Bringing in the brides
Samaritans’ tiny population has prompted some men to seek outside brides
The Samaritans, a rapidly dwindling sect dating to biblical times, have opened their insular community to brides imported from eastern Europe.
MOUNT GERIZIM, West Bank — The Samaritans, a rapidly dwindling sect dating to biblical times, have opened their insular community to brides imported from eastern Europe in a desperate quest to preserve their ancient culture.
Five young women from Russia and Ukraine have moved to this hilltop village in recent years to marry local men, breathing new life into the community that has been plagued by genetic diseases caused by generations of intermarriage.
Husni Cohen, a 69- year- old village elder, said the marriages are not ideal, since there is always a risk the newcomers may decide to leave. But in a community whose population has fallen to roughly 360 people, he saw little choice.
“If this is the only solution to our problem, we must take this road. We Samaritans don’t have enough women to marry, so I can’t tell our young men not to marry and not to start a family,” he said. He warned, however, that if the families don’t adhere to the Samaritan religion and traditions, “then our future is in danger.”
For Alla Evdokimova, so far, so good. She left Ukraine, married and joined the community two years ago. “I came here and found a big family,” said Evdokimova, 26.
The Samaritans have lived in the Holy Land for thousands of years. They are probably best known for the parable of the Good Samaritan. Samaritans believe themselves to be the remnants of Israelites exiled by the Assyrians in 722 BC. They practise a religion closely linked to Judaism and venerate a version of the Old Testament, but they are not Jews.
In the fourth and fifth centuries, the Samaritan population is thought to have topped 1.5 million. Today, there are 750 Samaritans — split between communities in the Israeli city of Holon, near Tel Aviv, and near the West Bank city of Nablus on Mount Gerizim, the group’s holiest place.
With a limited pool of potential partners, it is common for Samaritans to marry within their extended families, even first cousins. As a result, Samaritan babies have suffered from birth defects and genetic diseases at a higher rate than the general population.
Bringing in outsiders and advanced genetic testing in Israeli hospitals have helped reduce what used to be a 15 per cent rate of birth defects. Since 1996, only four of 97 Samaritan newborns have had disabilities, community members say.
Samaritans started marrying outside the sect about 40 years ago. In most cases, members of the Holon community found Jewish Israeli partners. Only recently have the residents of Mount Gerizim looked to Europe. The Samaritans have used a mixture of old and new techniques, turning to matchmakers to find partners, also enlisting Internet services such as Skype to get to know them ahead of time.
The women must make a huge commitment. They must accept the community’s special dietary rules and tough restrictions during their menstrual periods.
Evdokimova, who now goes by Alaa Altif, is the most recent arrival. She and her husband, Azzam Altif, 53, have a two- year- old son, Murad. A former bartender in her native Ukraine who occasionally went to church, she said the dramatic change in lifestyle doesn’t bother her. While the pair initially required a translator to communicate, Alaa has now learned enough Hebrew to speak directly to her husband. She is also learning Arabic, the language used by Samaritans among themselves.
“The Samaritan holidays are festive, I love this. Saturdays were difficult in the beginning, but in the end, when all the family gathers, it’s a nice thing,” she said. Since arriving, she has arranged for a friend back home to marry a Samaritan relative of her husband. The wedding is planned for August.