THE PASHTUN PEOPLE HAVE COMMON HISTORICAL, LINGUISTIC AND

CULTURAL SIMILARITIES WITH JEWS PEOPLE

Religious names and tool

share common characteristics

1. In Pashtu, have a term

“Pukhtuoonwali” which is
basic law of Pashtun nation; in
addition, the “Pukhtuoonwali”
is basically Old Testament holy
book bible law. Furthermore, in
Pukhtu, the Pukhtoonwali is
code which comprised three
principles.
A) Melmastia (hospitality)
B) Badal (revenge)
C) Nanawatey (Repentance
over past hostility and grant of
Asylum).
WRITTEN BY MANZOOR HUSSAIN AFRIDI
FROM TIRAH AFGHANISTAN

2. In Pashtu, names of God are known as Khudai; while in biblical Hebrew God is
referred to as (El) Shadai.

3. The Jews prayer shawl (talit) issue also has a great resemblance to the
Pashtu/Urdu word tolia which means towel.

4. Saturday in Pashtu is called Shanbay and Hebrew, Shabbat – the holy day of the
week for Jews. During Shabbat, Jews are commanded to abstain from labor and
reflect. Shabbat is the Jews symbol of loyalty for God. In Pashtu, Sabat means
loyalty, and on Shanbay work is also not allowed.
 5. In Pashtu and Hebrew prefixes originate from the ancient Semitic language
Aramaic. For example, the prefix “De” which used in Hebrew and Pashtu
literature means “from” or “of.”

6. Some Pashtu names derive from Hebrew. For example, Asif, Assaf, Binyamin,
Kenan, and Barak (Barak is the name of the known Barakzai tribe, which traces
after Barak son of Avinoam, officer- warrior of the ancient Israeli Kingdom. Barak
means glance, sparkling, flash. The other names mentioned in the Torah: Asif
(harvest in Heberew), Assaf (gather in Hebrew), also known as the compositor of
the Levi’s (Liwan tribe) choir, Binyamin (fool of power), the 12th Israeli tribe, and
Kenan (lamenter in Hebrew) the fourth generation of the humanity. These names
are quite ordinary in Israel and in Pashtun areas.

7. Names that do not originate from the Torah, like Tameer (high in Hebrew/hideen
in Aramaic) and Timor (carved decorating shape of palms found at the Jews
temple), are also common among the two groups, as well as Shir and Sahar.

Many Pashtun wear scarves which look like a talit: a wide white scarf decorated with
blue stripes on both sides of it. The only thing that is missing in the knotted fringes
(tzitzit) attached to its four corners.

European explorers and researchers

Sir Alexander Burnes in his” Travels into Bokhara”, which he published in 1835, speaking
of the Afghans said:

The Afghans call themselves Bani Israel, or the children of Israel, but consider the term
Yahoodi, or Jew, to be one of reproach. They say that Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, after
the overthrow of Israel, transplanted them into the towns of Ghore near Bamean and that
they were called after their Chief Afghan they say that they lived as Israelites till Khalid
summoned them in the first century of the Muslims having precisely stated the traditions
and history of the Afghans I see no good reason for discrediting them… the Afghans look
like Jews and the younger brother marries the widow of the elder. The Afghans entertain
strong prejudices against the Jewish nation, which would at least show that they have no
desire to claim – without just cause – a descent from them.
[Sir Alexander Burnes,” Travels into Bokhara”, Vol. 2:139-141.]
Burnes was again in 1837 sent as the first British Envoy to the Court of Kabul. For some
time, he was the guest of King Dost Mohammad Khan. He questioned the King about
the descent of the Afghans from the Israelites. The King replied that:
his people had no doubt of that, though they repudiated the idea of being Jews but not
Jewish or Israelite.

William Moorcroft (explorer) traveled during 1819 to 1825 through various countries
adjoining India, including Afghanistan. He says:

The Khaibarees, are tall and have a singularly Jewish cast of features.
[Moorcroft,” Travels in Himalayan Provinces of Hindustan and the Punjab
region|Punjab; in Ladakh and Kashmir, in Peshawar, Kabul, Kunduz and Bokhara”, 12]

J. B. Frazer in his book,” An Historical and Descriptive Account of Persia and

Afghanistan”, which he published in 1843, says:

According to their own tradition they believe themselves to be descendants from the
Hebrews… they preserved the purity of their religion until they met with Islam.
[J.B. Frazer,” A Historical and Descriptive Account of Persia and Afghanistan”, 298].

Joseph-Pierre Ferrier wrote his” History of the Afghans” in 1858. It was translated by
Capt. W. M. Jesse. He too was disposed to believe that the Afghans represented the Ten
Tribes of Israel. In support of his view he recorded, among others, a very significant
fact:
When Nadir Shah marching to the conquest of India arrived at Peshawar, the chief of the
tribe of Yoosoof Zyes (Sons of Joseph) presented him with a Bible written in Hebrew and
several other articles that had been used in their ancient worship and which they had
preserved. These articles were at once recognized by the Jews who followed the camp. So
the presence of Bibles among Afghans show their Jewish origin.

Thank you.