1. Questions about Germans, etc.
Hello,
Glad I discovered your very interesting web site. I have a few questions.
(I realize you may not have the time or inclination to respond.)

I am a non-Jewish American of German descent. As I understand the
Brit-Am position, my German ancestors were likely not from the ten lost
tribes. Am I correct? If so, what message should I as a "non-Israelite"
American take from Brit-Am? Is there any particular course of action
that would be appropriate for "non-Israelite" Americans who become
convinced of the merit of the Brit-Am position (for example, study
and/or convert to Judaism)?

I would be interested to see more information on any genetic/DNA
studies that have a bearing on the Brit-Am position. I did not see
any such information on your site. If I missed any such information,
I'd appreciate a pointer to it.

Do you have any opinion about the recent book by Hillel Halkin,
Across the Sabbath River, which is about his search for a lost tribe
among certain groups in eastern states of India? He relates
evidence that these people are historically linked to the tribe of
Manasseh.

Best wishes,
Alan
 

Answers:
(a) Many of our subscribers in the USA are partly of German origin. In our book
"Joseph" we quoted from various sources that indicated that the immigrants
to America from Germany  belonged to a different stock than those who
stayed behind.
This notion was backed by ethnic and sociological studies.

(b) Our understanding is that Israelites were in Germany but moved out.
Most people now in Germany are not Israelites though a few could be.
Apart from that, not that many people come to Brit-Am, those that do are guided
by Divine providence and probably belong to Israel or Judah.
Also, there were always non-Israelites who attached themselves to Israel
and received the same status as Israelites. Under David there served
non-Israelites in prominent positions.

(c) We do not encourage people to convert to Judaism and if someone wishes
to do so as an individual he must make his own way.
and take his own responsibility.
We believe that all of Israel will eventually renew the covenant when the
time comes
but this is not the task we have undertaken which is restricted mainly
itself to the clarification of Israelite identity.

(d) We are reserved about DNA studies. Nevertheless such studies
do  indicate that many people in Western Europe originated in the Near
East. The time given for this movement is the New Stone Age. This dating
could be mistaken and the DNA studies in question could well actually
provide confirmation for Brit-Am researches.

(e) concerning Hillel Halkin's book , Across the Sabbath River, according
to reviews he has not proven anything but merely recorded
the wishful thinking of a few people in dire physical circumstances. There
may be something in the claims made but we have yet to see them. Apart from
that, the few youngsters of the tribesmen he describes that have come to
Israel and that we have met have not made a bad impression but it is
difficult to say.
 
 

http://www.britam.org/
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"And I will make of you a great nation. And I will bless you and make your
name great.
And you shall be a blessing.
"And I will bless they who bless you, and curse him who curses you.
And in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
(Gensis 12;2-3).

The Principles of Brit-Am require:
1. Acceptance of Prophecy.
2. Self-Respect (no hatred of fellow Israelite groups, no antisemitism)
3. Acknowledgement of The Israelite Identity of many people amongst
Western Nations.
4. recognition of  "Captive Jews" meaning Israelite or Jewish descendants
who lost their identity and emerged from amongst dominantly non-Israelite
peoples. The destiny of these "Captive Jews" is bound up with that of  the
Lost Ten Tribes even though
the Lost Ten Tribes retained some degree of communal cohesion, and they did
not.

The aims of Brit-Am  are to encourage:
1. The spread of Identity Awareness.
2. Increased Identity research and clarification.
3. Association of members together for the sake of  mutual-empowerment,
learning and fellowship.

The giving of donations
together with the ordering of publications enables
Brit-Am to function.
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Yair Davidiy
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Jerusalem 91004
Israel