 |
|
|
|
|
|
| When Melvin J. Laney was a boy, his grandfather would tell him about the origins of the family, and little Melvin would feel so proud. Grandpa Laney, a resident of the state of Utah, said they were Sons of Joseph, a tiny community, now numbering a few thousand people, claiming to be descended from Ephraim and Menashe1, the sons of Joseph from the Bible. For generations, the sect lived in Africa.2 From there, some of them migrated to Ireland, and later, to the United States. Some are Christians, some are Muslims and some are black.3 There are also some, like Melvin Laney, who feel close to Judaism. Laney, 61, lives in Spencerville, Maryland, and his son and daughter are married to Jews.4 His grandchildren are a cross between Irish and black3, with tightly-curled red hair.
Some time ago, Laney hosted some guests from South Africa, |
members of the Limba tribe, who believe they are descended from the Israelite priests. They asked for his help. Laney is active in an organization called Kulanu, whose goal is to locate descendants of the 10 lost tribes. Kulanu scours the world to find these people, from Timbuktu to Afghanistan. It also extends assistance to Rabbi Eliahu Avihail, our Israeli expert in the 10 lost tribes.
When these South Africans came to him, Laney sent them for DNA tests because the priestly line has its own genetic structure. It turns out, they have a case.5 These Limbas6 are descended from the priests, and that is why Laney is prepared to help them. They want to establish an Israelite temple on Elephantine, a beautiful island on the Upper Nile, where Hebrews also lived in days of yore. Laney has volunteered to bring their request to President |
Hosni Mubarak. This week, he sent a letter in this regard to the Egyptian ambassador to the United States. Laney is talking about a compound three times as large as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. To allay any fears, Laney made it clear in the letter that the Limbas are neither Israelis nor Jews. They would be happy if the Arab League gave its blessing to the project. The government of Egypt will not be asked for financial assistance. On the contrary, tourists from all over the world will come to see this marvel in Elephantine and leave millions of dollars behind.
The temple in Elephantine, Laney explained this week, will divert attention from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Tension in the city will thus be reduced, and the peace process will move forward. But this temple will only operate temporarily, of course: just until the establishment of the Third Temple in Jerusalem. |
|||
| |
|
|
| |
| |