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'The "Other" in "Afghan" Identity: Medieval Jewish community of Afghanistan' by Guy Matalon PhD has Jewish history and cemetery information.

"Ghur's Jewish cemetery bear inscriptions like chachom, melamed, zaken, rosh kanesa, and rosh kahal, testify to a more Persian tradition. Designations of kohen and levi are also prevalent. The Ghur Jewish community prospered and then declined well after the 13th century's destructive Mongol invasion. It is believed that the Jews of Ghur migrated to China, because evidence indicates the influence of Persian-speaking Jews there, although forced conversions probably also contributed to the community's demise." Source [January 2010]

"the discovery of a Jewish cemetery in the eastern city of Ghur in 1946 testifies to the longstanding existence of Jewish community in Afghanistan. The cemetary's tombstones are inscribed in Hebrew, Aramaic and Judeo-Persian and date from approximately 752-1249. The tombstones also contain communal titles of judges, rabbis, elders, and other chief functionaries. Tragically, the Mongolian invasion of the beginning of the 13th century brought the flourishing Jewish community of Ghur to an end." Source [August 2010]

"The first inscription was discovered in 1946...which contained a Judeo-Persian inscription. Scholars dated the tombstone from 1198. ... in 1956, three rock inscriptions made by one individual were found and dated at 752-753. In 1962, over twenty tombstones were discovered. These tombstones were inscribed with Hebrew, Aramaic, and Judeo-Persian ... dated between 1012-1249. The last tombstone is from September 19, 1249 which would place it 27 years after the Mongol invasion. It is speculated that the community either fled, forced to convert, or was destroyed. Most scholars argue that the community fled into China since there is a significant influence from Persian speaking Jews from Khorasan on the Chinese Jewish community's texts and ceremonies. The tombstones include not only names and dates, but also communal titles and functions." From Guy Matalon, Ph.D. article first published in Mardom Nama-e Bakhter , an Afghan scientific journal edited by Latif Tabibi and Daud Saba [October 2000]

Parent Category: SOUTH & CENTRAL ASIA