"Brit-Am Now"-705
Contents:
1. Changing Head Shapes
(a) in North America
(b) in Israel
(c) the Brit-Am Understanding
2. Proverbs 4:24-27
3. Question on Conversion
1. Changing Head Shapes
(a) in North America
Re: Jerusalem News-441
#4. Changing Head Shapes In Modern America
Re: Jerusalem News-441
#4. Changing Head Shapes In Modern America
Question:
Dear Yair:
The anthropological link is very hard to understand. I am wondering if
you can explain, in more common language, how changing head shapes and
sleeping positions in infants affects intelligence. I am just not very
familiar with the scholarly language of anthropology. With the type of
language I have read, I am sceptical about whether any one of the
authors really knows what he is talking about. The best I can interpret
from this is that head shape can be designed by how an infant is placed,
either on his stomach or his back. The babies who sleep on their
stomachs develop a long head whilst babies placed on their backs do not.
That's what I understand, please correct me if I am wrong. I am highly
sceptical of all of this. My head is long and I know that I was placed
on my stomach as an infant; that was the practise back in the late
1940's when I was born. Yet none of the boys I remember when I was a
boy (1952 - 1962) had a long head shaped like mine. I have to conclude
that my head shape is hereditary and unless there is an unnatural force
applied, all head shapes must be hereditary. A Native American tribe in
Montana, I cannot remember its proper name, used to tie a block of wood
tightly to their infant's foreheads, thus the name "Flathead", which
persists in geographic names in Montana to this day.
Jay
Answer:
Jay Shalom,
There is no known or even claimed connection between head shape and intelligence.
There was once a belief that different head shapes reflected something of the personality.
This however was never proven and no tests were found to substantiate it.
Our understanding is that head shapes change due to environmental factors that
are not entirely understood. Once the change occurs in some cases it becomes more or less "fixed"
by heredity and in others cases less so.
The changes need to be measured in the aggregate and over several generations.
Different customs of putting children to rest (on the back or on the stomach) can apparently also influence the
head shape but we believe this influence has been exaggerated.
Scientists simply do not know how to explain the phenomenon and therefore
try to ignore it or find unsatisfactory explanations.
See:
Jerusalem News-432
http://www.britam.org/jerusalem/jerusalem421to450.html#tag12
#3. Now Confirmed: Head Shape Can be Inherited or it Can Change
See also:
Brit-Am Replies to Queries: Race
Q. 4. Can "Racial" Features be Acquired through Environmental Influence?
http://www.britam.org/Questions/QuesRace.html#Environmental%20Influence
(b) in Israel
Native Israeli Skulls Are Narrower and Longer
It is interesting to note that while head-shapes in America and
the west appear (at present) to be getting broader those in the |Land
of Israel are becoming narrower:
Dr.Yose Nager, "Mi Anachnu" ("Who Lived in Israel. A Story of Ancient
Populations", Hebrew, 2003, p.19):
<<It is possible to see a change in the shape of the skull amongst the
immigrant population (Ashkenazic Jews) who arrived in the Land of Israel
having come from Europe with the great waves of Aliyah [Immigration to Israel]
at the beginning of the twentieth century. The skull shape of the second generation,
those born in the Land, on the average was different from that of their parents and
became narrower and longer, similar to that of the local populations (Jews from Eastern Communities
and Beduins). >>
(c) the Brit-Am Understanding
How Does All This Concern Brit-Am?
a. Brit-Am tends to explain physical differences between national groups as an
outcome of environment combined with inherited potentialities.
These findings confirm Brit-Am understanding on this matter.
b. In the past (and still with some authorities in the present) skull shape was understood
to be entirely inherited and different races were distinguished by differently shaped heads.
[There is in fact a some truth in this concerning static populations under
static environmental conditions.]
It was implied that migrations of peoples could be traced or denied by tracing changes
in head shapes. Here too this in some cases may be correct
but it does not hold all the time.
In our opinion what applies to head shapes is pertinent to all physical characteristics
including DNA.
We are not saying that any particular conclusions should necessarily by reached at
this stage, just that an interest be maintained and we all remain open to different possibilities.
[Proverbs 4:23] KEEP THY HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE; FOR OUT OF IT ARE THE ISSUES OF LIFE.
Rashi: Whatever you learn from the Torah keep it wellfor even small things (that are in it) bring great reward if they are kept.
Metsudat David: More than anything else that you may watch over, watch over your own heart. Be careful not to think of sinning for the major outcomes of life spring from the heart. Why therefore should you allow thoughts that can destroy your life?
Iben Ezra says that the heart is like the king of the body.
All the Commentators understand this verse along the same lines:
Keep your thoughts positive because your mind determines what will happen in your life.
2. Proverbs 4:24-27
[Proverbs 4:24] PUT AWAY FROM THEE A FROWARD MOUTH, AND PERVERSE LIPS PUT FAR FROM THEE.
Rabeinu Yonah: <<This is connected to what it says further on,
THE WICKED IS SNARED BY THE TRANSGRESSION OF HIS LIPS [Proverbs 12:13]
And
DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE [Proverbs 18:21].
A FROWARD MOUTH: Means one who does not admit the truth.
PERVERSE LIPS: Someone who calls evil good.>>
[Proverbs 4:25] LET THINE EYES LOOK RIGHT ON, AND LET THINE EYELIDS LOOK STRAIGHT BEFORE THEE.
Rashi: <<Perceive the truth and righteousness.>>
Metsudat David: <<Consider with the greatest care the outcome of what you stand to do so that your gaze (eyelids) may guide you in the right path>>.
[Proverbs 4:26] PONDER THE PATH OF THY FEET, AND LET ALL THY WAYS BE ESTABLISHED.
[Proverbs 4:27] TURN NOT TO THE RIGHT HAND NOR TO THE LEFT: REMOVE THY FOOT FROM EVIL.
Experience shows that going in the right path is not usually so difficult. What is difficult is trying to remain on the right path after one has already compromised their position. The advice given here is not to put ourselves in such situations and to foresee the possible outcome if we consider doing so.
3. Question on Conversion
Shalom in the Name of HaShem,
Recently I personally have been trying to rearrange my life so that I can convert to Orthodox Judaism. I have now found out that I may not be 'authentic' because a Rabbi may not be on an official list of the Israeli Conversion list of some sort. What will this mean for those of us out here who are looking for that relationship with HaShem that for 2700 plus years we have been denied? Now we are coming back and the doors have been shut to us? How can we repair a relationship with our brother Judah if Judah doesn't want us (but we give our help though it is not known... ie US foreign aid, etc.)?
Do you know of this list so that we can try to convert through an Israeli approved Rabbi?
Thank you for any help in this.
...I am sincerely looking for answers and truth.
S
Shalom
I will publish your letter but without your name since it could help others.
From what I understand you are considering Conversion to Judaism but have heard that it
may not be accepted by the Israeli Authorities if the Rabbi responsible is not on a list
approved in Israel.
Israel is notorious for its bureaucracy that is quite successful in making simple matters
extremely complicated. It used to be even worse.
Anyway in general any Orthodox Rabbi who carries out conversions
should be acceptable in Israel. Just to be certain there is nothing wrong
with making inquiries on the matter before you begin.
The whole thing can take anywhere from under a year to three years and even longer.
It can be a difficult process.
Everyone has to make their own decisions on this matter.
Brit-Am does not encourage it.
Brit-Am believes that other solutions will became apparent as knowledge and awareness increases both
within Joseph and Judah.
Even though Brit-Am DOES NOT ENCOURAGE CONVERSION ON THE WHOLE
there are exceptions.
If they amongst Joseph who wish to take this path and are certain of their step
would band together things could be easier.
This is what the "Burmese" and other groups did.
See:
The Burma Blues
http://britam.org/Burma.html
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