Book Minute

Many people know the term Samaritan from the New Testament parable of the good Samaritan. But did you know there are Samaritans still alive today? A small community of hundreds of Samaritans still endures. During New Testament times, Samaritans lived in the same region as Jews. They understood themselves to be descendants of the northern tribes of Israel and the true inheritors of the Mosaic tradition. Their Torah differs from the Jewish Torah, mainly in emphasizing Mount Gerizim as the primary place of worship. Today, most Samaritans live on or near Mount Gerizim, and they continue to study and practice their Torah to this very day.