What Color Were the Original Israelites?

The Aish Rabbi Replies

We have no way of truly knowing the color of the original Jews. However, based on the Torah’s account of their origins – that Abraham’s family originated in Mesopotamia (see Genesis 11:31), they were probably similar in color to the people who live there today – perhaps an olive-like color, somewhat darker than European whites, but not black either. In fact, the phrase “Ivri” (Hebrew) became associated with the Jewish people from their earliest identification as a nation (see e.g., Genesis 14:13, 39:14, 41:12). Several commentators understand that this term refers to people who come from “across the river” (eiver la’nahar) – the river referring to one of the great rivers of the ancient world – the Euphrates (See Bereishis Rabbah 44:8, Rashi to Genesis 14:13). (Even though since Abraham’s time the Jews resided in the Land of Canaan – i.e., on the near side of the Euphrates – this term refers to their original Mesopotamian origins.)

I have seen the claim that the original Israelites were black, but that is generally not viewed as plausible. Firstly, the vast majority of Jews today, almost all of whom are genetically related, are not black. Second, the Torah clearly views the color of the Cushites (usually translated as Ethiopians, people from south of Egypt) as distinct. See Jeremiah 13:23: “Can a Cushite change his skin, or a leopard its spots?” Likewise, Aaron and Miriam complained about the “Cushite” wife Moses married (Numbers 12:1). (The commentators there explain that they were actually upset that he separated from his wife – not about the interracial marriage itself. See this past response.) Thus, clearly, the Jews themselves were not black as the Cushites.

There is even a famous drawing (estimated 18^th-19^th century B.C.E.) in an ancient Egyptian cemetery (Tombs of Beni Hassan) showing Hyksos visitors to Egypt who clearly have lighter, tan-colored skin as compared to the swarthier Egyptians. The Hyksos are probably from the area of Canaan, residing there a few centuries before the Israelites arrived. But it perhaps gives us an indication of the color of the people of that time and place.

Nowadays Jews almost invariably resemble the non-Jews of the country in which they reside – with Jews who originate from Arabic countries somewhat darker than European Jews, Yemenite Jews darker still, Indian Jews even darker, and Ethiopian Jews nearly as black as the Ethiopians themselves. Most likely the Arabic Jews most resemble the original Israelites – as they suffered the least exile and displacement of all, more or less continuously residing in areas close to the Jewish homeland. Conversely, Jews who have lived in other lands slowly began to resemble the Gentiles of those lands – no doubt due to intermarriage, environmental factors, and I’m sure the tragic yet common fate of girls during times of unrest. In fact, Ashkenazi Jews, the lightest of all, are known to be genetically half-European.

One final interesting observation on this. We often hear the remark made about Jews of a particular area, say Indian Jews, that to us they look like Indian, but to the Indians they look like Jews. Whatever the scientific reason for this, I’m sure that in God's plan this is intentional. We often feel that we can blend in with our host nation and comfortably assimilate. On the outside, we certainly look American, Moroccan, or Iranian. But to them we are Jews. Consequently, if we attempt to forget our Jewishness and join our neighbors, they will be quick to remind us that we are eternally different.