INTRODUCTION

There's a seemingly insurmountable problem. "Omenana" {Igbo-Hebrew Israelite Religion & Culture} is the mother of Judaism, Karaitism, and Samaritanism, but something divides the mother and her daughters today--they're unrecognizable to each other! The issue is whether one's status in the Israelite/Jewish community is determined patrilineally (through the fathers) or matrilineally (through the mothers). According to Israelitism, one is an Israelite only if his father is, and according to Judaism, one is Jewish only if his mother is. This issue explains why Israelites and Jews can only profess themselves to be "brothers" when in actuality their legal codes simply deny each other's status. How can this be if they both claim to be Children of Yisrael? I propose that the only way to bridge this gap of understanding between Israelites and Jews is specifically through the study of authentic Omenana on the topic of patrilineal descent. 

You've heard the cliche, 'you are what your father is', and rightfully so since ancient Israelite culture was predominantly, if not completely, a patrilineal society in which one's descent was reckoned exclusively through the male's line. But was this always the case, or did this ever change? Those who hold patrilineal descent believe this was always the case. On the other hand, those who hold matrilineal descent have at least four theories to explain the change: 

1. Always Matrilineal
2. Patrilineal to Matrilineal Post-Sinai
3. '' '' in Ezra/Nehemiah's Times
4. '' '' in Talmudic Times

According to Omenana, one is Igbo if his father is Igbo. However, who is to be considered a child's legitimate "father" who determines his status within the community? The answer will shock many! That indeed is the focus question this blog has been dedicated to answering. With G-d's Help, we shall resolve this issue through the examination of a few mixed-offspring Israelites in the Biblical narrative:

• 
  Son of Israelite woman
• Hiram
• Amasa
• Attai
• Timotheus (Timothy)

Shalom, 
Nz'r Micaiah Perry