Q. Thoughts on crypto-Jews
A. As I understand it, the existence of crypto-Jews is a demonstrated part of human history, but is best studied by historians and folklorists, although genetic data can contribute to our understanding of the history of a population.
Genetic data can not identify crypto-Jewish ancestry (nor can they refute it), as crypto-Judaism is a cultural, not a biological, phenomenon.
Q. You said the enormous amount of genetic data becoming available on modern human populations has made identity questions even more complex, and is often subject to misinterpretation. Can you please elaborate on this.
A.To generalize, most of us acquire our identity as we grow up within a particular culture from our parents and others around us. As we acquire more information, we may modify, add layers, or change our perceived identity.
In other words, it is culturally acquired. Our ancestry, on the other hand, is a simple biological fact, and our genomes can provide information about our genetic origin.
Our ancestry, if known, can certainly contribute to our identity, but it is only part of the picture, given more or less weight depending on many factors.
To use it largely or even exclusively, as for example to determine Jewish identity, is to raise the specter of Jews as a “race.”
Toch
Skorecki
Neulander
Davidiy
Sutton
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