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Samaritanism is an Abrahamic monotheistic ethnic religion. It comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Samaritan people, who originate from the Hebrews and Israelites and began to emerge as a relatively distinct group after the Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire during the Iron Age. Central to the faith is the Samaritan Pentateuch, which Samaritans believe is the original and unchanged version of the Torah.
The Samaritans, often preferring to be called Israelite Samaritans, are an ethnoreligious group originating from the Hebrews and Israelites of the ancient Near East. They are indigenous to Samaria, a historical region of ancient Israel and Judah that comprises the northern half of what is commonly referred to as the West Bank, named as such when annexed by Jordan following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. They are adherents of Samaritanism, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion that developed alongside Judaism.
The Israelites were a group of Semitic-speaking tribes in the ancient Near East who, during the Iron Age, inhabited a part of Canaan. They were also an ethnoreligious group.
Uzzi is a given name. One derivation is biblical, from Uzzî meaning "my strength". The name can also be transliterated as Uzi. It may be a nickname for Uzza/Uzzah, Uzzia/Uzziah, and Uziel/Uzziel.
Eli was, according to the Book of Samuel, a priest and a judge of the Israelites in the city of Shiloh, ancient Israel. When Hannah came to Shiloh to pray for a son, Eli initially accused her of drunkenness, but when she protested her innocence, Eli wished her well. Hannah's eventual child, Samuel, was raised by Eli in the tabernacle. When Eli failed to rein in the abusive behavior of his own sons, God promised to punish his family, which resulted in the death of Eli's sons at the Battle of Aphek where the Ark of the Covenant was also captured. When Eli heard the news of the captured Ark, he fell from his seat, broke his neck, and died. Later biblical passages mention the fortunes of several of Eli's descendants.
In the Torah, Ithamar was the fourth son of Aaron the High Priest. Following the construction of the Tabernacle, he was responsible for recording an inventory to ensure that the constructed Tabernacle and its contents conformed to the vision given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.
According to the Hebrew Bible, Phinehas was a priest during the Israelites' Exodus journey. The grandson of Aaron and son of Eleazar, the High Priests, he distinguished himself as a youth at Shittim with his zeal against the heresy of Peor.
Saloum Cohen, also known as Shalom ben Amram ben Yitzhaq,, served as the Samaritan High Priest from 2001 until his death. He lived in Nablus in the West Bank and is buried in the cemetery of Kiryat Luza on Mount Gerizim.
Elazar ben Tsedaka ben Yitzhaq was the Samaritan High Priest from 2004 until his death. He was born in Nablus. He succeeded his cousin Saloum Cohen in 2004. According to tradition he is the 131st holder of this post since Aaron.
Levi ben Abisha ben Phinehas ben Yitzhaq;, served as the Samaritan High Priest from 1998 until his death. In his secular work prior to his retirement, he was chief clerk in the Nablus bus company. Before and after his retirement from secular work he was a genial and well-known teacher. He petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court to grant Samaritan priests equality in law with rabbis; the petition was still pending at the time of his death. He lived in Nablus in the West Bank and is buried in the cemetery of Kiryat Luza on Mount Gerizim. He was succeeded as high priest by his second cousin Saloum Cohen.
The Samaritan High Priest is the high priest of the Samaritan community in the Levant. According to Samaritan tradition, the office has existed continuously since the time of Aaron, the brother of Moses, and has been held by 133 priests over the last 3400 years. However, the historicity of this claim is disputed. One account by Josephus suggests that its office holders are an offshoot of the Zadokite high priests of Jerusalem from around the time of Alexander the Great. As of 2013, the incumbent high priest is Abdel V.
Aharon ben Ab-Chisda ben Yaacob also transliterated as Aaron b. Abhisda b. Jacob was a Samaritan nurse and priest who in old age served as the Samaritan High Priest.
Aabed-El ben Asher ben Matzliach is the current Samaritan High Priest. He assumed office on 19 April 2013. According to Samaritan tradition, he is the 133rd high priest since Aaron and in accordance with Samaritan custom, upon his death, the office automatically transfers to the oldest surviving descendant of Ithamar. Aabed-El is married and has two sons and two daughters.
Amram IX ben Yitzhaq ben Amram ben Shalma was the 124th Samaritan High Priest from 1961–1980. He came from the house of Yitzhaq, descendants of Yitzhaq ben Amram ben Shalma. He was the father of Saloum Cohen.
Abisha III ben Phinhas ben Yitzhaq ben Shalma was the 123rd Samaritan High Priest from 1943 to 1961. He is a member of the house of Pinhas, descendants of Pinhas ben Yitzhaq ben Shalma, and brother of the previous high priest Matzliach ben Phinhas ben Yitzhaq ben Shalma.
Yitzhaq II ben Amram ben Shalma ben Tabia was the 121st Samaritan High Priest from 1916–1932. He is the progenitor of the house of Yitzhaq, one of the three houses of Samaritan High Priests.
Sashai ben Abishua (Sheshai?) was the 1st Samaritan High Priest. He was a contemporary and rival of the Jewish High Priest Eli of Shiloah. He lived in the 15th century BC near the time of Moses
Yaacob I ben Aaharon ben Shalma was the 120th Samaritan High Priest from 1874 to 1916. Ben Aharon was described as "legendary" for his role in the revitalization of the Samaritan community. He befriended prominent Zionists, did a fundraising trip to England, and became the face of his community for Westerners. His memoirs were translated into English. Yaacob inherited the role of the high priest at the age of just 32 and carried the role until his death in 1916. Yaacob was instrumental in the survival of the Samaritans, he made connections that provided Samaritans with as much of a tent, a luxury for Samaritans who, in his time, had merely nothing, he was also instrumental in the reunification of Samaritans from all areas of the country. Yaacob still has descendants living to this day, their family is even considered the sons of Yaacob and called the "House of Yaacob", his grandson, also named Yaacob, whom he raised, eventually became a Samaritan high priest for about three years between 1984 and 1987, Yaacob's death was directly connected to the drafting of 25 Samaritan adult men into the Ottoman army, this seriously devastated Samaritan futures and he died of a heart attack during a pilgrimage to the holy mountain; his grandson was just 16. He is the progenitor of the house of Jacob, one of the three houses of Samaritan High Priests.
Asher ben Matzliach ben Phinhas was the 125th Samaritan High Priest from 1980 to 1982. He was the son of Matzliach ben Phinhas ben Yitzhaq ben Shalma, and the nephew of Abisha III ben Phinhas ben Yittzhaq ben Shalma. In 1982 he was succeeded by his brother Phinehas X ben Matzliach ben Phinehas. His son became high priest Aabed-El ben Asher ben Matzliach.
Phinehas X ben Matzliach ben Phinehas was the 126th Samaritan High Priest from 1982 to 1984. He was the son of Matzliach ben Phinhas ben Yitzhaq ben Shalma and the nephew of Abisha III ben Phinhas ben Yittzhaq ben Shalma. He succeeded his brother Asher ben Matzliach ben Phinehas as high priest and was succeeded by Yaacob II ben Uzzi ben Yaacob ben Aaharon in 1984. His nephew became high priest Aabed-El ben Asher ben Matzliach.
References
- ↑ Gaster, M. “The Chain of Samaritan High Priests: A Synchronistic Synopsis: Published for the First Time.” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 1909, pp. 393–420. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/25210743. Accessed 21 Sept. 2020.
- ↑ "The Israelite Samaritan High Priest". 2015-07-22. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
- 1 2 3 "High Priests of the Israelite Samaritans from 1624 CE to the Present Day". Israelite Samaritan Information Institute. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
- ↑ Tsedaka |, Benyamim (2013-05-21). "Aabed-El ben High Priest Aasher, ben High Priest Matzliach". Israelite Samaritan Information Institute. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
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