Rhodes DNA Project
Avotaynu DNA Project
For more info, please visit: https://www.familytreedna.com/group
Jews of Rhodes DNA Project
Dr. Robert Rubin Mayo has launched a project which gives us a background of the original ancestry of the Jews of Rhodes (Spanish, Romaniote, Turkish and Italian). Dr. Rubin is the grandson of Joseph M. Mayo, who was originally from Rhodes.
For more information of the Rhodes DNA Project, please visit: https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/rhodes-island-sephardic-project/about/background
April 3, 2013:
As reported before, the SCIARCON and SHAHON families turned out to have genetically distinct Y DNA. This means that they do not share a common ancestor along the male line (SCIARCON / SHAHON) of their families. What was thought to be spelling variations of the same family surname, was found not to be the case.
We recently had a member with the surname CHARHON join the Jews of Rhodes Project, and he performed a Y DNA analysis. This member was found to be of the same paternal lineage as the SCIARCON member. Therefore, SCIARCON and CHARHON are from the same family. Thus, in this case, these are spelling variations of the same family surname.
January 16, 2011:
From Y DNA analysis, it appears that the MOUSSAFIR and BENVENISTE families of Rhodes were once the same family. Their most recent common ancestor lived around the year, 1400 (plus or minus about 150 years).
June 17, 2010: New DNA Research Findings:
SCIARCON AND SHAHON MAY BE TWO DISTINCT FAMILIES:
There are two individuals in the Jews of Rhodes Project, one with the surname SHAHON and the other with the surname SCIARCON. They did not match along the paternal lines of their families. Therefore, what I had thought to be a spelling variation of the surname may actually be two entirely different families. I do not want to draw a conclusion just based on two individuals. We need more people with the surnames SCIARCON, SHAHON, SHARHON, CHAHON, and CHARHON, to see if this is, indeed, the case.
TWO ISRAEL FAMILIES:
It was also discovered that there were at least two different ISRAEL families that had lived in Rhodes. One family was from the ISRAEL Rabbinical Dynasty. Thus, it is now possible for men with the surname ISRAEL to determine if they had ancestors from this Rabbinical Dynasty along the paternal lines of their families.
JEWS OF RHODES PROJECT by Robert Rubin, M.D.
Project Background: At the start of the 1500’s, as a flood of Sephardi exiles from Spain and Italy desperately sought refuge throughout the Mediterranean world, the Jews of Rhodes also struggled to survive. They were ordered to convert to Christianity, or they would be expelled to Nice, France. As a consequence, very few Jews remained.
In 1522, the Ottoman Turks conquered Rhodes, heralding the start of four centuries of religious freedom for the Jews there. The Ottoman Sultan sought to develop the island with the assistance of the Jews. That same year, about 40 Jewish families from Salonika arrived in Rhodes, and he granted them special privileges. During this same period, other Jewish exiles sought refuge, and some likely joined Sephardic and Italian Jews in settling on Rhodes. Some historical books, by reputable people, note that about 50 Jewish families settled in Rhodes in 1522.
The Romaniote Jews, of Greek origin, had lived in Rhodes for centuries before the arrival of the many Sephardic Jews in the 16th century. The Romaniote Jews became a small minority and soon lost their identity.
Project Goals: To try to identify the original 50 families that settled in Rhodes in 1522. This will be done by studying the paternal lines (Y DNA testing) and the maternal lines (mitochondrial DNA testing) of Jews whose families had lived on the Island of Rhodes.
How Do We Determine the Original Families? First, we need to enroll lots of people and test many DNA markers in order to be able to interpret the results with a good degree of probability. Therefore, please tell your Rhodesli friends/relatives about the study.
What You Would Need To Do: The organization called Family Tree DNA has given the project discounted rates for all of the tests. You start by visiting their project on the website at www.familytreedna.com . You will then need to type in the search term, “Rhodes”. Please note that this will reveal a list of projects. You will choose “Jews of Rhodes” project. Then fill in information at the bottom. It is necessary that you provide the family last names of your ancestors for the study, and then select “join”.
*If you are a man whose parents both had ancestors from Rhodes: Please order the YDNA67 + mt DNA Plus tests. If you are a man whose father had ancestors from Rhodes: Please order the Y DNA 67 test. If you are a man or a woman whose mother had ancestors from Rhodes: Please order the mt DNA Plus test.
The test does not involve giving a blood sample. An “at home” test kit is mailed to you. It only involves swiping the inside of your mouth with a cotton swab and returning the sample by mail.
By means of this investigation, many people have discovered new cousins and have been able to trace their ancestors back many more generations. If you are not already a participant, you can become involved in this project, e-mail at: bob_rubin@hotmail.com
Rhodes Benveniste Family are Likely Cohanim?
December 12, 2009 DNA update: In 1997, a study was published in the Journal Nature, which demonstrated that a startling percentage of Jewish males who shared an oral tradition of being Cohanim, also shared the same Y chromosome signature. The males that matched this “Cohen Modal Haplotype” are found within Haplogroup J on the Tree of Homo Sapiens. Haplogroup J is commonly referred to as ‘Semitic‘ or ‘Mediterranean‘ because of its elevated percentage in those areas. However Haplogroup J is found at its highest frequency (and greatest diversity) in Iraq, or possibly in the Zagros mountain range found in Western Iran.
There are a few BENVENISTEs who enrolled in the Jews of Rhodes Project. Their Y DNA suggest that they share this “Cohen Modal Haplotype“. Therefore, they may likely be descendants of the brother of Moses, Aaron, or most probably, at least descendants of one of Aaron´s cousins.
In today´s age of genetic testing, it would be interesting what the orthodox Rabbis would say about these BENVENISTEs following the traditions of the COHANIM, for example on Yom Kippur.
Interim Report: Jews of Rhodes DNA Project
November 7, 2008 DNA update: The purpose of the Jews of Rhodes Project is to try to identify the original 50 families who were Iberian, Italian, and Romaniote Jews that existed in Rhodes in 1522. This will be done by studying the paternal lines (using Y DNA testing) and the maternal lines (using mitochondrial DNA testing) of Jews whose families had lived on the Island of Rhodes.
The Jews of Rhodes Project has had an incredible start. Over the past year, 46 people have enrolled. Thirty-one people have completed Y-DNA tests to ascertain more about their paternal lineages (father´s father´s father… etc.). Twenty-one people have performed the mitochondrial DNA tests to discern more about their maternal lineages (mother´s mother´s mother… etc.).
Of those people evaluated to date were several participants having the same surname: 2 Alhadeffs, 2 Benvenistes, 2 Hanans, 2 Hazans, 2 Israels, 4 De Mayo/Mayos, 3 Menashes, 2 Pizantes, and 3 Russos. Each group of people listed above, who have the same surname, were found to descend from a common male ancestor, that is, they were from the same family, generations ago.
There are 5 groups of people who have mitochondrial DNA matches. Each group descends from a distinct female ancestor along the maternal lines. One group was composed of 4 individuals. The oldest female ancestors along the maternal lines in that group were Reina Israel, Behora Miriam Nahmias (daughter of Behora Tamar), and Mazaltov Piha. Each of these women, who lived 150 to 250 years ago, are connected to a common female ancestor going back in time along the maternal branches of their families. The outcome of this group suggests that their common maternal ancestor likely lived in Rhodes before the year 1700.
Of the men tested, ancestors along the paternal lines of their families tended to have originated a few thousand years ago from Northern Africa and the Ottoman Empire. Along the maternal lines of the individuals (men and women), their ancestors originated from Europe, Western Asia, Northeastern Africa, and the Mediterranean area.
Surnames of Participants in the Y DNA Study: Alhadeff, Altabet, Benon/Benoun, Benveniste, Berro, Codron, Coen/Cohen, De Mayo, Franco, Hanan, Hasson, Hazan/Jazan, Israel, Levi/Levy, Mayo, Menashe, Notrica, Palombo, Pisante/Pizanti, Rousso/Russo, Surmani, Taranto, Treves.
Additional Surnames of Participants in the Mitochondrial DNA Study: Almeleh, Amato, Capelluto, Galante, Hagiez, Halfon, Mizrahi, Nahmias, Navarro, Piha, Rozanes, Tarica, Touriel/Turiel.
Hi Leslie,
To assist you, please contact Bob Rubin: bob_rubin@hotmail.com for this study. Also, another DNA study is being conducted by Avotaynu. You may contact Adam Brown: adam.brown@avotaynudna.org for details. Thank you.
Q: I’m a woman whose FATHER’s parents are both Jews from Rhodes — do I qualify to help in this study? The qualifications only list women whose mother’s ancestors are from Rhodes.
I just found this! My mother’s family were from Rhodes and last names Berro and Piha are my ancestors.
I would like to participate. My grandmother was Easter Galante nee Soriano and my grandfather was VidalGalante Galante
I’ve just had my great uncle’s DNA analysed at FamilyTreeDNA. As their ethnic breakdown is not very detailed. I transferred the raw data was uploaded to MyHeritage where it returned 12.7% Sephardic Jew. His father’s father’s surname was HagiNikita, from Lindos. In 1936 the Italian Colonists conducted a census, and after many years of collecting information, the surname was changed by them to Rousso. I had suspected for awhile this may have been due to Jewish ancestry that the Italians pieced together, however no information was ever handed down the generations. Is there any way to trace the history of… Read more »
Decendants of Benveniste families in Greece, Turkey and surrounding areas: many of us in the US are participating in dna research added to our family geneaologies. We discovered our Benveniste family as the originals from the Lanier-Bassano lines out of France to Englands courts, musicians and artists. The particular line we come from is definitely related to Joseph Nasi of the Nasi Benvenistes. We now know that my maternal grandmothers black hair and large oval eyes, and olive complexion are not Native American Indian but are more likely Spanish Jews. It is a wonderful thing to find your lost ancestry.… Read more »
Hi Id like to take the dna test. I have Levi and Touriel names on my maternal side. Thank you.
My great, grand-father SIMON BENVENISTE was born about 1860 on Rhodes – he married SARAH BENATAR, their son, my grand-father ISAAC SIMON BENVENISTE was born on Chalki Island, near Rhodes on 25 March 1884. I an excited to participate in the DNA testing. Thank you.
My dad and a man the name of Samuel J Hanan are tightly related, possible 5-7 generations. We believe he was born in Island of Rhodes, Greece. Anyone has information on Sam C Franco?
All of my family came from Rhodes and Monastir. My dad Eli Angel was born in Rhodes and came here to Seattle when he was about 14 years old along with my Grandmother Mazaltov Israel Angel and aunt Luna Angel Mezistrano. My other grandmother Rose came from Rhodes when she was 18 to Seattle and her last name was Alkana. My dad always said if anyone asked about our family on Rhodes to say his Grandfather was the baker, last name Israel. We had only one survivor from the Holocast that was Miru Alkana. She ended up living in Los… Read more »
Shalom, My name is Mark Israel and I am 8 generation London born, I have been tracing my Israel family name but cant seem to find where my family came from before settling in London around the 1700’s We have family connections to the Mendoza, Tubi, Palache, Mordechai, Benjamin, Simons,Soloman, Emanuel, Nathan, Boaz and Lioni I have found Israel De Piza and other Israel-Pinto Israel-Braga names but cant seem to connect although most of the first names are in keeping with our family names. I know allot of our ancestors went to eastern mediteranian from Spain and to Israel in… Read more »
Hi Steven. I’m emailing to you a document from the 1940s that may pertain to your grandfather (if he was married to Matilda & children: Joseph, Jack & Earl).
My grandfather Samuel Berro immigrated to Los Angeles from Rhodes around the 1920’s when he was in his early 20’s. I would love to find more information about the Berro family in Rhodes. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!
My grandfather, Eliezer Behor Israel (born 1900), was from Rhodes. According to my information, his parents were Bohor Avraham Israel (1873) and Seniora Israel (Piha). Bohor’s parents were Yaacov Pasha Israel, who my father was named after, and Mazaltov Israel (Notrica). Seniora Israel’s parents were Yosef and Reina Piha. My father has told us that we had many relatives in Rhodes at one time, but I would like to know more about my heritage. If you have any information regarding my ancestry, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
Hi Victoria. I am sending two documents to your email address from 1926 and from 1941. The 1926 document refers to your grandfather as Mussani Franco (instead of David Franco).
Hello, my maiden name was Victoria Mayo. Both my parents emigrated from Rhodes to New York. My father Nissim and my mother Emely. My maternal grandmother was Victoria Franco and grandfather David Franco. I became curious because I was reading about the Sephardic Jews in Charleston and the first Sephardic temple in America. I was wondering about when my ancestors left Spain and when they got to Rhodes. I don’t know if you can help me because my parents never spoke to me about these things. I was in Rhodes and all the names I knew were carved in front… Read more »
To Daniel Surmani and Rachel Fiss:
My Name is Joseph Benoun, my parents are Jeff and Jackie Benoun. My dad’s parents are Sam and Regina Benoun (Franco). Sam’s parents were Joseph and Bolissa Benoun. I’ve been trying to hunt down and find information about Joseph’s parents. I believe them to be Jacob Benun and Vida Benun (Israel) but the trail grows cold beyond that point. Do either of you have any info or hints? Any help is greatly appreciated!
When I directed my mother to your site, she got excited when she saw the comment from Evangelina Ortiz, referencing her ancestor Benveniste Judah Dela Cavalleria. My mother herself was not born Jewish, but was deeply attracted to Judaism from her first encounter at about age 12, and had an Orthodox conversion at age 19. Now, more than 40 years later, she has discovered through researching her ancestors on My Heritage, that she has many ancestors (going back to France), who have Jewish names, and seem to be descendants of Anusim, the Jews who were forced to convert to Christianity.… Read more »
I have an ancestor named Benveniste Judah Dela Cavalleria. Are the surnames Benveniste and Cavalleria one in the same? I have read many online articles that say they are but I am still unsure. If so I have done DNA testing and can provide you with the information.
my name is shoshana Elkana, my father was Joshua Salvo Elkana of the Elkana family in Rhodes. He had 11 brothers and sisters most of which perished in the w.w. II. My father also immigrated to israel and has 2 children, myself and my brother yoram. I would love to hear more about his family. Especially since i never knew any of my grandparents. I am seeking to build a family tree and find out about his family.