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Jacob's Legacy: A Genetic View of Jewish History

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In Jacob's Legacy, David Goldstein, ("I am a geneticist. But I am also a Jew.") demonstrates the remarkable synergy from combining genetic and historical research. The historical record suggests the possibility that the Jewish high priests might today be distinguished genetically from those of the Jews who were not high priests. Indeed, Goldstein and his colleagues were able to identify significant genetic similarities, and further to suggest that the ancestral generation (Generation 1) goes back roughly 3,000 year, or within the approximate time of Solomon, which is what the historical record would suggest. Similarly, the historical record points to the possibility that a Bantu speaking tribe in Africa (the Bantu people themselves displaying a impressive record of migration and settlement) might be of Jewish descent. Here again, Goldstein and his colleagues were able to show that one in ten of the Y chromosomes were revealed to be within the Cohan Modal Haplotype identified earlier in the study of high priests. The most surprising result in the book is the possibility, which Goldstein could not falsify, that Ashkenazi Jews may trace their origins, not so much to the ancient Israelites, as to the Khazari sources.

The historical events covered in Jacob's Legacy demonstrate a well-balanced combination of historical sources and modern genetic analytical techniques. Further, Goldstein's summaries of the historical record and his digressions on the larger meaning of the Jews in history are exceedingly concise and work to place Jacob's Legacy in the larger context of global history. If Goldstein set out to convince his readers that genetic and historical analysis can be combined to enrich their understanding of the past, he has succeeded admirably. This slender volume delivers a solid punch.

Goldstein presents what is known about Jewish genetic history, much of it based on his own research. Unfortunately, conclusions tend to be tentative at best, not only because of the limitations of genetic analysis, but because of the limitations of the DNA samples available. As Goldstein says, most DNA collection is motivated by a desire to understand disease, not human history. Goldstein has competent writing skills, but when he tries to involve the reader in the development of his own ideas, rather than in his final understanding, he is more confusing than he needs to be. Goldstein, as a good scientist, is careful and objective.

===================================Summary===============================

The Y chromosomes (unique to males) of Jews in Europe are more typical of semitic populations than of their European neighbors.

More than half of Jewish Cohanim share a "Cohen Modal Haplotype", and 64% share a cluster of related Y chromosome types, which are found in only 14% of Jewish Israelites (Jews not Cohan or Levites). Comparable results are found in both Ashkenazy and Sephardic communities which separated several hundred years ago . This strongly suggests that the Cohan designation does in fact pass from father to son and that the Cohan designation is derived from ancestors living many years ago. Additional genetic analysis suggests the common ancestor could have lived in the time of Moses and Aaron. Interestingly, there are some other small groups of people with high incidence of the Cohan type Y chromosomes, particularly a clan of the Lemba tribe in Africa whose rituals and oral history suggest a possible Jewish ancestry. Presumably, black pigment could have derived from females and evolution. "Jewishness", according to Jews, derives from the female, not the male, but this tradition dates only to the Roman period.

There was a 7th century kingdom in the Caucasians, Khazaria, whose aristocrats converted to Judaism for political reasons. Genetic analysis of Y chromosomes shows a link between a group of Russian believed to be descended from the Khazars (the Chuvash), and Ashkenazy Jews - but only to the Levite subset group of Askhenazy Jews. The Levite designation, like the Cohan, is traditionally passed from father to son.

Examining Jewish female genetic history, there are 9 geographically distinct subpopulations across the globe whose mitochondrial DNA was analyzed. In 8 of the 9, there was much less variation than expected, suggesting a genetic bottleneck, i.e. each of these sub-populations were descended from a different group of relatively few women. In 7 of the 9 populations, the DNA was very different from their neighbors. The lack of genetic variation is not true in the Y chromosomes of the males of these subpopulations, suggesting male traders moving and settling, but relatively few females travelling with them.

There is some evidence of above average intelligence among Askenazi Jews, and there are evolutionary speculations to rationalize this. These same Jews share a higher than average incidence of a family of diseases characterized by a problem in the use of lysosomes to destroy cellular waste products, so there is speculation that the putative higher intelligence and susceptibility to disease are linked, just as sickle cell anemia and resistance to malaria are linked. Goldman suggests that if there is linkage, it may be due to proximity on a chromosome of genes involved in the disease and in intelligence, rather than a direct linkage.

This book, a summary of research on genetics of Jewish people, is by a person in the best position to tell the story: a geneticist and a Jew. Goldstein's research deals with tracing heredity as far back as possible, and it is his project that is probing connections between Jews all over the world. He shows it is possible that Jews who think they are descendents of high priests from the days of the First Temple really are, and that Africans who believe they originated with the early Hebrews actually did. He also contrasts genetic descent through males and females and offers an explanation of why hereditary diseases found mostly in Jews may confer an advantage. The technical portions are easy to understand and the book is no longer than it needs to be. It's a fast, jargon-free read and is highly recommended.

This is a trial of explaining how genetic investigation can help historial investigation. It's not a new device: the patron of those studies is Luca Cavalli-Sforza. The author jewishness relates to his study and we understand some trends from jewish diaspora: the Lemba have the male genetic markers of jewish priests but have some, not many, jewish traditions; the abyssinian jews that are halachic jews do not have those markers. The askenazi have some markers that suggests strongly the contribuition of a turkish tribe, the Khazars, to their gene pool. The book is easy to understand with somebody with biological information basis, it will be not so easy for completly lay persons.

Dr. Goldstein does an excellent job of educating the reader about genetic tracing without overwhelming us with scientific jargon. He re-examines and expands on the story about modern-day Jewish priests, traces the probable Jewish heritage of an African tribe, explains why Jewish women in certain Jewish populations have a vastly different genetic history from their men, and looks into genetic disease specific to Jews. Along the way he drops many little tidbits of knowledge that enhance the story and entrance the reader. (Hint: Commander Spock makes an appearance). I look forward to futher reports from Dr. Goldstein and his team.

What I like best is Goldstein's measured approach to presenting his conclusions. There is much here that could have been said sensationally or one-sidedly, but Goldstein is skeptical and even-handed, the more remarkably so as he is presenting his own research.

The writing is just OK. Even this is something to be grateful for: accurate, comprehensible writing about science by a scientist.

It doesn't compare, though, to classics of popular science. The conclusions could be summarized in a short article. Instead of using the extra pages to give a really understandable picture of methods and context, Goldstein gives us a fluffy narrative: I thought about studying this, then I got ready to study it, then I had lunch, I liked the salad, etc., along with some lame, professorial jokes that students would laugh at because it's expected of them.

I had previously read Jacob's Legacy and recommended it to our book group for reading and review. The copy was prchased because our local library system only has eleven copies and we have more than that in the group. This copy will be loaned to several.

The topic, that of DNA research, is interesting in itself. The subjects researched, the Jews, argueably the oldest identified people group in the world, really brings the topic of what we now know of DNA alive.

This is a concise book about the current genetic data about various sub groups of Jews. It covers several of the small groups who may have identifiable DNA 'finger prints'. The concentration is on using DNA for identification and not for illnesses. This is written by a genetic analyst, who provides the background information about the limits of DNA tracking. Overall the book is interesting and useful.

David Goldstein gives us an interesting peek at his pet project - a genetic analysis of the Jewish people. Dr Goldstein shares the stories told by the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA; stories about the background of an African tribe claiming Jewish heritage, potential origins of Ashkenazi Jews, inheritance of a priestly caste, and more.

Dr Goldstein doesn't overwhelm the reader with technical jargon; rather, explains his approach and how the story can be read in the genetic code in understandable language. At a little under 200 pages, "Jacob's Legacy" is a relatively quick, enjoyable read.

This is one of the very few books which looks at what is controversially referred to as "Jewish DNA". What is a Jew? Sometimes DNA can tell you. And most of the time it can't. But what is really good about this book is that it is not about DNA that signifies congenital health problems. It's about geneology, or what little is known of it, Jewish-wise. We need this book and a whole lot more like it.