"Brit-Am Now"-555(556) Subject: "Brit-Am Now"-555(556)

"Brit-Am Now"-555: Judah needs Ephraim (see also previous posting"555-556)
Contents:
1. Blessings from Carole
2. Past and Future Calamities?
3. "An Open Question"?
4. Ezekiel: Judah Needs Ephraim
5. Nancy: The Law of Return


1. Blessings from Carole
Subject: Re: 1-Samuel 18-1
Greetings, sir:
When I read the portion of your teaching on 1Samuel 18 (see below), I literally laughed out loud for pure joy and got out of my chair to dance before the LORD because of the way you argued your case against homosexuality! May God bless you and defend you because you have defended the Truth of His Holy Word. I love to read your teachings. I am trying to trace my tribe. I have always loved the Jews. Now I know why! Shalom! Carole

> Certain lowlife scumbag no-goods have tried to claim that the connection > between David and Johathan was homo-erotic. This is a lie. David and > Jonathan kept the Law and when David transgressed (with the woman of > another man) he was punished for it and his transgression is recorded in > detail by the Bible. There are no secrets. Homosexuality is one of the > worse sins that can be committed according to the Bible. Homosexuality > should be severely forbidden by society. As human beings any system or > prohibition is going to hurt somebody but the aim of a regulated > community > should be to minimize harm. It may be that a lot of people have some > homosexual inclinations at some stage in their lives but left to > themselves > they would overcome them.
By legalizing homosexuality, society in > effect > opens the door for the seduction of males and minors, the committing > of bestial perversions, coercion, sexual harassment, and the ruination > of > lives that otherwise would be productive. Those who practise a > homosexual > lifestyle are more often diseased, severely mentally disturbed, die > younger, and live a life of regret and suffering. They also bring the > wrath of the Almighty down upon the whole community.
> "IF A MAN ALSO LIE WITH MANKIND, AS HE LIETH WITH A WOMAN, BOTH OF THEM > HAVE COMMITTED AN ABOMINATION: THEY SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH; THEIR > BLOOD SHALL BE UPON THEM" [Leviticus 20:13].

2. Past and Future Calamities?
A site featuring the views of Jewish Mystics:
Geological Changes of the Messianic Era
(various Torah sources) http://www.yiddishkeit.org/Default_YK.asp?ItemCode=835
In addition to the article much of the other material on the site is interesting but I would exercise great discretion before taking it all seriously (they probably say the same, or worse, about us)

3. "An Open Question"?
From: Dennis McGinlay
Subject: Brit-Am Now 554 Ezekiel 11: 2-18

Dear Yair
You may know, or perhaps not, that I have sent you several Emails criticising (most gently) your stance on the return of Joseph. I think there is a little confusion here, but it appears that Ezekiel 11: 2-18 and other verses hits the nail on the head because the question of whether Joseph has to revert to the 'Law' as given, or whether God will institute a 'New Law' which all people will be obliged to observe is, as Ezekiel indicates, an open question. My guess is that all peoples of the world will be under a new law and system.
best regards
Dennis McGinlay
dennis.mcginlay@virgin.net

Answer:
First of all Brit-Am is quite willing to leave the subject of future religious changes an "open question".
Secondly Ezekiel according to the simple meaning of the passage is describing and replying to the attitude of a section of Judah that had not yet been taken into Babylonian Exile towards another section of Judah that had been exiled previously. This is how the simple meaning of the context reads and how some Modern Commentators e.g. Yigal Ariel) explain it.
Even so, I would agree that it could also apply to the attitude of segments of Judah towards the Lost tribes and perhaps the Prophet also intended it that way.
There were Commentators who understood the passages in that sense as we pointed out in our Commentary to Ezekiel, http://britam.org/ezekiel/ezekiel.html see item 4. Ezekiel: Judah Needs Ephraim, below :

[Ezekiel 11:14] AGAIN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,

[Ezekiel 11:15] SON OF MAN, THY BRETHREN, EVEN THY BRETHREN, THE MEN OF THY KINDRED, AND ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WHOLLY, ARE THEY UNTO WHOM THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM HAVE SAID, GET YOU FAR FROM THE LORD: UNTO US IS THIS LAND GIVEN IN POSSESSION.

[Ezekiel 11:16] THEREFORE SAY, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; ALTHOUGH I HAVE CAST THEM FAR OFF AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE SCATTERED THEM AMONG THE COUNTRIES, YET WILL I BE TO THEM AS A LITTLE SANCTUARY IN THE COUNTRIES WHERE THEY SHALL COME.

[Ezekiel 11:17] THEREFORE SAY, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; I WILL EVEN GATHER YOU FROM THE PEOPLE, AND ASSEMBLE YOU OUT OF THE COUNTRIES WHERE YE HAVE BEEN SCATTERED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAND OF ISRAEL.

[Ezekiel 11:18] AND THEY SHALL COME THITHER, AND THEY SHALL TAKE AWAY ALL THE DETESTABLE THINGS THEREOF AND ALL THE ABOMINATIONS THEREOF FROM THENCE.

[Ezekiel 11:19] AND I WILL GIVE THEM ONE HEART, AND I WILL PUT A NEW SPIRIT WITHIN YOU; AND I WILL TAKE THE STONY HEART OUT OF THEIR FLESH, AND WILL GIVE THEM AN HEART OF FLESH:

[Ezekiel 11:20] THAT THEY MAY WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND KEEP MINE ORDINANCES, AND DO THEM: AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD.

[Ezekiel 11:21] BUT AS FOR THEM WHOSE HEART WALKETH AFTER THE HEART OF THEIR DETESTABLE THINGS AND THEIR ABOMINATIONS, I WILL RECOMPENSE THEIR WAY UPON THEIR OWN HEADS, SAITH THE LORD GOD.

[Ezekiel 11:22] THEN DID THE CHERUBIMS LIFT UP THEIR WINGS, AND THE WHEELS BESIDE THEM; AND THE GLORY OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL WAS OVER THEM ABOVE.

4. Ezekiel: Judah Needs Ephraim
The Extracts below show that according to Ezekiel the Lost Ten Tribes will return to the Land of Israel and after that the religious problem will be solved, Joseph will help Judah heal the land of Arab ecological misuse.
Judah and Joseph need each other.

Ezekiel says that Judah has an obligation to help the Lost Ten Tribes return. The complete return of Judah is dependent upon the return of "Samaria" () meaning the Ten Tribes especially Manasseh. Manasseh today is mainly the USA. God will renew His covenant with Judah and with Israel (see Ezekiel 16:53, 55, 6116:62, all these verses are quoted below).

[Ezekiel 11:17] THEREFORE SAY, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; I WILL EVEN GATHER YOU FROM THE PEOPLE, AND ASSEMBLE YOU OUT OF THE COUNTRIES WHERE YE HAVE BEEN SCATTERED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAND OF ISRAEL.
Eisemann understands this following passage to be referring to all of Israel, including the Lost Ten Tribes.
Malbim: "In the future God will ingather the Ten Tribes who were in faraway lands and did not return in the time of the Second Temple".
Ramban (Nachmanides) holds the same view we have been quoting that the prophecies are understandable on two levels:
1. The message potentially could have been fulfilled partly in the very time of Ezekiel if the people would have repented; and
2. The complete fulfillment of the Prophecy of reconciliation will only happen in the time of the Messiah.
Ezekiel (11:18 below) indicates that first the exiles will return to the Land of Israel

[Ezekiel 11:18] AND THEY SHALL COME THITHER, AND THEY SHALL TAKE AWAY ALL THE DETESTABLE THINGS THEREOF AND ALL THE ABOMINATIONS THEREOF FROM THENCE.
- after that they shall put away their idols and keep the Law (Ezekiel 11:20).

The options appear to be:
(a) The exiles (from the Ten Tribes) will remove their idols and cease their paganism in their places of exile. OR ELSE:
(b) They shall first come back to the land and then they shall cast aside their idols, as Scripture appears to indicate?

[Ezekiel 16:53] WHEN I SHALL BRING AGAIN THEIR CAPTIVITY, THE CAPTIVITY OF SODOM AND HER DAUGHTERS, AND THE CAPTIVITY OF SAMARIA AND HER DAUGHTERS, THEN WILL I BRING AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY OF THY CAPTIVES IN THE MIDST OF THEM:
"THE CAPTIVITY OF SODOM AND HER DAUGHTERS": Moshkovitz (Daat Mikra) suggests that this refers to the revival of the Land of Canaan. Sodom was overturned and all the area around destroyed. So too, after the Roman conquest and the Arab and Turkish occupation was most of the Land turned into a wasteland without trees or greenery. The British and the Jews restored it in part. The State of Israel is continuing to do so but not as much nor as well as it should be. We have also been responsible for ecological abuses that should be corrected. There is much that could and should be done.
The Lost Ten Tribes will return. Manasseh will return. The exiles of Judah who remained in exile will return together with the Lost Ten Tribes.
Abarbanel (1435-1509): "The Ten Tribes will return to Samaria and its daughter-regions and so will the scattered dispersion of Judah be gathered in from the four corners of the earth".
Malbim says here that at the return "Samaria" and "Sodom" (?) will be the most important section of the Israelite nation whereas Judah will be pulled after them and returned through them. He repeats this message in 16:55.

[Ezekiel 16:55] WHEN THY SISTERS, SODOM AND HER DAUGHTERS, SHALL RETURN TO THEIR FORMER ESTATE, AND SAMARIA AND HER DAUGHTERS SHALL RETURN TO THEIR FORMER ESTATE, THEN THOU AND THY DAUGHTERS SHALL RETURN TO YOUR FORMER ESTATE. UNTIL NOW THEY ARE STILL OVERTURNED AND HAVE NOT RETURNED UNTO THEIR FORMER STATE.
This is a message for Judah: In order for Judah to realize herself and to bring back all her exiles and rehabilitate herself Judah must also seek the Lost Ten Tribes and cause them to return! This is important to Judah for her own sake! It is also hinting that rehabilitation of the Land itself is somehow connected with the return of the Lost Ten Tribes. See our Commentary on Isaiah 56:8 and Hosea chapter six, where we have explained that according to prophecy: part of Judah would return to the Land and begin to build it up. Then the Lost Ten Tribes would return in two stages together with the remnant of Judah. The first part of this process is well on its way.
"SODOM AND HER DAUGHTERS, SHALL RETURN TO THEIR FORMER ESTATE, AND SAMARIA AND HER DAUGHTERS SHALL RETURN TO THEIR FORMER ESTATE": Malbim: [addressing Judah] "For they [the Lost Tribes] shall be the most important section in the returning and you subservient to them, and you shall return through them".
Abarbanel: "There is no doubt that this promised ingathering will occur in the Times of the Messiah. Until now it has never been fulfilled".

[Ezekiel 16:61] THEN THOU SHALT REMEMBER THY WAYS, AND BE ASHAMED, WHEN THOU SHALT RECEIVE THY SISTERS, THINE ELDER AND THY YOUNGER: AND I WILL GIVE THEM UNTO THEE FOR DAUGHTERS, BUT NOT BY THY COVENANT. Judah must seek to bring the Lost Ten Tribes back. God makes the participation of Judah in the process of returning the Lost Ten Tribes a prior condition for the rehabilitation of Judah herself!
"I WILL GIVE THEM UNTO THEE FOR DAUGHTERS": Judah will have some degree of directional task to play in helping the Ten Tribes return and showing them the way in which they should go. Judah however is also obligated to get his own act together or else (God forbid) be punished. "BUT NOT BY THY COVENANT": The Lost Ten Tribes will not necessarily have to convert to Judaism in our sense of the word though they will renew the covenant between Israel and the Almighty and Judah is obligated to assist them.

[Ezekiel 16:62] AND I WILL ESTABLISH MY COVENANT WITH THEE; AND THOU SHALT KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD:
God will once again accept Judah and all Israel.

5. Nancy: The Law of Return
From: Nancy Nancy
Subject: RE: "Brit-Am Now"-553

Nevertheless the return will also involve a movement of those who-are-called amongst Joseph to move to the present State of Israel.
First of all, thanks for your extensive and well thought out reply.
I guess one question I have is where is the proof that the return will involve a move to the present state of Israel? Is there anywhere which says they would inhabit the area of Binyamin, for instance, or live in Jerusalem, etc? I see the pasukim which refer to coming to Israel, but as you have explained, this, along with other pasukim, would indicate a return to Syria, Lebanon, etc. Also, I think the way you present the Russian immigration comes across differently than the reality. There were no new laws, in general, to try to find a way to bring these Russians here. These Russians weren't targeted as desirable and then all efforts made to bring them here. These Russians were not people who had no connection whatsoever to a Jew. They all came under the general application of the law of return. If and when 'Jewish immigration' from America begins to really develop, the situation will be the same. Then we will be talking about the American immigration. The law of return was written and put in place. After that, the issue was how much the state of Israel wanted to break up families. Initially, the main people coming were Jews and their non-Jewish relatives. In order to facilitate this, the Jewish agency had places set up throughout Russia. Then after those who were halachically Jewish and their families had come who had so desired, the Jewish Agency had to justify their budget and provide jobs for their people. So then they focused on the non-Jews who could immigrate through the law of return. This continued to justify the existence of their presence and their budget. Of course, different governments with different agendas battled out the budget issue and decided how much to invest in this for ideological reasons as you mentioned. But bottom line, all of these immigrants have a connection to a Jew, either through marriage or descent within two to three generations. This, of course, disregards those who buy papers in order to immigrate here for supposed economic benefit. The purpose of the law of return was to bring Jews home and give regard to those who died in the holocaust (via the definition of who could return). Due to assimilation, many unfortunately who came are non-Jews. This, however, was not the spirit of the law and laws weren't designed for this purpose other than to preserver families.

I don't think the application and comparison of the non-Jewish Russian immigration to Israelite immigration is valid. Apples and oranges in many ways. A more valid comparison and model is the return of the supposed lost tribes from India. It is unclear to me how this committee will skirt the conversion issue when it is required of those from India. And they represent the best model and precedent. If you talk lost tribes, people will immediately look to the Indians as the example and model to follow. And do not think that these also still don't have beliefs from Christianity. But they go through conversion courses together and certain topics are skirted. Those from Ethiopia also have been required to go through conversion courses, and I know that some of them too have maintained certain beliefs from Christianity. Their courses, too, have been in groups. My two cents. Anyway, if you could provide a reference for the return of lost tribes to the state of Israel, I would greatly appreciate it. Regards,
Nancy

Brit-Am Answer:
We may disagree in describing the process that took place as you have done but you have a point. At all events it happened. Concerning your request for "a reference for the return of lost tribes to the state of Israel" you could start with the above item "4. Ezekiel: Judah Needs Ephraim". Quite a few other (perhaps more explicit) references exist and we should be quoting from them in coming postings of "Brit-Am Now".


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