While it is true that the Hasidic fedora and the Mexican sombrero have only an incidental similarity, a recent discovery in the Mexican desert reveals that Jews and Latin Americans share a common history.
One might be only mildly surprised to find a kosher sushi restaurant in the heart of today’s Mexico City. But, what if one found evidence of a Jewish presence in Latin America in the 8th century? Dr. Donald Panther Yates believes that a stone found in Los Lunas Mexico is a remnant of the Calalus Roman/Jewish settlement. The stone, seen here, contains a mildly abridged version of the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) which is written in Phoenician script.
Here is a transliteration of the inscription as provided by http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/15_williamson.html
1.) I YHWH your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt from the house of slavery. This is a letter for letter match with the Mastoretic Text.
2.) Not YHWH to you gods other ones before my face. Not will you make to you images or any likeness which in the heavens above or which in the earth under or which in the waters under the earth. Not will you bow down to them and not will you serve them for I YHWH your God a jealous (God) bring punishment upon fathers upon children on the third and fourth generations to those that hate me. And doing kindness to thousands to those that love me and keep my commandments. Highlighted portion is omitted.
3.) Not shall you take the name YHWH your God in vain for not will leave unpunished YHWH one who takes His Name in vain. Highlighted portion omitted
4.) Remember the day the Sabbath and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. And day the seventh is Sabbath to YHWH your God, not shall you do any work you and your son and your daughter your male slave and slave girl and your cattle and your stranger who in your gates for six days made YHWH the heavens and the earth the sea and all that is in them and rested he on the day seventh therefore God blessed the day Sabbath and sanctified it. Highlighted portion is omitted.
5.) Honor your father and your mother that may be long your days on the land which YHWH your God is giving to you. Here is a complete match with Masoretic Text, but not the LXX).
6.) Not shall you murder. Word for word match.
7.) Not shall you commit adultery. Perfect match
8.) Not shall you steal Perfect match
9.) Not shall you testify against your neighbor there false. ( Match)
10.) (Not shall you covet house our neighbor) Not shall you covet wife your neighbor or his male slave or slave girl or his ox or his ass or all which is to your neighbor. Highlighted portion is omitted.
Dr. Yates has written a book which I have yet to read on the subject. Clicking on the image will take you to the amazon.com site.
I’m adding it to my reading list, but in the meantime some appropriate music:
