DNA Testing for Jewish (and Cohanim) Ancestry

[Maximus]

Have any of you had your DNA tested to confirm Jewish and (if you are Jewish) possible Cohanim (Levitical priesthood) ancestry?

I am a bit curious about it, since my wife's grandmother Rachel was Jewish.

You can read about the testing here (http://www.familytreedna.com/jgene.html) if you are curious about it.

You also might be interested in National Geographic's Genographic Project (https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html), as well.

[Maximus]

Y-DNA testing test the DNA on the male Y chromosome (passed from father to son). Mitochondrial DNA testing tests the cellular mitochondrial DNA which is passed from a mother to both daughters and sons and determines maternal lineage.

Here (http://www.scs.uiuc.edu/~mcdonald/WorldHaplogroupsMaps.pdf) are some really neat maps that will help you see how DNA haplogroups (ancestral DNA categories) are distributed worldwide and especially throughout Europe.

Since many Jews are known to belong to the Y-DNA haplogroups J (J2 especially) and E3b, which are represented on the map of Europe by light green and medium blue respectively, it is easy to see they formed a sizeable component of the European DNA mix.

I am less familiar with how Jews fall into the mtDNA groups.

[jgonz]

DH has thought about it... but I don't know if he'll do it or not. :)

[plum]

question for folks... do you think this DNA testing and such have anything to do with this verse? or am i reaching?
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia -- remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless geneologies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. (I Tim. 1:3-5)

[DanielRB]

question for folks... do you think this DNA testing and such have anything to do with this verse? or am i reaching?

Shalom, Eirene :wave:

It depends on your perspective. Does studying Yeshua's geneology fall under this as well? Or studying your own geneology? Or maybe studying Talmud with its endless disputes?

I think it all has to do with your attitude. If someone has a bona fide Jewish anscestory (not having to bother with DNA studies), does that make him or her different before YHWH? Does this give someone a superior attitude? Similarly, is someone seeking to study their geneology and/or do a DNA study so that they can "prove" that they have an "in" with YHWH?

If we are basing our confidence on our flesh, then this is problematic.

On the other hand...


...it's pretty clear that there are specific promises (and responsibilities) to Israel-of-the-flesh. YHWH at some point does make a difference with Israel-of-the-flesh.

On the third hand...

Isaiah 56 makes it pretty clear that converts to Torah have equal standing before YHWH as Israel-of-the-flesh.

In Messiah,

Daniel

[Amora]

-deleated- (dont think i was sposed to post about this, this not being a "fellowship" thread....) Sry

[BarbB]

-deleated- (dont think i was sposed to post about this, this not being a "fellowship" thread....) Sry

I think YOU are allowed to post - just not to argue. :hug: Post anyways unless someone complains! :hug:

[Maximus]

It is interesting that there is supposed to be a set of Y-DNA markers that can tell if a man is a Levite (descendant of Aaron).

I also read that many Palestinians have DNA that is nearly identical to that of most Jews. Does that mean the Palestinian Christians, who are Eastern Orthodox mostly, are the descendants of the first Jewish Christians? That would seem to make sense.