Are Zoroastrians Jewish?

Zoroastrianism emerged from Median Judaism and is documented from the 5th century BCE as Zoroastrianism turned into religious imperialism. Zoroastrians have a Kohanite priestly caste but for some reason no Levite priestly tribe. This raises the question as to whether the Zoroastrians are Jewish? Is it a form of Median Judaism? Do they have secret Judaic/Atenist teachings? Was Zoroastrianism a co-religion of Median Judaism practiced in symbiosis with Median Judaism similar to the religion situation in China? Does the fact that Zoroastrians have Kohanim make them Jewish? Does it matter that Zoroastrianism has long since abandoned religious imperialism and even prohibits conversions into the religion? There are no ready answers. But I am inclined to think that the answer is that Zoroastrianism is indeed a denomination of Median Judaism. The answers may be gleaned by reading the Avesta, the Zoroastrian sacred scripture, through the lens of the Great tradition of the Art of Writing.

Published by Daniella Bartfeld

Daniella Bartfeld is the founding director of the Aliyah Organization.

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