Today I've been reading a lot about the Sami and feeling quite connected to that aspect of my ancestry. Reading about Sami experiences with religion, shamanism and alcohol have triggered a lot of connections for me to me and my family. Peoples is peoples, but sometimes peoples can make life quite difficult for each other. Or something. Yoik.
Watch a series of films on Youtube outlining Sami struggles over land rights and ecology.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0Bzjw7CLw0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfxScuBfFt8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uRjZM-GBbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC8CDCAD2iw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rarzxyFOzD8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sKJ7l1GP-0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULUFtzTzZHs
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
It couldn't get much cooler
Well as time goes on and I find out more about all this DNA stuff, it seems that not only am I of Ashkenazi heritage on my father's side, the ancestry could well be of the Rabbinic caste. Unusually within orthodox Judaism, this bloodline is patrilineal rather than matrilineal. People from this bloodline can trace their roots back through Aaron..., back to Jacob, to Isaac, to Abraham... That's got to be about as cool as it gets.
Shalom.
Shalom.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Confirmation
Well, I had it confirmed yesterday that my most likely bloodline on my father's side is Jewish - that is my antic tribe on his side. Almost all of my genetic matches on his side are Ashkenazi (East European Jews).
It is a strange feeling - very exciting and exhilarating, but I also have something of a feeling of anti-climax now it has been confirmed. I suppose the hard thing is that I have no one I can really share the information with who would be particularly interested.
It is an amazing feeling knowing that I am related to Biblical people - Moses, King David, Jesus... perhaps even Elijah... well, OK, we are all related to each other ultimately, but obviously having a Jewish bloodline relates you in a closer or more linear way. Another reason I think it may feel a little anti-climatic is because according to orthodox Judaism I am not considered Jewish because the line is traced through the maternal line. I know this is a bit of a controversial issue between the orthodox and reform lines - it is apparent that lineage has been traced back through the patrilineal line in the past. At any rate - it is a part of my genetic heritage, whether or not "Jewishness" is officially recognised as my status. I am quite happy to accept that in order to identify as Jewish I would need to make a much bigger cultural commitment by officially converting.
But I stand divided. In the past I have felt close to my Catholic heritage and theologically I feel closer to Judaism right now. I am saddened by the tension, suspicion and aggression that has taken place in the past between these two peoples - and that is still all too apparent. I suppose my parents' divorce and the fact that I am no longer in touch with my father in any kind of meaningful way - he really wants nothing to do with me - is just a microcosmic reflection of the bigger picture.
It is a strange feeling - very exciting and exhilarating, but I also have something of a feeling of anti-climax now it has been confirmed. I suppose the hard thing is that I have no one I can really share the information with who would be particularly interested.
It is an amazing feeling knowing that I am related to Biblical people - Moses, King David, Jesus... perhaps even Elijah... well, OK, we are all related to each other ultimately, but obviously having a Jewish bloodline relates you in a closer or more linear way. Another reason I think it may feel a little anti-climatic is because according to orthodox Judaism I am not considered Jewish because the line is traced through the maternal line. I know this is a bit of a controversial issue between the orthodox and reform lines - it is apparent that lineage has been traced back through the patrilineal line in the past. At any rate - it is a part of my genetic heritage, whether or not "Jewishness" is officially recognised as my status. I am quite happy to accept that in order to identify as Jewish I would need to make a much bigger cultural commitment by officially converting.
But I stand divided. In the past I have felt close to my Catholic heritage and theologically I feel closer to Judaism right now. I am saddened by the tension, suspicion and aggression that has taken place in the past between these two peoples - and that is still all too apparent. I suppose my parents' divorce and the fact that I am no longer in touch with my father in any kind of meaningful way - he really wants nothing to do with me - is just a microcosmic reflection of the bigger picture.
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