter.com/gallery/The-Samaritan-Passover-Sacrifice/G0000hRf653wXqwU/P0000aSR.b8xyeeU

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanna_banana/3434128950/in/pool-palestine

http://www.worldofstock.com/closeups/PFR2713.php

http://www.israelimages.com/see_image_details.php?idi=12651

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Passover-Nablus-Mount-Gerizim/ss/events/lf/040609passover/im:/090416/481/85db95d887a24c3c813cf6931ee94a6b/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"SAMARITAN MYTH האגדה השומרונית الاسطورة السامري

Subject: ندوة اخرى عن الطائفة السامرية في الجامعة
دعوة عامة
تتشرف جمعية الأسطورة السامرية بدعوتكم لحضور ندوة بعنوان:
الطائفة السامرية
عاداتها.. وتقاليدها
وذلك يوم الاثنين 27/4/2009 عند الساعة الثانية عشرة والنصف في مدرجات الشهيد ظافر المصري في حرم الجامعة القديم وذلك بحضور الكاهن حسني واصف السامري الذي سيرد على استفسارات المشاركين.
حضوركم تشريف لنا

Subject: Symposium on other university in the Samaritan community
General call
Legend has the Samaritan Society invite you to attend a seminar entitled:
Samaritan community
Customs .. And traditions
Will be held on Monday 27/4/2009 at the second session and half in the stands Zafer Al-Masri in the old campus, in the presence of the priest Hosni Wasif Alsamari which would respond to the queries of participants.
Honor us with your presence
Legend Samaritan Society

Also coming

President of the University of Najah National Assembly approves the request of an exhibition on the heritage and culture of the Samaritans it will be held in the old campus at the end of next June.

An-Najah National University in Nablus http://www.najah.edu/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Forth Coming Books

The English Translation of the Samaritan Pentateuch

  The first-ever English translation of the Samaritan Pentateuch, prepared by Benyamin Tsedaka will NOT be published by Logos.  The book shall be published near the end of this year. We shall keep you informed when we learn more.

Book Has New Publication Date

SAMARITANS' PAST AND PRESENT: Current Studies (Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature Studies) (Hardcover) by Menachem Mor (Editor) will now be on sale November 30, 2009 from  the Publisher, Walter de Gruyter.

Jews and Samaritans: The Origins and History of Their Early Relations, by Gary Knoppers, (Oxford University Press, 2010)

Hardcover, Not Yet Printed, Expected: 4/15/2010

Gary Knoppers Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Religious Studies, and Jewish Studies, Pennsylvania State University

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Modern Copy

Have you ever wanted to buy, Notices Of The Modern Samaritans: Illustrated By Incidents In The Life Of Jacob Esh Shelaby (1855) by Jacob Esh Shelaby and Edward Thomas Rogers. An original copy will cost $250.00 or more, but now you can purchase a copy for less than $20.00. Or you can read it at Google Book Search or

http://www.archive.org/stream/noticesmodernsa00yagoog/noticesmodernsa00yagoog_djvu.txt 

Notices Of The Modern Samaritans: Illustrated By Incidents In The Life Of Jacob Esh Shelaby (1855) by Jacob Esh Shelaby and Edward Thomas Rogers (Paperback - Mar 20, 2009) Buy it here Notices Of The Modern Samaritans: Illustrated By Incidents In The Life Of Jacob Esh Shelaby (1855)

~~~~~~~~~~

Biblio:

The Feast of Jeroboam and the Samaritan Calendar  M. Gaster
Expository Times, Jan 1913; vol. 24: pp. 198 - 201. ...place to discuss the origin of the Samaritans. The belief that they owe their...mind, absolutely groundless. The Samaritans are unquestionably the last remnant...to satisfy this requirement the Samaritans split up four or five I of the... http://ext.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/24/5/198

A Comment on 'Samaritans, Jews and Philosophers'

W.R. Williams
Expository Times, Jan 2002; vol. 113: pp. 410.

...authorities continued to regard the Samaritans, from certain points of view still...from Nathan Schur, History of the Samaritans). However, bearing in mind the...century AD would so regard the Samaritans. Neither should we disregard the...

http://ext.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/113/12/410

Book Reviews : The Origins of the Synagogue: Anders Runesson's The Origins of the Synagogue: A Socio-Historical Study (Coniectanea Biblica New Testament Series, 37; Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell International. pp. 573. ISBN 9I-22-0I946-4) is a work of note  Heather A. McKay Expository Times, Sep 2003; vol. 114: pp. 426 - 427. ...sources, such as Josephus. The Samaritans are a fascinating group of Jewish...link between Simon Magus and the Samaritans, and reviews at length the arguments...provide about the persecution of the Samaritans under Justinian. The earlier sources... http://ext.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/114/12/426-b 

Literature Expository Times, Jan 1964; vol. 76: pp. 79 - 84....SAMARITAN THEOLOGY THE survival of Samaritans of pure descent from Old Testament...3>Iacdonald-The Theology of the Samaritans (S.C.lB1.; 6os. net). The Introduction...dependence on Persian religion. The Samaritans regard Moses as the pre-eminent... http://ext.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/76/3/79

The Bandson Moses Gaster Expository Times, Jan 1917; vol. 28: pp. 518 - 520. ...more ample chronicles of which the Samaritans have also a goodly number. In every...p. 16. I have obtained from the Samaritans two copies of this Tolidah which...the calendar, I read it with the Samaritans, and when I asked what the duplication... http://ext.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/28/11/518

Literature Expository Times, Jan 1907; vol. 18: pp. 543 - 549...quite pleasant to read. Are the Samaritans worth a volume of 360 pages ? The...title of the Bohlen Lectures is 7~ Samaritans, the Earliest Jewish Sect...most thorough description of the Samaritans that has ever been written in English... http://ext.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/18/12/543

Feastes [sic] of the Samaritans;: Passover (sacrifice) Pentescost [sic] (Shavuoth) Tabernacle (Unknown Binding) by Hasanein Wasef Kahen (Author) Unknown Binding: 16 pages Language: English ASIN: B0006C29YW

The Samaritans;: Their history, religion, customs (Unknown Binding) by Hasanein Wasef Kahen (Author) Unknown Binding: 24 pages Language: English ASIN: B0006CSVH6

Samaritanernas PŒskfest I Ord och Bild / Bibliska Blodsoffer I VŒra Dagar. [Passover Celebrations of the Samaritans in Words and Pictures / Biblical Blood Offerings in Our Time]. by LARSSON, Lewis.

Bookseller: Simon Finch Rare Books (London, ., United Kingdom) Price: US$ 1170.72 Quantity: 1 Shipping within United Kingdom:US$ 15.15  Book Description: Stockholm: Albert Bonniers Fšrlag, 1917., 1917. Large 4to (312 x 229 mm), pp.56, [162]. 80 black-and-white photographs, text by John D. Whiting, Selma Lagerlšf and Sven Hedin. Top edge dyed black. Original decorative paper-covered boards, upper side blocked in black and gilt with a motif depicting a ram and a blade. Cloth spine and corners, spine blocked in black and gilt; Occasional rubbing to boards at top and bottom edges, short splits to hinges at head and foot, corners rubbed. Near-fine. First edition, no.67 of 300 copies. This remarkable work made in the spring of 1914 constitutes the first photographic record of the Passover celebrations of the Samaritans on Mount Gerazim: a twelve-hour ceremony, lasting from sunset to dawn, in which Larsson shows the preparation and slaughter of the offerings, portraits of the participants, and studies of them whilst they pray. In January 1920 a selection of these photographs were published in National Geographic under the title 'The Last Israelitish Blood Sacrifice'. In March 1915 a plague of locusts had devastated the land and by 1917 the British had invaded Palestine as a province of the Ottoman Empire. Between 1910 and 1930 Larsson was principal photographer for the American Colony, a non-conformist Christian sect based in Jerusalem. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the American Colony Photographers (who also included Elijah Meyers, Furman Baldwin and later Eric Matson) jointly created a superlative collection of photographs of Palestine and the Middle-East. After Larsson left the group, Matson became exclusive owner of this archive, which he later donated to the Library of Congress (somewhat controversially under the title of 'The Eric Matson Collection'). Bookseller Inventory # 95966

The Samaritans A.R.S. Kennedy Expository Times, Jan 1920; vol. 31: pp. 374 - 375.1920 Journal Article The Samaritans A.R.S. Kennedy UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH 374 ence...UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH. DR. THOMSON'S interest in the Samaritans is of long standing (see THE EXPOSITORY TIlBŒS... http://ext.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/31/8/374