BENYAMIM TSEDAKA IS HEAD OF THE ISRAELITE SAMARITAN INFORMATION CENTRE
About Benyamim (Benny) Tsedaka
1944 Benyamim Tsedaka was born in Nablus, Israel.
In June 1963 he graduated from the Kibbutz Teachers’ College, Tel Aviv.
January 1966 saw Benny discharged from the Israel Air Force after full military service.
Since 1966 to the present day he has hosted general-interest tourists and academic groups visiting Israelite Samaritan sites in Holon, and Mount Gerizim.
From 1967-1971 Benny completed studies in the History of the People of Israel, and Bible Studies at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Since December 1969 to the present day he has been Chief Editor of the bi-weekly newspaper A.B The Samaritan News.
From 1971-1994 Benny worked for the Jewish Agency as an advertising buyer. In addition he worked on Public Relations in Israel and abroad.
Then, in 1975 Benny became a senior member of the Jewish Agency’s Committee of Employees.
Benyamim Tsedaka, Choir Director
Since 1980 to the present day he has conducted and organised the Israelite Samaritan Music Ensemble (The Choir).
From 1981 to the present day Benny has headed The A.B Institute of Samaritan Studies.
Since 1982 to the present day he has lectured worldwide on the Israelite Samaritans.
From 1983 to the present day Benny has been Honorary Chairman of the Samaritan Basketball Team in Holon, Israel.
In 1985 he founded SES (Société d’Études Samaritaines), The Society of Samaritan Studies.
Since 1985 to the present day he has contributed to international conferences of Biblical and Samaritan Studies (SBL, EABS, SES), in Paris.
From 2007 to the present day Benny has Chaired the Samaritan Medal Committee for Peace and Humanitarian Achievements.
Benyamim Tsedaka, Historian
Benyamim Tsedaka is not only an elder of his people, but also a historian. He has published more than 100 books and over 2000 articles on Israelite Samaritan life, in Hebrew and English. The Internal University Computer in Israel has collated his writings under Samaritans.
Since 1982 Benny dedicates two months each year to lectures in Israel and abroad. He lectures in Hebrew, Arabic or English.
Benny also authored the Samaritan entries in Encyclopedia Judaica, Encyclopedia of Zionism (in English). In addition, he wrote the entries for The Hebrew Encyclopedia (Jerusalem), and Encyclopedia Britannica for Youth (in Hebrew).
Eerdmans published Benny’s Israelite Samaritan Version of the Torah in May 2013. For the first time, the reader sees the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Masoretic (Jewish) version, side by side, in English. Moreover, the texts are laid out in parallel columns, with important differences noted.
Collated Facebook articles by Benny, including photograph of Benny with Ben-Gurion (mostly in Hebrew).
The History of the Israelite Keepers Based on Their Own Sources
The History of the Israelite Keepers Based on Their Own Sources is the third major work of Benny’s distinguished writing career. It was published (in Hebrew) in 2015. Benny dedicates his book to the Israelite Samaritan community, the Israelite Keepers of the title.
A Complete Commentary on the Torah
Benny has also written A Complete Commentary on the Torah (2017, in Hebrew), comprising a five-volume commentary on the Israelite Samaritan Torah.
Each year Benny delivers lectures and workshops on Samaritan-related topics to universities, Christians, Jews and secular groups in Europe, North America and South America.
For more information please Contact us
Samaritan HISTORY
Choir and MUSIC
Samaritan RELIGION
Samaritan FESTIVALS
deniset
hello,
Do you plan to translate the Samaritan Bible into English? Because I am interested in your torah, I find it a shame not to be able to read it. Indeed, many people in France do not understand English to be able to read the book of Binyamin Tsedaka.
Job Serebrov
Benny
Is there a surviving prayer that the Priest says when he burns incense?
Regards,
Job Serebrov
Benyamim Tsedaka
Shalom Joe,
No there is not.
Franklin Kuperman
Benny Tsedaka car
My name is Franklin Kuperman and for over ten years I have been working on the Jewish family tree, I have struggled to make the Samaritan family tree. If possible, I would like you to help me with this project.
I thank you for your attention,
Franklin Kuperman
Franklin Kuperman
Dear Benny Tsedaka
My name is Franklin Kuperman, and for over ten years I have been working on the Jewish family tree, and I am currently interested in making the Samaritan family tree.
I would like if you could help me in this project. Thanking you in advance for your attention.
Franklin Kuperman,
São Paulo Brazil
Charles Lightner
Dear Mr. Tsedaka,
Your translation of the Samaritan Pentateuch is wonderful. Thank you for providing such a valuable resource as well as for the insight it provides on your community. I am working on a project that involves various versions of some elements of the Hebrew text and it would be most helpful if you would be willing to address one translation choice you’ve made. The phrase ‘mikra kodesh’ in the Hebrew is translated as ‘holy convocation’ or ‘holy assembly’ in most versions used in Jewish and Christian communities. Your choice of ‘holy reading’ is fascinating and the rationale for it could be very important to my project. Would you be willing to share your thinking, or the tradition behind that sense of the phrase? Thank you for your consideration.
Joshua
If Sheema is willing, may you one day have an English translation of the Torah commentaries! May Sheema bless your work!
G. Polley
Dear Mr Tsedaka,
I am a PhD candidate at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter (UK). My speciality is 19th century Palestine. I am currently working on a paper for a conference exploring this through the life of the Samaritan Ya’qub ash-Shelabi. I have found plenty of sources for Ya’qub’s life up to 1875, but less after. I wonder if you can point me to any sources for his time in Jerusalem and possibly Salt in Jordan, his later visits to London and the date/location of his death, if it is known. I have left my email if you wish to get in touch this way.
Best wishes,
G. Polley
Hannah
Shalom G Polley,
Thank you for your enquiry, I have forwarded it to Benny.
Chen Xue Dong
Who can join to your community, only an Israelite (Jew) or also a Gentile?
Benyamim Tsedaka
Shalom Chen Xue Dong,
It is possible for any sincere person to join us after living with us for three years and fulfilling all the commandments of the Torah.
Benny
Isaac Silverman
We’re a family of 5, parents and 3 sons. How do we convert? Please advise.
Thanks
Benyamim Tsedaka
Shalom Isaac,
As I have mentioned elsewhere, it is possible to join our community after living with us for three years and fulfilling all the commandments of the Torah.
Isaac Silverman
Thank you for enlightening us Mr Tsedaka.
Patricia Torre de Hernandez
My honor to mr. SEDAKA
Mircea Terheci
Dear Sir,
Your translation in English of the Samaritan Pentateuch is for everybody like a gift of God.
Thank you very much for this marvelous gift.
Sincerely,
Mircea
Orlando Ordoñez Chavarro
Por favor, necesito comprar La Toráh Samaritana. Cómo hago? A quién me dirijo? Quién la tiene. No quiero perder esta oportunidad de adquirirla. Cuándo tendrán la traducción al Español?
Joanna
Thanks for your enquiry Orlando. The Samaritan Pentateuch can be purchased from http://www.eerdmans.com
Eerdmans will also be able to tell you if they plan a Spanish translation.