Understanding the Israelite Samaritans

Book excerpt: Understanding the Samaritans opens a window into the fascinating history of the Samaritan community. The Samaritans are a small group that claims descent from the ancient Israelites, that is, from the biblical Kingdom of Israel (as opposed to Judah), and claims to continue the Northern Israelite lineage and heritage. The Samaritans are associated with one of the most famous New Testament parables, known as "The Good Samaritan." The Gospels also tell of Jesus' encounter with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. Like Jews, Samaritans base their religion on the Torah. Their holy site is at Mount Gerizim, near Shechem, in the heart of the region of Samaria (hence their name), rather than in Jerusalem. Understanding the Samaritans communicates the history of this ancient community in an accessible, clear way, along with rich illustrations that eloquently tell its story of tenacious survival throughout the centuries.