I'M SO BUSY TODAY that I'm not even sure what to panic about first. And the weekend is not looking much better. But have a look at this San Franciso Chronicle article about Egyptian Karaite Jews in San Francisco:

Jewish sect from Egypt keeps it all in the family
Karaites' exodus began after the Suez Crisis in the '50s

Loolwa Khazzoom, Special to The Chronicle

Friday, May 6, 2005

When asked to name a traditional Passover dish, most Bay Area Jews wouldn't come up with "barbecued lamb." But for the local Karaite Jews from Egypt -- an ancient community that follows biblical Jewish law and rejects the rabbinic interpretation of Judaism -- an outdoor barbecue kicks off the seder celebration, with the meat symbolizing the paschal sacrifice.

Sara and Elie Moussa of San Carlos were sure to barbecue enough lamb to serve the 32 guests gathered in their home for the festivities. In addition to the four generations of family seated at the U-shaped table in the living room, there were several out-of-town Karaite guests who had no families with whom to celebrate the holiday.

The largest community of Karaites in the United States -- 200 families in all -- resides in the Bay Area, with 50 families in the South Bay. The Karaites began moving here from Egypt in the '50s when Egypt and the newly created state of Israel went to war, a conflict referred to in the West as the Suez Crisis.

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