Native Americans Express Solidarity With Israel
Virtual Jerusalem reports,
The Native Americans in the Israeli president’s sukkah were in full regalia — eagle feathers, turquoise and red beads, leather moccasins. Beating on drums, they chanted honor songs blessing the people of the Jewish state. By coming to Israel this week after a brief trip to Poland that included a visit to Auschwitz, a group from the First Nations Peoples, as they call themselves, sought to connect with the Jewish people, whom they see as sharing a similar history to their own.
“We feel like we have a connection with them in terms of what we have lost,” said Natalie Proctor, of Maryland’s Conoy people, whose Conoy name is “Standing on the Rock.”
“We have a similar history.”
Not to try and outdo those guys, but my co-chair (and close friend) at the Hillel at the University of New Mexico is a full Navajo. He converted to Judaism in 2000. He leads his own traditional Navajo dance group (Who just preformed at the opening of the National Museam of the American Indian in Washington DC) and attends morning and Shabbos services at a conservative synnagogue. He’s given lectures about himself in the past and how he feels that Judaism makes me a better Navajo and his Navajo tradition makes him a better Jew. He has hundreds of Navajo tales that parrallel stories from Torah. I’m trying to convince him to write a book about it. All in all, it’s very interesting. Thanks for the article!
The Mormons believe that Native Americans are the lost tribes from Israel.
Eric, does your friend have a website? I would love to hear his “take”.
I have always loved NA cultrue.
There are more Jewish Aboriginal people than you might expect. I personally know three families (including my own) who are Jewish Inuit. Or as my daughter says -both chosen and frozen.
I have heard of may others in Canada. I don’t have the information handy but the last census had over a thousand people who identified their heritage as both Jews and aboriginal.
B’shalom
Its good to see the Native Americans express support for our people. We have much in common, having the ability to preserve our ancient cultures in amidst the pressures of assimilation and conformity.
I myself am i proud Jewish aboriginal. I get teased at my school all the time for it and no one believes my heritage exists. But now i feel happy knowing there is more than just me. Thanx
dani i belive you and your heritage. i myself are jewish aboriginal and i also get teased at school. Sometimes i like to inform people about my culture but they just dont listen. Maby we should catch up one day. We can discuss this issue over sabbath dinner. thanking you jemma shalom!!!
I feel you jemma. At times kids try and take my yarmulka and laugh at my kosher foods and i cry. But the jewish spirit is strong and i make it though, Lets us say our prayers over the Armani bread and light a candle. For we shall not be defeated by their prejuices!
dani i think i have finally found my spiritual sister. That is exactly what happens to me. Life is such a struggle. I used to constantly get teased for bringing noodle coogle to school. I would love to meet you one day. I live in darwin. it would be great if you could come and visit my dad (running river) and myself. It would be truley great to share prayers with you . god bless all the jewish aboriginals out there. all you guys are my peeps!! shalom!!!!!
oh my Jemma. It is so good to hear you speak. I would love to visit you and your father. My father is a Rabbi, Rabbi Stern and my mother is in fact the aboriginal. I also have a brother Norm. We both enjoy the shared culture, but it is very hard at school. While my peers are eating ham sandwhichs i am eating left over Sabbath dinner Gafilta Fish. They often steal my brothers yarmulka and throw it around to keep it from him, he bops up and down as he chases it down. My father says they are envious of our rich culture, while my mother hits herself in the end with a rock hard and says a spirtual prayer for us. I’m so glad i found you!