AboutRabbi Barry Dov Lerner Expertise Write to me with questions about Jewish customs and law, history,
philosophy and tradition for answers from a Conservative perspective or conversion. I am a graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary and a member of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly. Having served in congregational pulpits since 1970, I now am President of the Foundation For Family Education, Inc. a non-profit educational endeavor. I established it to create new formats of hands-on programs and provide free educational downloads at www.jewishfreeware.org. In addition to general informational questions I welcome your questions about programs for social action, outreach to dual-faith families, inter-faith clergy projects, healing services, education for conversion, adult education for the congregation and the community. If you have questions about Informal and Formal Education I am ready to share my extensive experience with Youth Activities, Camping and Religious School/Hebrew High School on a congregational, community and national/international level.
Experience I have served on the National Youth Commission for more than 25 years and serve on the Boards of the Conservative Zionist movement MERCAZ and the World Council of Synagogues. I have always dual-families and taught candidates for conversion with a great sense of fulfillment. I am very proud of 25 years on the Jewish camping staff of Camps Ramah. My greatest source of pride is my family! Ask me about them, please!:-)
Question Please does the jewish tradition have anything to do with the igbo tradtion of Nigeria?
Answer Dear Uchay,
Thanks for writing and asking.
When in doubt, I've learned to do a quick Google search, because I had no recollection of any connection between the Jewish tradition and Ibo/Igbo of Nigeria.
I was surprised to find such a connection mentioned in several places, mostly in Wikipedia.
It is not unusual for different groups to claim descent from the "lost Ten Tribes" which occurred in 722 BCE. Assyria apparently had the self-protective pattern of conquering and then scattering the locals while importing people from other areas into the newly conquered lands.
Thus a group from northern Israel could have been sent in most any direction, or small groups could have fled. In either event, it is speculative whether any such group is indeed descended from Jews of the Northern Kingdom formed when Solomon died and civil war occurred until the modern period.
But, with the rise of DNA testing strange results have appeared and time will tell. Current rituals can be ascribed to Jews living among them, with the reading of the Bible and the inclination to become literal followers of the text, but . . . who knows what DNA and time will prove.
Thanks for bringing it to my attention. You may want to contact Israeli sources to see why the State of Israel even after sending messengers to report on this small group in Nigeria denied them Jewish status.
If and when I find some additional information, I shall share it. My website is www.jewishfreeware.org.
