Neither, Kam.
They are certainly not Christians, most having once been Christians and
rejecting it long ago.
They follow an interpretation of the Hebrew Bible of their own
understanding of it.
Some of the second generation have married Israelis and converted to
Judaism. A few of the older people too have converted to Judaism, but
most have not and there is no reason why they should. They live a very
rich and beautiful moral/spiritual life.
As Jews we do not agree with all of their interpretations, as a matter
of course, but we have made friends with many of them and respect the
community deeply.
Some of the most beautiful people I've ever met are in that community.
Our children grew up together.
One of the members of the community healed me of recurring bronchitis
that was brought on by a bout of pneumonia. She took me by the hand
when she heard me hacking one day in the street and bought me nettle
tea. She told me to make a strong brew of it and drink it with honey
3X a day, but not after 18:00 because it is a very strong expectorant.
I not only stopped coughing, I never had another case of bronchitis
again and I live in a part of Israel that is quite cold and humid in
the winter.
The run *the best* vegetarian restaurants in Israel.
VP
