Physical Characteristics of Yemenite and Kurdish Jews in Israel

The body measurements and skin colour of samples of Israeli Jews aged 20 to 30, born in the Yemen and in Kurdistan, are reported. The Jews from Kurdistan ('Kurdish Jews') were significantly larger than the Jews from the Yemen ('Yemenite Jews') in the majority of body dimensions. The groups differed more in transverse than in longitudinal measurements; there were small differences between them in skeletal shape. The Kurdish Jews were heavier than the Yemenite Jews; an appreciable number of individuals (particularly among the Kurdish females) were 'overweight' by British or American standards for height and age. Excess mass among the Kurdish Jewish women appeared to be largely due to fat, but among the men was probably due to muscle. The Yemenite Jews were darker skinned than the Kurdish Jews, but not as dark as Africans. The Kurdish Jews were darker than Europeans, and both groups had similar reflectance curves to other populations in southwest Asia. These results are discussed in relation to the genetic, nutritional, and occupational circumstances of the samples.