Queries about Judah and the Jews

Questions on Judah
For More Information concerning Judah and Related Matters see

Why the Jews are Judah

Brit-Am Replies to Queries: Judaism

Brit-Am Replies to Queries: Law (Mosaic)

Brit-Am Replies to Queries: Captive Jews

1. Are Israel and Judah Really Distinctly Different Entities?
2. Are the Jews Really Only Judah?
3. Does Judah Need Joseph?
4. Are the Ashkenazi (European) Jews Descended from the Khazars or from Edomites?
5. If the Ashkenazi (European) Jews are NOT Descended from the Khazars, etc, why do some Jewish sources say they are?
6.
7. Who Were the Subbotniks?
8. Who Were the "Red Jews"?
9. What are the Characteristics of Judah?
10. What is the Jewish reaction to Brit-Am?
11. What evidence is there from Rabbinical Sources that justify Brit-Am beliefs?
12. What does "Ashkenazi" mean?
13. What does "Sephardi" mean?
14. Who Were the Khazars?
15. Should People of Jewish Ancestry who belong to Judah Keep the Law?
16.
17. Will Judah be instrumental in the return of the Ten Tribes?
18. Why Should Brit-Am interest Judah?
19. What is a "Jew" from the Tribal perspective? Are all Israelites "Jews"?
20. Are Jews Dishonest?

1. Question: Are Israel and Judah Really Distinctly Different Entities?

Answer: Ephraim and Judah are ALWAYS distinct Entities!

The Bible uses terminology indicating two houses of Israel, e.g. '"the house of Israel and the house of Judah" (Jer 11:10); or "Israel and Judah". Brit-Am type explanations usually explain these terms to refer to Judah and the Lost Ten Tribes as distinctly different entities. Regarding the use of such expressionsIt has however been claimed that:

<<"Ephraim" and "Judah," or "Israel" and "Judah," in tandem, employing the two terms as a parallelism a poetic way of speaking synonymously of the two groups. Thus when the Psalmist states, "God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel," the intention is not to differentiate Israel and Judah but to equate them.>>

According to the above it is alleged that the different terms are actually variant names for one and the same entity and NOT two distinct bodies.
What do you say?

Whenever Scripture uses the terms "Ephraim" and "Judah" then two SEPARATE entities are intended.
When Scripture uses the term "Israel" and "Judah," in tandem then too two SEPARATE entities are intended but in SOME CASES some commentators could understand the meaning to refer to one entity. The separate instances must studied in their various contexts.
A general rule (with possible exceptions) in Scripture is:

In the Books of Ezra and Nechamia the term "Israel" refers mostly to the Jews who returned from Babylon.

In the Book of Ezekiel the term "House of Israel" can refer to either Judah or "Joseph" or both of them together depending on the context.

In the other Prophetical Books "House of Israel" usually refers to the Ten Tribes especially when the expression is juxtaposed to "House of Judah". Once again, the context should be taken into consideration.
Ephraim is ALWAYS separate from Judah.
Ezra and Ezekiel sometimes call the Jews of Judah "Israel" but elsewhere the term "Israel" is usually reserved for the Ten Tribes.

See:
The following Question no.2.
Se also:
"Brit-Am Now"- 334
#1. Remnants of the Ten Tribes amongst Judah and "Hebraic" type Christians

2. Question: Are the Jews Really Only Judah?

Answer: The Jews are dominated by Judah, Benjamin, and Levi and include representative proportions of all the other tribes. "Judah" is the dominant tribe and therefore Scripture refers to the whole remnant of the southern kingdom (the present-day Jews) as Judah.

It has been claimed:

<<The Bible tells us that many of the northern kingdom's subjects rejoined the southern kingdom both before and after its people were exiled. Based on this, scripture makes the claim that the Jews today represent "all Israel.
Jer 30:10 addresses the Judahite exiles (cf. Jer 29:1, 30-31) and calls them "Jacob" and "Israel." Jer 31:17-20 reports that Ephraim has repented (past tense) and describes Ephraim grieving over its own acts.
Ezra 2:70 states of the returned exiles, "and all Israel lived in their cities." Zechariah addresses the same Medo-Persian returnees as "Oh house of Judah and house of Israel" (8:13; cf. 8:15) and distinguishes them from the people of the nations (Zech 8:23). It is thus not accurate to argue that references to post-exilic Judah are unique to Judah and do not apply to Israel.

From the above quotation it would seem that all "Israelites" can be encompassed by the term "Judah". The question, according to the above quotation, concerns the Books of:
(a) Jeremiah
(b) Ezra
(c) Zechariah

(a) Jeremiah chapters 29 and 31 have been quoted as sources indicating that the Jews include all the Israelite Tribes. Analysis of these chapters however indicates the opposite.

Jeremiah in chapter 29 sends a message to the Jews taken captive in Babylonian Exile. He says that if they seek God with all their heart (29:12-14) they will be gathered back to Zion. He then turns to those few Jews who had remained in the Land of Judah at that time and prophesies disaster to befall them and again he turns to the Jews of Babylon and prophesies against false prophets that had arisen amongst them. Chapter 30 begins a new theme in which Jeremiah prophesies concerning "MY PEOPLE ISRAEL AND JUDAH" and predicting their return.

See the Brit-Am Commentary to Jeremiah.
Here is our commentary on the verses quoted from Jeremiah:

[Jeremiah 30:10] THEREFORE FEAR THOU NOT, O MY SERVANT JACOB, SAITH THE LORD; NEITHER BE DISMAYED, O ISRAEL: FOR, LO, I WILL SAVE THEE FROM AFAR, AND THY SEED FROM THE LAND OF THEIR CAPTIVITY; AND JACOB SHALL RETURN, AND SHALL BE IN REST, AND BE QUIET, AND NONE SHALL MAKE HIM AFRAID.

Here Israel and Jacob are juxtaposed. This usually denotes both the Lost Ten Tribes and Judah together.

[Jeremiah 30:11] FOR I AM WITH THEE, SAITH THE LORD, TO SAVE THEE: THOUGH I MAKE A FULL END OF ALL NATIONS WHITHER I HAVE SCATTERED THEE, YET I WILL NOT MAKE A FULL END OF THEE: BUT I WILL CORRECT THEE IN MEASURE, AND WILL NOT LEAVE THEE ALTOGETHER

UNPUNISHED. The scattered of Israel usually refers to the Jews of Judah. The Jews were scattered all over whereas the Lost Ten Tribes were cast out as a group to a few areas, e.g.

[Isaiah 11:12] HE WILL RAISE AN ENSIGN FOR THE NATIONS, AND WILL ASSEMBLE THE OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL, AND GATHER THE DISPERSED OF JUDAH FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH.

OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL, = The Lost Ten Tribes who will be found gathered together in specific areas.
THE DISPERSED OF JUDAH i.e. the Jews who are scattered all over the world.
All those who oppressed the scattered of Judah in her time of Exile will be punished.

The verses are referring to Judah and Israel in the End Times and as separate entities.

The theme of separate destinies is also found in Jeremiah chapter 31 which wholly concerns the future return of Judah and Ephraim. It is entirely concerned with the future. See our Commentary to that chapter and also our works "Ephraim", and "Joseph" (2nd edition) where aspects of Jeremiah 31 are discussed at some length.

"Jeremiah 31 In Summary" says that:

In future the Almighty will be recognized as the God of all the families of Israel and they shall be his people (31:1). In the past God brought Israel out of Egyptian oppression and led them through the wilderness (31:2). So too God will once again cause his people to return unto him and HE will plant them upon the mountains of Samaria (31:5). Watchmen (Hebrew "Notsrim" possibly referring to Christians see "Ephraim") from Mount Ephraim shall wish to return to Zion and to THE LORD OUR GOD (31:16). They will return from the North Country and from the edges of the Land Masses with means of transportation enabling them to take everybody with them including women in childbirth and the crippled (31:18). They will return in a straight way ("as the bird flies") for the Almighty is A FATHER TO ISRAEL, AND EPHRAIM IS MY FIRSTBORN (31:9). God calls to his people in the faraway islands and tells them they will be returned (31:10) and redeemed from those who were stronger than them (31:11). They shall blessed with physical bounty and reconciliation of the generations (Jeremiah 31:12-14). Rachel the mother of Joseph and Benjamin had mourned because of the exile of her descendants (31:15) but they shall return to their land (31:17). Ephraim is an Aegel or "Anglo" (see the Brit-Am explanation on Jeremiah 31:18) who will return to the LORD his God (31:18). Ephraim will repent and be forgiven (31:19-20). Ephraim is urged to make a pathway of megalithic "dolmen" monuments so that in the future he may discern his pathway of migration from the Land of Israel (31:21). [Such a pathway exists as we have explained. We have also noted that in Prophecy there can be a fluttering from one theme to another and from one time frame to another. First the prophet describes what will happen in the future then he turns to Ephraim-Israel in his own time and urges them to lay the foundations by means of "dolmens" that will facilitate his future identification and returning, i.e. the future fulfillment of present prophecy]. Ephraim is urged to repent. He is likened to a wayward daughter. In the future he (Ephraim) will initiate his return to God. The wayward daughter (Ephraim) then becomes a female running after a male which is not the usual order of things (31:22). Jeremiah then speaks of Judah predicting the return of Judah and how Judah will become an example of justice and holiness (31:23). Judah will be recompensed (31:24-25). In the same way as in the past there were periods when the Hand of God was against the House of Israel and the House of Judah so too there will come a time when HIS hand will be outstretched to bestow benefit upon them (31:26-28). We will no longer be punished due to the sins of our forebears (31:20-30). A New Covenant will be made with the House of Israel and with the house of Judah (31:31). This Covenant will involve a changing of the inner being and there will be no more sin (31:32-34). The people of Israel will never cease from being a nation (31:35-37). Jerusalem will be rebuilt as an Eternal City (31:38-40).

Here too, the whole passages concerns the distant future with Judah and Israel being addressed as separate entities.

See also "Ephraim"
which discusses the dolmens and other aspects of Jeremiah 31.

See too "Joseph" (2nd edition)
which has a chapter dedicated to Jeremiah 31.

Jeremiah 31 is wholly concerned with the future and provides many proofs concerning the present day identity of the Lost Tribes of Israel including the fact that they are now known as "Notsrim" (the religion they now practice is mainly Christianity); they are in the North Country and on the coastlands of Continental Masses; they are also in faraway "islands"; they are known as "Anglos" [In Hebrew "Aegel" and "Angle" could be pronounced the same way as also they were pronounced the same way amongst the ANGLES and kin in former times. "Aegel" means "bull-calf"] represented by a bull (John Bull); there exists a pathway laid down by their forebears of megalithic monuments between their present position (or that of their immediate ancestors) and the Land of Israel.

(b) Ezra
Question: Ezra 2:70 states of the returned exiles, "and all Israel lived in their cities." Ezra had lead the Exiles from Babylon back to the Land of Israel. Does this not indicate that Ten Tribes of "Israel" also returned with Ezra?

Answer: Ezra is referring only to "all Israel" (mainly Jews of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi) that returned with him.

Ezra himself says that only a minority of the exiles of Judah returned with him.
The Book of Ezra ONLY mentions people from the Tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi which tribes constitute the entity known generally as "Judah".
We have discussed this in our articles:
"The Completeness of the Exile. Answers to Deniers of Brit-Am Biblical Truth"
and
"THE TEN TRIBES WILL RETURN! The Bible Says So!"
Extract from The Book of Redemption (Sefer HaGeulah)
by Nachmanides (Moshe ben Nachman. 1194-1270)

We pointed out (in accordance with principle of Nachmanides explained in the above article) that the Jews included people from Judah, Benjamin, Levi, and a small minority from all the other Tribes and that they all together are referred to in Scripture as "Judah".
Similarly the Ten tribes are often referred to collectively as "Joseph" or "Ephraim" even though they in turn included a minority from Judah.

(c) Zechariah: Does not the quote below indicate that "Israel" (the Ten Tribes) were included in Judah?

'Zechariah addresses the same Medo-Persian returnees as "Oh house of Judah and house of Israel" (8:13; cf. 8:15) and distinguishes them from the people of the nations (Zech 8:23). It is thus not accurate to argue that references to post-exilic Judah are unique to Judah and do not apply to Israel.'

Answer: Zechariah is referring mainly to the Jews in the Latter Days who will include a minoirty of "Israel".
[Zechariah 8:13] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT AS YE WERE A CURSE AMONG THE HEATHEN, O HOUSE OF JUDAH, AND HOUSE OF ISRAEL; SO WILL I SAVE YOU, AND YE SHALL BE A BLESSING: FEAR NOT, BUT LET YOUR HANDS BE STRONG.

Usually when Judah and Israel are mentioned together in juxtaposition then Judah refers to the Jews and Israel to the Lost Ten Tribes. In this case however "Israel" probably refers to that section of the other tribes who were not exiled with the Lost Ten Tribes but remained attached to Judah as we explained above in our answer to the quotation from Ezra.
HOUSE OF ISRAEL could also refer to that minority section of the Lost Ten Tribes who rejoined Judah at a later date such as the Israelite Khazars and other righteous converts throughout the centuries have done.

[Zechariah 8:14] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; AS I THOUGHT TO PUNISH YOU, WHEN YOUR FATHERS PROVOKED ME TO WRATH, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND I REPENTED NOT:
[Zechariah 8:15] SO AGAIN HAVE I THOUGHT IN THESE DAYS TO DO WELL UNTO JERUSALEM AND TO THE HOUSE OF JUDAH: FEAR YE NOT.
[Zechariah 8:23] THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS; IN THOSE DAYS IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT TEN MEN SHALL TAKE HOLD OUT OF ALL LANGUAGES OF THE NATIONS, EVEN SHALL TAKE HOLD OF THE SKIRT OF HIM THAT IS A JEW, SAYING, WE WILL GO WITH YOU: FOR WE HAVE HEARD THAT GOD IS WITH YOU.

These TEN MEN probably represent all (or many of) the peoples of the world since it says OUT OF ALL LANGUAGES OF THE NATIONS,
Even so they may also represent the Lost TEN Tribes who will also wish to re-attach themselves to JUDAH, i.e. to someone THAT IS A JEW, SAYING, WE WILL GO WITH YOU: FOR WE HAVE HEARD THAT GOD IS WITH YOU.

At all events there is no contradiction between the above verses and the principle that the overwhelming majority of the Lost ten Tribes went into Exile, never returned, lost their identity, and will return and be identified in the Last Days. This is the simple meaning of the Bible and it accords with present-day reality.

See:
"Brit-Am Now"-439
#1. Question: 12 Tribes Still Amongst Judah?
"Brit-Am Now"-468
#Other Tribes Amongst the Jews
"Brit-Am Now"-549
#4. Tribal Origins of Present-Day Jews

3. Question: Does Judah Need Joseph?

Answer: Without Joseph Judah cannot achieve Complte Redemtion. Joseph helps Judah re-assert settlement in the Land, and rebuild the Temple.

See
"Joseph": Question no.10 "Does Joseph Need Judah?'
"Brit-Am Now"-31 #1. Judah in Need of Joseph
"Brit-Am Now"-343
#4. The Need of Judah for Ephraim
"Brit-Am Now"-344
#2. The Need of Judah for Ephraim, once again
#5. The Need for Unification
"Brit-Am Now"-410
#4. Question on Ezekiel: The Need of Judah to Show the Way
"Brit-Am Now"-556
#4. Ezekiel: Judah Needs Ephraim
#5. Nancy: The Law of Return

4. Question: Are the Ashkenazi (European) Jews Descended from the Khazars or from Edomites?

Answer: There is no real evidence that European Jews descend from the Khazars or from Edom.

The Khazars at all events, according to most Jewish sources, were a portion of the lost Ten Tribes belonging especially to the Tribes of Simeon and Manasseh.

Concerning the Khazars See
Question no.14 below.
See also:
"The Khazars"
"Brit-Am Now"-155 #Velikovsky
"Brit-Am Now"-181 #2. Joel Bainerman: Book Review on Khazars

Concerning Edom (Esau) See
Peoples #1. Who is Edom?

Concerning Judah in general see:
"The Jews are Judah"

"JUDAH, THE JEWS, AND JOSEPH

WHY THE JEWS ARE "JUDAH" by Steven M. Collins

"Brit-Am Now"-421
#3. Claudette Mellin: Why the Jews Are Judah

5. Question: If the Ashkenazi (European) Jews are NOT Descended from the Khazars, etc, why do some Jewish sources say they are?

Answer: Some Jews can sometimes be as anti-Jewish as anybody else. Sometimes such claims are genuine mistakes and at other times they are ideaologically motivated.

Arthus Koestler wrote "The Thirteenth Tribe" claiming that all European Jews were descended from the Khazars whom he said were a Turkish Tribe. He was wrong. His motive appears to have been the desire (as he himself said) to absolve the European Jews from the death of Jesus and thus free them (he thought) from the claims of anti-semites.

Paul Wechsler is a linguist who holds (or held) a post at Tel Aviv University. He has written works claiming (mainly on the basis of linguistics) that the Ashkenazi (European) Jews are descended from Slavs especially the Wends of Germany and that the Eastern (Sephardic) Jews are descended from Arabs.
Upon examination we find that a political agenda is involved. Wechsler appears interested in a rapport with the Palestinian Arabs and he seems to feel that a weakening in Jewish self-confidence concerning their rights to the Land of Israel could help the cause of Peace!!
The existence of such extraneous motivations in the workings of academia may sound far-fetched at first but it is valid more often than not. These people have taken an ideaological bribe. A bribe in Hebrew is "Shochad", translated in the King James Version as "gift".

[Deuteronomy 16:19] THOU SHALT NOT WREST JUDGMENT; THOU SHALT NOT RESPECT PERSONS, NEITHER TAKE A GIFT [Hebrew: "SHOCHAD" meaning "bribe"] FOR A GIFT [bribe] DOTH BLIND THE EYES OF THE WISE, AND PERVERT THE WORDS OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
We should be aware of such potentially negative tendencies both in ourselves and in others. Brit-Am also has an interest in proving its case but we attempt to admit any legitimate objection to points we make. Ultimately the truth serves itself. If a belief is true then even points that may seem to go against it when properly examined turn out to be strenthening factors.

"Brit-Am Now"-72
#1. Who is Edom. Edom and Judah

7. Question: Who Were the Subbotniks?

Answer: The Subbotniks were Russian Christians who adopted Jewish customs and in some cases converted to Judaism.

See

"Brit-Am Now"-353
#5. Are Jews left-Wing?
"Brit-Am Now"-389
#5. John Stembridge: Quotes about the Jews
"Brit-Am Now"-431
#5. Question Concerning the Acknowledgement of Judah
"Brit-Am Now"-493
#4. Born of a Jewish Mother

10. Question: What is the Jewish reaction to Brit-Am?

Answer: The reaction on the whole is positive with reservations and numerous queries.

See
"Brit-Am Now"-214
2. Answers to Questions: Sources for, and Jewish Reactions to, Brit-Am

"Brit-Am Now"-280
#5. Surnames and Jewish Reactions

"Brit-Am Now"-283
#2. Questions from Rabbi YM

"Brit-Am Now"-285 (a)
#1. More Questions from Rabbi YM and answers

"Brit-Am Now"-285 (b)
#4. Reactions to "Brit-Am Now"-285:
1. More Questions from Rabbi YM and answers

"Brit-Am Now"-364
#5. More on Jewish Reactions to Brit-Am

"Brit-Am Now"-446
4. Questions to Brit-Am

"Brit-Am Now"-564
#3. Question from Valerie: Why Does Judah Not Accept Us?

11. Question: What evidence is there from Rabbinical sources that justify Brit-Am beliefs?

Answer:
1. Commentators (Rashi, Iben Ezra, Radak, Nachmanidres, Abarbanel) on Obadiah 1:20 indicate that the Lost Tribes settled in the West.

2. Mashiach ben Yoseph: Traditions spoke of a future Anointed Leader who would lead the Lost Tribes in the Last days and who also epitomized and culminated a process of support for Judah and ingathering the Jews to Israel. This description is only applicable historically to Britain and the USA.

3. Midrashim and Rabbinical sources also interpreted the texts the same way as Brit-Am has done.

Our interpretations of the Biblical Text according to its literal meaning prove Brit-Am Identifications.

4. Hebrew Meanings of Names and Tribal Characteristics in the light of Rabbinical Commentary confirmed Brit-Am Identifications, e.g. Machir first born son of Manasseh gave his name to America. Machir means Capitalism. Manasseh means Responsible Representations, Ephraim means Aristocracy.

5. Jewish Philosophy: Helps explain the separate roles of Judah and Joseph.

See
"Brit-Am Now"-298
#3. New Rabbinical Evidence for Brit-Am
"Brit-Am Now"-301
#2. Bill Rasmussen: More Rabbinic Sources
"Brit-Am Now"-309
#6. Theodor Opatowski: Prayer for Ten Tribes
"Brit-Am Now"-322
#1. Question from a Jewish perspective
"Brit-Am Now"-457
#7. Letter from Rabbi Ullman and Reply by Yair Davidiy

12. Question: What does "Ashkenazi" mean?

Answer: "Ashkenaz" was a son of Gomer son of Japhet (Genesis 10:3). Traditinally Ashkenaz settled in Germany. In the early post-Roman Christian Era many Jews settled in Germany but they were driven out. The Jews from Germany established new communities elsewhere in Europe especially in the East or they became the leading elements in existing Jewish communities. Consequently all European Jews came to call themselves "Ashkenazis" meaning that they followed customs and rulings that had had been practiced amongst the Jews of Germany.

"Brit-Am Now"-197
#2. Why are Western Jews called "Ashkenazim"?

13. Question: What does "Sephardi" mean?

Answer: "Sepharad" was originally another name for Sardis the capital in Ancient Times of Lydia in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). The term "Sepharad" is related to the Greek "Hesperides" which originally meant some place in Greece but later was applied to Isles somewhere near the Western extreme of the Mediterranean or even beyond them, possibly the British Isles. The Hesperides were represented by nymphs named Aegle, Arethusa, Erytheia, and Hesperia. "Aegle" is another name for "Angle" and "Erytheia" means Edom (Red) and was the name given to an island off the coast of Spain belonging to Tarshish.
In Jewish terminology "Sepharad" came to mean "Spain". "Sephardi" (singular) or "Sephardim" in the plural was the name given to Spanish Jews or to Jews who followed the customs and rulings of Spanish Jewish tradition. In popular usage the term is now applied to members of all Mediterranean, North African, and Eastern Jewish communities.
The Prophet Obadiah mentioned "THE CAPTIVITY OF JERUSALEM, WHICH IS IN SEPHARAD" in connection with the future Redemption and according to the Commentators the intention is to Jews whose ancestors had been exciled to Spain or moved there after the Exile.
[Obadiah 1:20] AND THE CAPTIVITY OF THIS HOST OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL POSSESS THAT OF THE CANAANITES, EVEN UNTO ZAREPHATH; AND THE CAPTIVITY OF JERUSALEM, WHICH IS IN SEPHARAD, SHALL POSSESS THE CITIES OF THE SOUTH.
For more on this verse, See the Brit-Am Commentary to the Book of Obadiah.
"Brit-Am Now"-329
#5. "Sepharad" and Judah
"Brit-Am Now"-332
#1. Question on Sephardim and Captive Jews

14. Question: Who Were the Khazars?

Answer: The Khazars were mainly a portion of the Lost Ten Tribes who had remained behind in "Scyhia" (southern Russia and the areas around it) when the rest of the Israelites moved westward. The Khazars according to Jewish tradition were descended from the Tribes of Manasseh and Simeon. The Khazars were also known as Agathyrsi and a portion of the Agathyrsi migrated to Northern Scotland where they became identified with the Picts. At one stage the Khazars possessed a powerful and highly cultured kingdom of their own but this was destroyed by Russian and Mongolian attacks. Most of the Khazars may have converted to Judaism but since they were never very numerous it is unlikely that many present-day Jews are descended from them though one never knows.

"Brit-Am Now"-371
#. Jewish Ancestry and Identification

"Brit-Am Now"-35
#. 2. Cita Giron: Jewish Ancestry

17. Question: Will Judah be instrumental in the return of the Ten Tribes?

Answer: Yes.

See:
"Brit-Am Now"-528
#4. The Two House Doctrine: Will Judah REALLY Go Unto Joseph?
"Brit-Am Now"-530
#6. William F. Dankenbring Queries Brit-AM Explanation of Jeremiah 3:18
"Brit-Am Now"-531
#2. Another Note on the word "AL" in Jeremiah 3:18
"Brit-Am Now"-532
#3. David Ben-Ariel: Judah shall both go TO and return WITH Joseph
"Brit-Am Now"-544
#6. Sharon Lindstrom : How Judah Will Go to Joseph.

18. Question: Why Should Brit-Am interest Judah?

Answer: Brit-Am should interest Judah for a number of reasons. In a sense the whole destiny of Judah is dependent on a realization who Joseph is just as Joseph needs to know who he is and that Judah is his brother. See the questions and answers above on this subject as well as the points listed below.

Brit-Am Should interest Judah because:

For the Sake of Torah Knowledge.
Brit-Am reveals who the Lost Ten Tribes are today.
This enhances our understanding of the Tanach (Scripture) and shows how Prophecy has been fulfilled. It is an important aspect of Torah understanding.

For the Sake of the Truth.
Brit-Am reveals the truth concerning the Lost Ten Tribes. This is important in its own right.

To Understand the Present.
Brit-Am helps us to understand certain aspects of the international scene.

The Obligation of Judah Towards the Lost Tribes.
Judah has an obligation at some stage to go unto the Ten Tribes and bring them back. What exactly this means and how it is to be done is not known at present but what is clear is that knowing who the Lost Ten Tribes are is a pre-requisite.

To Silence Misleaders
False candidates for being the Lost Ten Tribes are put forward quite forcefully from time to time and mistakes of judgment are liable to occur. If anything is to be done concerning the Lost Tribes of Israel then we should be certain from the beginning who and where the Lost Ten tribes are and not go chasing after unknown entities in the wrong places.

The Lost Ten Tribes Are Already Involved with Judah
The peoples Brit-Am identifies as the Lost Ten Tribes are already involved with Judah. They are our allies, our only friends, and in some cases also close to being our adversaries. Whether we like it or not the fate of Judah is wound up with Brit-Am peoples. Knowing the Israelite identity of these nations could affect how we relate to them and our understanding of them.

To Combat anti-Semitism
These peoples are technically "Goyim" (Gentiles) at present but good ones relatively speaking when compared to nearly all the others.
The Gentiles may be divided into three groups:
a. They who will probably always be pro-Jewish no matter what happens.
b. They who will always be anti-Jewish no matter what arguments are brought forward in favor of the Jews or no matter what we do one way or the other.
c. Those who can swing either way according to circumstance, information received, etc.
Brit-Am has proven itself effective in generating changes in sentiment towards a stronger support of the State of Israel and more sympathy for the Jewish people.

Our Brothers Need Us
These people are our brothers. They need Judah in many ways even though they may not realize it. The awareness of Judah as to who Joseph is can help Joseph.
Brit-Am believes that Joseph is obliged in these end times to assist Judah realize the Zionist message of conquering and settling the Land of Israel. This is for the good of Judah.

The Survival of the State of Israel and the Jewish National Destiny is at Stake
Brit-Am also believes that Joseph must conquer Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and other areas and prepare a settlement of his own peoples in these regions. This could help Judah by providing a friendly co-operative presence in our neighborhood in place of the fanatical blood-thirsty antagonistic reality of the present. Geo-political reality is already pushing Joseph in this direction but widespread correct Brit-Am knowledge could greatly catalyze the process.

More Details
More details on these matters are to be found as well as other points in our published works especially
"Ephraim" and "Joseph".

19. Question. What is a "Jew" from the Tribal perspective? Are all Israelites "Jews"?

Answer: The word "Jew" is a form of "Judah". The southern section of Israel was known as "Judah". In "Judah" eventually dwelt the Tribes of Judah, Benjamin, part of Simeon, most of Levi, and segements of the other other Tribes. A "Jew" is a descendant from one of the Israelites who dwelt in the territory of "Judah" and who remained loyal to the house of David when the Lost Ten Tribes broke away. The term "Jew" also applies to someone who accepted the Jewish religion or whose ancestors did. All Jews are Israelites but not all Israelites are Jews. Those Israelites whose ancestors were part of the Lost Ten Tribes and who never re-accepted the Mosaic Law are technically speaking not "Jews".

"Brit-Am Now"-23
#1. Terminology: "Jew" or "Israelite"

20. Question: Are Jews Dishonest?

Answer: Jews are not especially dishonest but they definitely are vulnerable. The vulnerability of the Jewish Peoples always makes it difficult to objectively consider questions of this nature. The average Jew is probably at least as honest as the average Gentile in his immediate surroundings. Jews however do tend to extremes. One finds scrupulously honest Jews and complete communities where honesty is almost taken to the point of neurosis. Here and there one also sometimes finds the opposite. If the Jews were not basically honest they would not succeed in business or in science or in other fields in which they excell. There are exceptions. Everything should be seen in proper perspective. Here and there the dishonesty of some Jews may be brought to prominent attention. On the other hand there may also be found certain fields were the few really honest practitioners are nearly all Jewish. This is a subject best left alone.

Anecdotes (Paraphrased):
Anecdote 1.
B (a Jewish man with a cynical attitude towards how own people) says to A:
"I guess the Jews succeed amongst the Anglos because the Anglos are trusting and gullible?"
A (an Anglo with experience in both worlds): "The Anglos are trusting but not so gullible. They let themselves be occasionally cheated badly by their own kind. Now and again they may let a Jew cheat them but never so badly or so often as they let their own people. They usually know what is going on. More often than not the Jew does not cheat. In the case of the Jew, cheating is actually exceptional and he provides services that others dont."

Anecdote 2.
C was a Gentile who was always complaining to A that the Jews he dealt with were not honest. After a while A noticed that despite his "anti-Semitic" remarks C actually preferred to do business with Jews. He asked C about this.
C replied: "If you catch a Jew cheating he will be apologetic. He may return some of your money. A Gentile will laugh in your face".

Sources on Judah

"Brit-Am Now"-120
#5. New Understanding on Judah and the "law": Science

"Brit-Am Now"-270
#3. Judah and the Lost Ten Tribes
#4. More on Judah and the Lost Ten Tribes and Brit-Am

"Brit-Am Now"-272
#4. WHY THE JEWS ARE JUDAH
"Brit-Am Now"-283
#2. Questions from Rabbi
"Brit-Am Now"-285 (a)
#1. More Questions from Rabbi YM and answers
"Brit-Am Now"-332
#3. Question about Israel and Judah in the Bible
"Brit-Am Now"-353
#2. Lost Israelite Conversion to Judaism in the past
#3. Lost Israelite Marriages?
#4. Ephraimite Conversions to Judaism?
#5. Are Jews left-Wing?
"Brit-Am Now"-354
#2. Questions on Ephraimite Brit-Am Identity and Conversion
"Brit-Am Now"-364
#5. More on Jewish Reactions to Brit-Am
"Brit-Am Now"-370
#7. Jewish Ancestry and Identification
"Brit-Am Now"-389
#5. John Stembridge: Quotes about the Jews
"Brit-Am Now"-421
#2. Steve Collins: Why the Jews Are Judah
#3. Claudette Mellin: Why the Jews Are Judah
#4. Question on Conversion of Ten Tribes
#5. Question on the "Messianic Process"
#6. A Symbiotic Relationship
#7. Some Odds and Ends
"Brit-Am Now"-477
#5. Winston Churchill on the Jews
"Brit-Am Now"-520
#5. Correction to (Jewish) Population Statistics
"Brit-Am Now"-548
#1. Jewish Demographics
"Brit-Am Now"-549
#3. Sephardic Jewish Blood in Western Peoples
#4. Tribal Origins of Present-Day Jews
"Brit-Am Now"-620
#3. Another Question on Judah (re Jewish Leftwingers)
"Brit-Am Now"-650
#2. "SLIGHTLY CONFUSED": What is the Difference Between "Israel" and the "Jews"?
"Brit-Am Now"-657
#3. DNA Four Mothers of Present Day European Jews?
"Brit-Am Now"-702
#5. Are the Jews Judah?
"Brit-Am Now"-703
#2. Apology
"Brit-Am Now"-708
#1. Many "Gentiles" today may be descended from Judah
"Brit-Am Now"-718
#2. Letters Concerning the "Synagogue of Satan"
"Brit-Am Now"-721
#1. History: 1850, the Don Pacifico Incident
"Brit-Am Now"-723
#1. Ark of the Covenant and Tara
"Brit-Am Now"-736
#3. "Secret Jews" amongst Mexicans in Texas?
"Brit-Am Now"-743
#1. Rules of Conduct when meeting Orthodox Jews
"Brit-Am Now"-745
#4. Who is Judah?
"Brit-Am Now"-746
#3. Lloyd George on antisemitism, 1923, quotation
"Brit-Am Now"-747
#5. Fulfillment of Prophecy in Judah
"Brit-Am Now"-755
#1. What Does the CMH ["Cohan Gene"] Really Tell Us?
#3. Is Judah the First to Return?
#4. Lorraine Harvey: Judah Returns
"Brit-Am Now"-756
#4. Question on CMH and Jewish Ancestry
"Brit-Am Now"-758
#9. Poll of Americans 42% Israel was given to the Jewish people by God
"Brit-Am Now"-759
#2. Another DNA Conundrum
#(c) Little if Any Jewish Ancestry Amongst Mexicans according to DNA findings.
"Brit-Am Now"-760
#1. Martie Carreon: Jewish Ancestry in Mexico?
Brit-Am Now"-768
#2. Are Jews really of Edomite blood?
Brit-Am Now"-777
#4. Rabbinical Source: Repentance of Ten Tribes Precedes that of Judah?
"Brit-Am Now"-782
#3. William Adelman: (Important) Genetic Links Between Vikings and Jews
"Brit-Am Now"-783
#1. Tom Turner: Anti-Semitism Paralleled by foreign hatred of "Anglos"
"Brit-Am Now"-784
#2. DNA: Links between Ashkenazic Jews, Scandinavians, Shetland Scotts, and Amerindians?
"Brit-Am Now"-786
#5. Is Judah Occupying the Land of Joseph?
#7. The Brit-Am Judah Fund
"Brit-Am Now"-787
#1. The Hebrew Calendar
"Brit-Am Now"-793
#4. The Readmission of the Jews to England
#5. Question on the Samaritans
"Brit-Am Now"-798
#5. Both Houses in Danger?
"Brit-Am Now"-804
#3. Enemies of Brit-Am Pretend to be Jewish!
"Brit-Am Now"-805
#2. Jews Against Zionism??
#4. Japanese and the Star of David
"Brit-Am Now"-812
#4. Questions on Specific Names and Early Jewish Communists.
"Brit-Am Now"-815
#2. Jews in Nigeria and Mormons in Africa Interesting Parallelism
"Brit-Am Now"-824
#3. Yoel Kramsky: The Almighty has Plans of His Own
"Brit-Am Now"-825
#2. Do Jews Know the Bible?
"Brit-Am Now"-827
#2. Yoel Kramsky: Ultra-Orthodoxy and Scripture
"Brit-Am Now"-834
#1. Were Many Early Russian Communists Jewish?
"Brit-Am Now"-836
#5. Kevin Opp: Karaites no Good
"Brit-Am Now"-843
#1. Forward to "The Requirements of Judah"
#2. Yoel Kramsky: The Requirements of Judah
"Brit-Am Now"-844
#4. Judas and Red Hair
"Brit-Am Now"-861
#4. Questions from David and Some Brit-Am Answers
(4) Is Judah too Zealous?
"Brit-Am Now"-904
#2. Answers to some "Jewish" objections
"Brit-Am Now"-931
#1. Question on Jewish-Germanic Surnames
"Brit-Am Now"-952
#5. Questions Jewish Family Names, etc
Brit-Am Now"-959
#3. Joan Griffith: WHO is in Eretz Israel in these End Times?

Brit-Am Now"-976
#1. Question on the attitude of "Jewish Religious circles" to the Lost Tribes

Brit-Am Now"-987
#3. Tessa: Judah versus Amalek!
Brit-Am Now"-990
#5. Traits of Judah
Brit-Am Now"-991
#1. Question on Judahites amongst Lost Tribes
#2. Comment on Judah: Preliminary List of Traits
Brit-Am Now"-1000
#3. Why Should the Jews Care that the Lost Ten Tribes are in the West?
Brit-Am Now"-1005
#7. Janice: Thanks to the Prayers of Judah

"Jerusalem News"-308
#4. Katy Whelan: Judah and Joseph Drawing Closer?
"Jerusalem News"-314
#2. What it means to be a Jew
"Jerusalem News"-316
#7. Non-Jewish "Israeli" football Teams
"Jerusalem News"-320
#5. President Bush thanks Orthodox Jewry
"Jerusalem News"-357
#3. Arutz Sheva: Russian Nazis in Israel POLICE DISCOVER RING OF NEO-NAZI IMMIGRANTS FROM CIS REVOLUTION IN ISRAEL-US PHONE CALLING
"Jerusalem News"-359
#3. Russian Subbotniks Still Around?
"Jerusalem News"-382
#1. 70% of Israeli Jews Fast on Yom Kippur
#2. George Bush Speaks about Yom Kippur
"Jerusalem News"-393
#2. Ultra Orthodox Jews Live Longer
"Jerusalem News"-395
#1. Some Jewish Contributions to the World
"Jerusalem News"-397
#5. The Expulsion from Spain 1492
"Jerusalem News"-414
#4. The Jewish Population of the World (2005)
Total Numbers per country and Percentages of Total
"Jerusalem News"-487
#3. Arutz-Sheva Thursday
(7. Bnai Anousim Visit Israel on Solidarity Mission

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Questions on Judah For More Information concerning Judah and Related Matters see Why the Jews are Judah Brit-Am Replies to Queries: Judaism Brit-Am Replies to Queries: Law (Mosaic) Brit-Am Replies to Queries: Captive Jews