Talk:History of the Jews in Malta

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Larbot - run by User:Lar - t/c 14:27, 28 December 2006 (UTC)

1500 BC too early to speak of a Jewish presence
The article contains the text:

The history of the Jews in Malta dates to approximately 1500 BC. Although the population was probably never in a number greater than 1,000 inhabitants, their presence probably dates back to the Hebrew seafaring tribes of Zebulun and Asher.

1500 BC is clearly too early to speak of tribes of Israel (usually associated with the early kingdoms, hence about 900 BC). Put into context, 1500 BC is 200+ years before the traditional date for the life of Moses.

A date of 1500 BC is certainly credible for a significant role of hebrew speakers in Malta though, as Malta would have figured as part of the Phonecian trade route and likely accomodated Phonecian settlers.

Comments?

--Philopedia 04:39, 12 January 2007 (UTC)


 * The article speaks of "Hebrew seafaring tribes" not of Jews. The Jews of Malta can, however, be traced back to these "Hebrew seafaring tribes".

See the article by Aline P'nina Tayar, she writes:

"a carved menorah in the catacombs of Rabat as well as a Phoenician inscription discovered at the Ggantija temple in Xaghra point to a Jewish presence, which is thought to date back to the Hebrew seafaring tribes of Zebulun and Asher"

--Carabinieri 11:54, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

I think the current version also is not going to work. The first sentence is suposed to rename the topic of the article. How about the The "history of Jews in Malta can be traced back to approximately 1500 BC". This does not imply that there really were Jews on the island at the time. And then the sentence abou the Zebulun and Asher could explicitly mention that these were only Hebrew-speaking and not actually Jewish.--Carabinieri 11:01, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

_______

I agree about the dissonance between the current content and the title of the article, and I agree we should aim to bring the two into correspondence.

The trouble with your suggestion (above) is that the twelve tribes (including Zeblun and Asher) are universally viewed as being Jewish, not just hebrew speaking.

I read with interest the article you suggested (http://www.bh.org.il/Communities/Archive/Malta.asp), I agree the remarks are enticing and it is regretable that the article does not address any effort to date the menorah. However, I wonder whether we can accept this article - subtitled as the reflections of a single family - as the (sole?) basis for an article in an encyclapedia dedicated to upholding scholarly standards.

Certainly the Jewish presence in Malta is VERY old, and that if we took the natural step including the Phonecians as Jewish precursors, then the 3500 year claim becomes quite credible. I would argue that this connection would be quite natural. Not only were the Phonecians hebrew speakers, but very many converted later to Judaism, so that they likely made up the largest part of the Israelites.

--Philopedia 20:22, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

As one of the "oldest" Wikipedians (yet young in age), who contributed to articles on Malta, I would like to congratulate the author, for the way the article is written, with adequate references and accurate information. Congrats Maltesedog 06:57, 26 January 2007 (UTC)


 * Well, thanks a lot.--Carabinieri 12:34, 26 January 2007 (UTC)


 * There were no Jews in 1500 BCE. And we don't have a reliable source for the inscription. Dougweller (talk) 13:47, 29 October 2010 (UTC)

HELP ME ON THIS!
At the bottom,under History of the Jews in Europe, please unredden the red words,thanx alot!(Trampton 20:31, 26 February 2007 (UTC)).

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