Samaritans: the small Levantine ethno-religious community

The Samaritans are a small, ancient community in the Levant that shares belief in one God with Judaism but preserves its own version of the Torah, rites centered on Mount Gerizim, and unique language and script.

Overview

The Samaritans are an ethnoreligious community native to the Levant. They profess faith in the same one God as Judaism (monotheism) and are historically connected to the Israelite tradition (related to Judaism). Today they form one of the smallest distinct religious groups in the region.

Scripture and belief

Samaritans accept the Pentateuch alone as canonical, using a version known as the Samaritan Torah. Their religious law and liturgy draw exclusively from that text rather than the broader Jewish scriptural canon; see the central role of the Torah (Samaritan Pentateuch) in worship and identity.

History and origins

According to Samaritan tradition they descend from the northern Israelite tribes and continued worship on Mount Gerizim. Historical and scholarly accounts note a long development from the ancient Israelite period, with distinct religious and social practices emerging after the division of the Israelite kingdoms in antiquity.

Practices and communal life

Samaritan religion features a hereditary priesthood, communal festivals, and rites tied to Mount Gerizim, which they regard as the proper sacred location. Traditional observances include a Passover sacrifice and community readings of the Torah. Local life has combined religious, familial and agricultural rhythms.

Language, script and culture

The community preserves its own pronunciation traditions and uses the Samaritan script, a direct descendant of an older Hebrew alphabet. Liturgical language includes forms of Samaritan Hebrew and elements of Aramaic and local vernaculars. Manuscripts and ritual practices are important cultural heritage.

Contemporary situation and distinguishing facts

There are fewer than a thousand Samaritans worldwide, with most living in and around Holon and near Nablus on Mount Gerizim (Holon and Nablus). Modern members hold citizenships, engage in preservation of manuscripts and traditions, and serve as a subject of interest for studies of ancient Israelite religion and minority survival.

Distinct scripture: Samaritan Pentateuch only.
Sacred site: Mount Gerizim as central sanctuary.
Script: Samaritan alphabet and liturgical Hebrew.