Samaritans: A Special Group of People

The Samaritans are an ancient ethnoreligious group originating from the Hebrews and Israelites of the ancient Near East, indigenous to the historical region of Samaria. They identify as Israelite Samaritans and adhere to Samaritanism, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion that developed in parallel with Judaism. Their foundational narrative posits their ancestors, the Israelites, settled in Canaan in the 17th century BCE.

Crucially, Samaritans claim descent from Israelite tribes who, unlike the Ten Lost Tribes, were not subjected to the Assyrian captivity following the destruction of the northern Kingdom of Israel around 720 BCE. This claim of unbroken lineage and non-exile is central to their distinct identity and their view of religious authenticity, positioning them as direct inheritors of ancient Israelite traditions, separate from the development of Rabbinic Judaism.

The most significant theological distinction between Samaritans and Jews revolves around the location of the holiest site. Samaritans revere the Samaritan Pentateuch as the definitive, unaltered Torah, asserting that Judaism has fundamentally altered the original Israelite religion. While Jews consider the Temple Mount in Jerusalem to be paramount, Samaritans identify Mount Gerizim, near modern Nablus, as the true holy site, citing Deuteronomy 16:6 in their version of the text.

Both groups claim the Binding of Isaac occurred at their respective holy sites, identifying them as Mount Moriah. This divergence in sacred geography is a cornerstone of their separate religious identities and historical narratives, shaping their distinct practices and theological interpretations.

The Samaritan community, once significantly larger, has experienced profound demographic decline throughout history. This shrinkage is largely attributed to the brutal suppression of Samaritan revolts by the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. Subsequent pressures from Christianization under Byzantine rule and later Islamization following the Arab conquest of the Levant further reduced their numbers.

By the 12th century, Jewish explorer Benjamin of Tudela estimated only about 1,900 Samaritans remained across Palestine and Syria. These historical events underscore the immense resilience of the Samaritan people, who have managed to preserve their unique identity and traditions despite centuries of persecution and assimilation pressures.

As of 2024, the Samaritan population numbers around 900 individuals, divided between two primary locations: approximately 460 in Holon, Israel, and about 380 in Kiryat Luza, West Bank. Linguistic diversity exists, with residents of Kiryat Luza speaking South Levantine Arabic and those in Holon primarily using Modern Hebrew, though both communities utilize Samaritan Hebrew and Samaritan Aramaic for liturgical purposes. A remarkable aspect of their continuity is the Samaritan tradition of an unbroken lineage of High Priests, claimed to have commenced with Aaron 3600 years ago.

The current High Priest, Aabed-El ben Asher ben Matzliach, holds the 133rd position in this continuous line. Legally, Samaritans are recognized as a distinct religious community in Israel. While all Samaritans hold Israeli citizenship, those in Kiryat Luza also possess Palestinian citizenship.

Beyond these core communities, there are growing numbers of individuals worldwide who identify with and observe Samaritan tenets, forming groups like the 'Shomrey HaTorah' in Brazil, often referred to as 'Neo-Samaritans Worldwide'.