Are These Africans Descended from Ancient Jews? | Unpacked
Unpacked
The video explores the Lemba tribe from Zimbabwe and South Africa, who maintain Jewish traditions like observing Shabbat and keeping kosher, yet have largely remained isolated from the global Jewish community. DNA analysis and oral tradition indicate that they may have ancient Jewish ancestry, yet they struggle for broader recognition within Jewry. Their situation raises critical questions about identity politics, Jewish genetics, and the barriers to acceptance in the Jewish world, particularly relating to conversion politics and empathetic understanding.