History |
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Elaine Zides
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Down from the north they came Descendants of Mongols by name. Skin white and piercing fair, The sun beat on their reddish hair. Warriors, nomads, tall and bold, Wearing turbans of black and gold In the year of 500 A.D. They settled by the Caspian Sea. "In the 7th century King Bulan of Chazaria won a great victory over the Arabs. Believing this had been granted to him through the mercy of the supreme God, he called to him his representatives of the three religions, namely Jews, Christians, and Moslems.Each put forth his beliefs, but when the King questioned them separately, asking each to choose between the two faiths, only the Jew refused to make a choice. The Christian chose Judaism as preferable to Mohammedanism and the Moslem chose Judaism preferable to Christianity. Whereupon King Bulan chose Judaism as the religion of the Chazarias." The Jews ----Story of a People Howard Fast. With pagan eyes this small and mighty nation Wore the cloak of Abraham's generation Bearing the names of ancient Hebrew Kings, Once more the bell of Judaism rings. They prospered and how they grew, Both newly converted and tribal Jew. Until they were tied together genetically. That is their gift to us-their legacy. History stands on the corner of change, Waiting for time to rearrange Past events and present them again For the use of so-called modern men. Looking back at the past,what do we see As we review these events in ancient history. How does it affect present-day you and me? Let us linger a while, wait and see. This is the first in a series about the Khazars and their possible though contoversial influence upon Polish Jewry.
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