The
Babylonian Exilarchs
I
am interested in the genealogy of the medieval Jewish Exilarchs
and their descendants. Do any of the issues of the Journal
of Babylonian Jewry published by the Exilarch’s Foundation
contain this information, and, if so, how may I obtain the
same?
David
Hughes
North Carolina
Scribe:
The Exilarch’s Tree of the middle ages appears in the
Babylonian Haggadah published by the Exilarch’s Foundation
and is as follows:
The
ancient line of Exilarchs stopped in 1270 following the
Mongol invasion of the Middle East. The line was restarted
in 1970 by Naim Dangoor, exactly 700 years afterwards.
**
Can
the ancestry of Mr Dangoor be traced from the medieval Jewish
exilarchs without breaks? I read that Mr Dangoor revived
the exilarchate. Does that mean that he is the recognised
Royal Davidic heir? I do not know the traditions of the
Dangoor family, but perhaps they are of royal Davidic descent
but have lost their pedigree. I am writing a book on the
subject - that is why I wanted to know more about the Dangoor
family.
David
Hughes
RDAVID218@aol.com
Scribe:
The
fact is that at various times in Jewish history after attempted
revolts and endeavours to reform our Nation all known descendants
of King David were rounded up and massacred, both by the
Persians as well as by the Romans.
However,
as Time Magazine pointed out recently, after ten generations
every ancestor would have some 1000 descendants. Thus after
100 generations every Jew must carry some of King David’s
genes. This would even be more pronounced among Babylonian
Jewry.
Modern
claims to a direct descent from King David cannot be proved
without a shadow of doubt.
In
the meantime, any person who finds himself better qualified
for the title is invited to come forward."
***
I
was browsing the web in search of information on the office
of the Exilarch.
Most modern references do not include reference to them
by name.
I am pursuing my genealogy, and for anyone who has used
"Royalty for Commoners" the link between the Exilarchs
and European Royalty is through Theodoric of Septimania,
aka Machir ben Habibai, who was Judiarch of Narbonne, etc;.
In your reply to Annessa Main or Lander, Wyoming, you offered
to send "by post a copy of the Babylonian Haggadah
where you will find on page 91 the earlier generations of
Exilarchs and on page 90 all the previous kings to King
David."
How could I trouble you for the same?
The lineage is a fascinating one. There is a connection
of Rab Abba Arika of the academy in Sura, and of course
it’s connection to David, and interestingly to the
Sassanid house.
From what I have put together Theodoric Machir was the son
of Habibai, son of Mar Natronai, son of Mar Nechemiah, son
of Haninai bar ‘Adol, and ultimately to King David.
Habibai’s mother was the daughter of Hisdai Shahrijar,
who was the daughter of Exilarch Bustenai ben Hanina and
Izdundad Sassanid, daughter of Yazdegerd III, the last of
his dynasty.
I would like to learn more about the Exilarchs, their link
to David and European Royalty, and I imagine you would be
an authoritative source for this.
If this is possible, I’d be delighted to hear back
from you.
Robert
Stewart
Belgium
stewart@compuserve.com
Scribe:
Above is the Exilarch's Tree as found in the Babylonian
Haggadah
If
you would like to make any comments or contribute to The
Scribe please contact
us.
