Comments of an American young woman having Afghan origins :
I want my children to remember that their ancestors came from Kabul, Afghanistan. My
mom and her family left Afghanistan to come to America in 1964. They left Afghanistan
along with many other Jews. They had good living conditions but simple ones. The life
they were living there wasn't anything fancy. They lived in middle class homes. My
grandfather and great grandfather were in the textile business.
King Zaher Shah who took over in 1935 (in fact 1933) liked the Jews and protected them.
The Jews had a certain degree of religious freedom. They attended shuls and were
observant Jews. My mom's family and most afghan Jews left because they wanted to have
a better life and education for their children.
I want my children to remember that their ancestors came from Kabul, Afghanistan. My
mom and her family left Afghanistan to come to America in 1964. They left Afghanistan
along with many other Jews. They had good living conditions but simple ones. The life
they were living there wasn't anything fancy. They lived in middle class homes. My
grandfather and great grandfather were in the textile business.
King Zaher Shah who took over in 1935 (in fact 1933) liked the Jews and protected them.
The Jews had a certain degree of religious freedom. They attended shuls and were
observant Jews. My mom's family and most afghan Jews left because they wanted to have
a better life and education for their children.
Traditions :
The traditional Jewish clothing
was similar to that of the Islamic
population. The Jews of
Afghanistan used Hebrew for
liturgy and religious studies, while
Judeo-Persian was the main
language for day to day usage.
Another fact is that the Pashtuns
have a legend of being descended
from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of
Israel and they claim that the name
Afghanistan is derived from
Afghana; a grandson of King Saul.
The traditional Jewish clothing
was similar to that of the Islamic
population. The Jews of
Afghanistan used Hebrew for
liturgy and religious studies, while
Judeo-Persian was the main
language for day to day usage.
Another fact is that the Pashtuns
have a legend of being descended
from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of
Israel and they claim that the name
Afghanistan is derived from
Afghana; a grandson of King Saul.
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containing Hebrew-Aramaic components, written in Hebrew script, and spoken by the
members of the local Jewish community.
In 1222, after the invasion of Genghis Khan, the Jewish communities were reduced to
isolated pockets. The most important groups were located in Kabul, Herat, Ghazni and
Balkh.
The arrival of Jews coming from Iran at the 19th century, then of Central Asia at the
20th century (to initially flee Russian repression, and a few decades after communist
threat) allowed the increase of the Jewish population in Afghanistan (about 40,000
persons). By 1948, about 5,000 Jews were left, and after they were allowed to emigrate in
Palestine, most of them moved there or in India, for economic reasons. In the seventies,
some 300 remained, and most of them left after the Soviet invasion of 1979.
members of the local Jewish community.
In 1222, after the invasion of Genghis Khan, the Jewish communities were reduced to
isolated pockets. The most important groups were located in Kabul, Herat, Ghazni and
Balkh.
The arrival of Jews coming from Iran at the 19th century, then of Central Asia at the
20th century (to initially flee Russian repression, and a few decades after communist
threat) allowed the increase of the Jewish population in Afghanistan (about 40,000
persons). By 1948, about 5,000 Jews were left, and after they were allowed to emigrate in
Palestine, most of them moved there or in India, for economic reasons. In the seventies,
some 300 remained, and most of them left after the Soviet invasion of 1979.
The jews of Afghanistan
AFGHANISTAN OLD PHOTOS
The Jews of Afghanistan have a
history of 2,500 years in this
country. They arrived in this area
after the Babylonian Exile and the
Persian conquest. The first traces
concerning the Jewish population
of Afghanistan are dated from the
seventh century. They concern the
Jews living the town of Ghor. The
discovery of a Jewish cemetery in
this city in 1946 testifies to the
existence of a large and flourishing
Jewish community. The earliest
tombstones date from 752-753 and
the latest date from 1012-1249. The
inscriptions on the tombstones are
in Hebrew, Aramaic and
Judeo-Persian, a language with
elements of medieval Persian and
history of 2,500 years in this
country. They arrived in this area
after the Babylonian Exile and the
Persian conquest. The first traces
concerning the Jewish population
of Afghanistan are dated from the
seventh century. They concern the
Jews living the town of Ghor. The
discovery of a Jewish cemetery in
this city in 1946 testifies to the
existence of a large and flourishing
Jewish community. The earliest
tombstones date from 752-753 and
the latest date from 1012-1249. The
inscriptions on the tombstones are
in Hebrew, Aramaic and
Judeo-Persian, a language with
elements of medieval Persian and
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