Q. Other theories about Lost Tribes?
A. As above, there is another meaning of Lost Tribes which is not just the Biblical history of Lost Tribes, but cryptic-Jews. People who don’t know or don’t know for sure if they have Jewish ancestry.
I think this is a more critical issue as I think there are very large numbers of people around the world who have this kind of cryptic Jewish ancestry that has been lost. Some of these people might actually be identified as Jewish by Jewish law, or have paternal Jewish ancestry which has some implications for wanting to move to Israel or affiliate with the Jewish people if they so desire.
There may be people that are looking themselves and they may be interested in knowing that they have this type of affinity and it could change their world-view somewhat. I think just looking at the numbers there are millions of people around the world that don’t appreciate the fact that they have Jewish ancestry.
Q. Thoughts on private DNA testing companies?
A. I have seen some exaggerated claims, but the more the databases build from people submitting samples the more accurate these companies can be at giving information. I prefer to focus my activity on a research basis compared to for-profit, but I have nothing against such companies that want to recover their costs if they want to.
The claims are less exaggerated now than when they started a decade ago when they were made without much data. Now they are more reliable in my view. I do think people can get carried away when they are looking for lost relatives and they haven’t spoken to their own brother for the last 20 years. I find that a bit paradoxical. First get your own house in order sort of thing.
I was at a genetic genealogy meeting and was disturbed that people were moving too quickly from genetic genealogy to health. People were saying they have this disease in their immediate family and therefore would try to contact the person they have a match with genetically and tell them to check for diseases. That is not a responsible way to act making that jump. You really have to know what you are doing.
Judith Neulander, Case Western:
Q. Define biological Judaism
A. Religious identity cannot be inherited; it can only be acquired by learning. To insist that any aspect of Judaism is acquired genetically, from either parent, is to repatriate 19th century race-science: to invent “biological Judaism.”
Q. How and why did the inventing of biological Judaism come to be?
A. The notion that Jews comprise a human subspecies, or biological “race,” is fairly modern; it first gained traction in the years flanking the turn of the 20th century.