Arrived a week early for Great Syrian Rabbi's of the 20th Century, so ended up attending the launch of From Kabul to Queens: The Jews of Afghanistan and Their Move to the United States on the same block. Strictly no video or photography permitted (although a smattering of mobile phones flashed), as well as tight security, so jotted down notes, instead:
- Apparently, there is a consensus among Afghani Jews linking Bani Israel (which also includes Jews of Pakistan) specifically to Shevet Benyamin (partly due to a Sunni connection as opposed to Shi'ite), besides other Northern Kingdom Tribal Exiles, which sorta makes sense, considering B'nei Menashe and Bene Ephraim are neighbors from nearby India and thereabouts (citing Melakhim 2 Chapter 17:6 which mentions the Ghozan River located in Afghanistan).
- B&W photos of Bani Israel mingling with Persian Jews and Bukharim back in the day.
- Pashtun-Taliban are proud of their Jewish heritage, while harboring a longstanding grudge against Iran.
- "Rashi" is a Judeo-Persian script, besides a revered commentator.
- "Mulla" is Pashto for "Wise Man"
- The author, Sara Y. Aharon pronounced "alliance" "aliyahance"
- The Mongols decimated Afghanistan, as well as the European continent.
- Someone made a lighthearted request during the Q&A, but Sara would not allow a show of hands identifying Afghani Jews in the audience.
During the reception, I was less interested in the complimentary delicacies and headed directly to the book table, when Center for Jewish History's timely exhibit chronicling Heroes from Abroad: The Machal/Aliyah Bet Legacy caught my eye in the background:
"They came to us when we most needed them, during those difficult, uncertain days of our War of Independence in 1948" - Yitzchak Rabin
A pair of volunteers from abroad stood out:
"To The East"
"Ira Feinberg, 18, of Brooklyn, was a machinegunner in the Palmach's Yiftach Brigade, which faced the Trans-Jordan Arab Legion on the Jerusalem front. He was among the forces that successfully opened 'The Burma Road,' a new passage through the mountains, that broke the Arab blockade of Jerusalem."
"Only Native-American"
"Jesse Slade, from Oklahoma, was the only Native-American to serve with Machal. A member of the 4th Troop, 1st Anti-Tank, 421st Artillery Regiment, Negev Brigade, he said he joined because of his respect for a Jewish officer during World War II. 'He was the first guy to treat me like a white man.'"
Until next week (when I will be absent from a second weekly class on Ramhal in a row with R' Greg (Yosef) Wall aka The Jazz Rabbi:
NYSYRIAN "DESPERATION"
Thought I hit the jackpot, finding a spot on the same block as the book launch, only to discover after the event a ticket on my windshield (inspection sticker expired Halloween). Discovered Metatheses by 高橋 悠治 on the radio while On the Silk Road and made mental notes: To contribute again, as per Literary Editor's invitation, to {m}aganda magazine (who published LⒶW OF THE JUNGLIST in a previous incarnation); Journey to the Stars for Stella and Yarden; watch Shia LaBeouf's Maniac, as well as keep Harold and Kumar on my radar, so I didn't come away that derisive, although slightly melancholic on my way back toward Bear Mountain. oh. and earlier purchased a rainbow umbrella on a whim.
