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Brit-Am Now no. 1345 Ten Tribes
May 26 2009, 3 Sivan 5769
Contents:
1. Shavuot: An Outline
2. Why Should Brit-Am interest You?
3. Blessing and Good Wishes to
Yair and Brit-Am
4. 3 Rounds of Correspondence with "Hazakiah"
(1). Round One
Question on Tribeal
Lineage and Keeping the Law
(2). Round Two:
Introductions and Ohr
Samayach
(3). Round Three:
Hazakiyah
Gets Nasty
5. Did Joseph Really Marry an
Aramaeanitess?
1. Shavuot
On Thursday night (28 May 2009) begins the Festival of Shavuot.
In the Land of Israel it lasts until nightfall of Friday when Shabat comes in.
[Outside of Israel it lasts for two days and continues into Shabat].
Shavuot begins on the sixth days of the Hebrew Month of Sivan.
Shavuot in English is known as Pentecost.
On Shavuot the Children of Israel received the Torah.
Shavuot in the Land of Israel was the time of the harvesting of wheat.
At one time the area of the Land of Israel (which includes Lebanon, Jordan,
Syria)
was an important supplier of wheat to the Ancient World.
Shavuot was also the first day on which individuals could bring the Bikkurim
(first fruits) to the Temple in Jerusalem (Mishnah Bikkurim 1:3). The Bikkurim
were brought from the Seven Species for which the Land of Israel is praised:
wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates (Deut. 8:8).
Milk products (blintzes, cheesecake, etc) are eaten, Torah is learned by those
are able to do so all night long, the house and synagogue are often decorated
with greenery (plants, etc), and the Book of Ruth is read.
Milk products are eaten according to custom (it is not obligatory) because
the Torah is symbolized by honey and milk:
"honey and milk are under your tongue" (Song of Songs 4:11).
Honey comes from bees which are unclean creatures and milk is transformed
from blood which is also
not kosher. The Torah purifies the impure and makes the non-kosher kosher.
We read the Book of Ruth since Ruth was a foreign woman who converted to the
Torah.
All Israelites were in effect the same as converts when they received the Torah
and we are commanded to
treat the convert as ourselves.
See:
Loyalty to David is Required:
Ruth and the Oral Tradition
http://britam.org/DavidandOralLaw.html
Jews keep Shavuot as a Holy Day and do not work or travel. Cooking us permitted
as long as no new fire is lit.
[This is different from Shabat where cooking is forbidden though heating
pre-cooked foodstuffs is allowed].
Wikipedia has a reasonably accurate description of the Festival.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavuot
##In Jerusalem, thousands of people finish off the nighttime study session by
walking to the Kotel [Western Wall] before dawn and joining the sunrise minyan
there. The latter activity is reminiscent of Shavuot's status as one of the
three Biblical pilgrimage festivals, when the Jews living in the Land of Israel
journeyed to Jerusalem to celebrate the holiday.
2. Why Should Brit-Am interest You?
================================================
(a) Knowledge of Ancestry
Brit-Am shows that the USA, the British Isles, and leading regions in
the West are dominated by descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes.
This fact determines many of their characteristics and their destiny. This
involves the fate of all mankind.
It is important that this be known and that you know it.
[Other authorities and organizations have a similar message. Each to his own.
Our message relies on the Hebrew Bible,
Rabbinical sources, and secular researches of the past and present. In some
cases the information we provide is unique to us
and very close to being conclusive.]
Brit-Am through its past researches has made this information available. Brit-Am
is capable of explaining this new knowledge and if necessary of
defending its validity. In addition, more research work can and should be done.
Brit-Am has the tools to do it.
================================================
(b) Implications.
The Brit-Am Ten Tribes message means that the role and fate of the USA, Britain,
Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland,
Switzerland, the State of Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, are
predicted in the Bible.
This knowledge should by rights be the determining factor in all governmental
and communal decisions.
================================================
(c) Israelite Obligations
The Brit-Am Ten Tribes message says that the Ten Tribes have obligations
and duties unique to themselves.
If this is so (and it is) you should be aware of it.
================================================
(d) Bible Belief and Consciousness
The Brit-Am Ten Tribes message in effect proves Biblical Prophecy which in turn
confirms that the Bible is Divinely Inspired.
People are human and the Bible is addressed to humans. Proof of the Bible is
needed and the Brit-Am Ten Tribes message
provides that Proof. Not only proof of the Bible but also increased Biblical
Consciousness can help us all and Brit-Am helps in this direction.
================================================
(e) Brit-Am Ten Tribes can become a
Weapon in the service of the State of Israel and Western Civilization
The State of Israel, the USA, and values of Western Civilization in general are
being threatened.
The Brit-Am Ten Tribes message gives additional reasons for supporting the State
of Israel and returning to Biblical values.
Brit-Am stands for a nullification of atheism, Islamicization, idolatry, and
heathen Conspiracy outlooks.
Brit-Am stands for an independent Jewish State (with Jewish self-awareness) in
the Land of Israel, settlement in as much of the Land (stretching from the Nile
to the Euphrates) as possible and transferring the foreign mixed invasive Arab
squatter population to some place else.
Brit-Am also stands for drawing the Ten Tribes and Judah closer to each other.
See also:
Why Should Brit-Am interest Judah?
http://www.britam.org/Questions/QuesJudah.html#interest
================================================
You
should support us!
Brit-Am Ten Tribes should be supported because it is a tool made available by
Divine Providence
that can work for the good of the Ten Tribe Israelite nations, for the cause of
Biblical
and Ancestral Israelite Consciousness, and for the cause of the State of Israel.
It is true that Brit-Am at present can only reach out to a relatively few people
but over time the numbers reached are
not so insignificant and in many cases those reached are qualitatively
important.
We worked very hard to get where we are. On the one hand, We may not have gotten
that far.
On the other hand we are in a good position to go much further with a little
help.
Please help Brit-Am.
Send us an offering or regular contribution.
Purchase our publications if you have not yet done so.
It is our belief that they who support us will be blessed in the same way as all
those who give tithes and offerings
to Biblically-justified projects receive a blessing and increase.
3. Blessing and Good Wishes to
Yair
and Brit-Am
greetings friend,
I believe 99.9 percent of what you teach/preach is very accurate. I say that
because no one is perfect.
I have learned so much about my heritage because of your hard labor and fruits
of love.
I was reading the stuff people wrote about you and I could not believe what they
said blatantly attacking you verbally. I know you are good man
with a good staff. I read everything you send me. I want to learn about my
Hebrew/Jewish heritage and you teach very accurately without
prejudicial opinions in my understanding.
God bless
shalom yair
victor michael
4. 3 Rounds of Correspondence with "Hazakiah"
(1). Round One:
Question on Tribal Lineage and Keeping
the Law
Since tribal lineage is
paternal and being a member of the tribes requires birth by a woman who is MOT
[Member of the Tribes]
or a halachic
convert, how do you propose that a bunch of gentiles are Ephraim? Is the Torah
wrong in its definition of who is an MOT? I have yet to see where
Hashem
cancels out His words in Torah concerning who is and who isn't or in the
Prophets that says Torah law is defunct where these Gentiles are concerned.
I've been posting on a website that is called
rootsoffaith.net
and some on there claim they are
Ephraim.I
would appreciate an answer since some have directed me to your site.
Hezakiah
Philadelphia,Pa
USA
================================================
Brit-Am
Reply to Round One:
You have explained "MOT" as an acronym for "Member of the Tribes".
This is not a happy choice.
MOT in Hebrew is a possessive adjective meaning "death of-".
"MOT" to a Hebrew or Yiddish speaker connotes "MOT" or "MOVET" i.e. "death".
The Torah gives life.
[Proverbs 3:18] SHE IS A TREE OF LIFE TO THEM THAT LAY HOLD UPON HER: AND HAPPY
IS EVERY ONE THAT RETAINETH HER.
I do not understand your question entirely but will answer what it seems to be.
You mentioned having been referred to us by the site:
http://www.rootsoffaith.net/
This seems a group inspired by Professor James Tabor.
Professor Tabor in the past has spoken well of Brit-Am and recommended our
site and e-mail list.
His own outlook as well as that of the people around him seem to be a
combination of
the Abrahamic Faith (Noachide Laws), a reformed Christianity, and the Two
House (Ten Tribes) belief.
They do not however really push their own beliefs preferring to guide and
influence rather than impose.
Concerning the Torah:
If you are Jewish you should study the Torah and keep the Commandments.
For spiritual guidance it is preferable that you seek an Orthodox teacher or
group suitable to yourself.
Judaism is Orthodox Judaism.
If you are not Jewish you may be descended from Jews or from the Ten Tribes.
The Ten Tribes were Israelites who lost knowledge of their ancestry, i.e. their
identity.
They are now concentrated amongst western peoples.
Even though they are halachically Gentiles we can tell them that they are
probably Israelites based on criteria
we use:
Ephraimite Criteria
http://www.britam.org/criteria.html
This means that from a Biblical-Prophecy and statistical point of view that they
PROBABLY are of Israelite descent
and for many purposes may consider themselves as such.
Since the proofs however at the individual level are not absolute there is no
obligation on them at present to keep the
Law of Moses.
[There are also other reasons why they do not have to keep the Law
at this stage.]
Nevertheless they are called upon to return to their sources and arouse their
ancestral consciousness (Jeremiah 31:21-23).
In our times this to some degree could be considered an obligation.
Adopting Biblical and Jewish practices could be considered an aspect of this
arousal and in our opinion should be encouraged.
[This matter however is not part of the task Brit-Am has allocated itself.]
For more information and for an overall picture of our beliefs peruse our
BIBLICAL EVIDENCE
http://www.britam.org/Proof/ProofsIntro.html
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(2).
Round Two:
Introductions and
Ohr
Samayach
Shalom
Alechem,
Apparently I should have given more detail beyond asking the question.
I am Orthodox. My name is
Hezakiah
Sammi
Levinson and I was vice president of
Ohr
Samayach
synagogue and campus here in Philadelphia until it was shut down for lack of
funding from Ohr
Samayach
U in Jerusalem.The
Rav
was Rabbi Eliyahu
Koppell,
the youngest rabbi ever to sit on the
Beis
Din of Israel.
I have also been a counter-missionary for over fifteen years. Rabbi
Tovia
Singer of Outreach Judaism has known both my wife and I a number years.
Yes, I know James Tabor as one of the three that set the
Noahide
movement in motion that have known my wife for many
years. He, in
fact, also
recommended I look at your site.
Now,back
to my original question with commentary to clarify what I want to know.
I realize your organization is attempting to locate possible migration routes
of those of the Northern Kingdom that did not return not to confused with
those that never left the kingdom. Those commonly referred to as "lost
tribes".
My questions are:
1. Since according to Torah tribal linage is paternal and being a member of
the tribes
requires birth by a woman who is a member of the tribes (Israelite) or a
halachic
convert, how do you propose that a bunch of gentiles are Ephraim
ie:
members of the Northern kingdom?
2. Is the Torah wrong in its definition of who is a member of the tribes?
3. Do you hold any belief that these gentiles are, in fact, the Northern
Kingdom, though according to Torah,
they are not Israelites, in a way that they are Ephraim mentioned in the
Prophets that will join with the rest of Jewry ?
Thank you for the quick
replies and I hope this makes what information I'm seeking more clear.
Chizkiyahu
Shmuel
ben
Moshe HaLevi
================================================
Brit-Am Replies (Round 2)
You say that you are or were associated with Ohr Samayach. I
admire and respect their work
BUT they made one serious mistake.
They published an article under their name tracing the Ten Tribes to the east.
See our article:
Brit-Am Replies to:
Other Claimants to being the Lost Ten Tribes
http://britam.org/Questions/QuesOtherClaims.html
Since they too identify certain Gentile peoples as Israelites will you be asking
them the same questions you asked me in the same challenging manner?
I do not think so.
We already know the answer to that one, do we not?
Concerning your first question,
##how do you propose that a bunch of
gentiles are Ephraim ie:
members of the Northern kingdom?##
I do not understand your question.
People are physical descendants of physical beings. If a group is physically
descended from Israelites and if Scripture refers to them as Israelites
then they are Israelites. What is the problem?
You asked
##2. Is the Torah wrong
in its definition of who is a member of the tribes?##
Brit-Am goes according to the Torah.
Brit-Am may well be only organization studying the Ten Tribes that goes entirely
according to the Torah.
If you think we do not please tell us where we have departed from the Torah.
You also queried,
##3. Do you hold any belief that these
gentiles are, in fact, the Northern Kingdom, though according to Torah
they are not Israelites, in a way that they are Ephraim mentioned in the
Prophets that will join with the rest of Jewry ?##
Answer:
Again apparently you understand the Prophets differently from ourselves so
please show us where we have erred if err we have.
================================================
###################################################
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(3).
Round Three:
Hazakiyah
Gets Nasty
Greetings,
I'm disappointed at your circular answering without any actual
clarification and accusing me of using some sort of tone. Obviously Torah does
mean nothing to your cult supporting delusions. I can only suppose this by
your lack of answer concerning that the Torah defines who is Israel. First
the church said,"Those
are the Jews, they aren't Israel anymore , we are." Now it is those that left
the church and claim to be Ephraim saying the same thing. I see no need to
bother looking for answers from your organization since you don't give
answers.
================================================
Brit-Am
Ten Tribes Replies (Round Three):
It may seem that
We do not give answers because you do not really ask questions but rather make declarations and expect us to
react to them.
Jews are known for answering a question with another question so here are some
questions for you:
a. You say you are associated with Ohr Smaeach. They, like Brit-Am, identified a
group of apparent "Gentiles"
as descended from the Lost Ten Tribes. Why then do you not apply the same
questions to them as you apply to us?
Are people in the east different? Do they who look for the Lost Ten Tribes
amongst Eastern Peoples deserve more
respect in your eyes than those who find them in the west? If so, why so?
b. What according to you is the Torah definition of "Israelite"?
How does this differ from Brit-Am understanding?
c. We referred you to articles on the subject on our web-site including
BIBLICAL EVIDENCE
and Ephraimite Criteria
Did you even bother looking at them?
d. You said that "Now it is those that left the church and claim to be Ephraim
saying the same thing" meaning (at least this is what we suppose you meant) that "Ephraimites"
have adopted Replacement Theology.
For all we know there may be Ephraimites who
are guilty in this respect but we are not aware
of any.
Our organization, Brit-Am Ten Tribes, certainly cannot be accused of
such tendencies since we emphasize the importance
of Judah quite strongly.
What justification do you have for making such an implication concerning "Ephraimites"
in general?
And us (Brit-Am Ten Tribes) in particular?
Do you not think your tone and insinuations offensive?
Should you not repent of your false assumptions and apologize?
Are you not aware that the Sages condemn they who think evil of others when
there are no grounds for doing so?
================================================
This correspondence will be sent out to
our Brit-Am Discussion group for the purpose of public edification.
5. Did Joseph Really Marry an
Aramaean?
Question:
Re
Brit-Am Now no. 1343: The Lost Ten Tribes of Israel
#2. DNA Racial Classifications Corrected and Explained
http://britam.org/now/1343Now.html#DNA
In Brit-Am Now #1343, you say Joseph
married an Egyptianitess
in the context of showing Israel's diversity. But wouldn't it make more sense to
simply say he married an Aramean?
After all, the Hyksos
were ruling Egypt at that time, and they were of
Aramean
stock. That actually helps us to understand how Solomon was able to say that God
had separated Israel from the nations. Abraham went to great pains to make sure
Isaac's wife was Aramean,
as did Rebekah
for Jacob. This is a minor point in the context of what you were referring to
(DNA), but I thought I'd share anyway.
Nathan Proud
================================================
================================================
Brit-Am
Reply:
The Hyksos (Shepherd Kings) according to our understanding were
Hebrews or possibly Egyptians who took Hebrews into their employ as advisors and
administrators as proposed by Ed. Meier and suggested by the sources.
The Hyksos came to power after Joseph and as a result of Joseph and his brothers
being present in Egypt.
Joseph married Asenath.
[Genesis 41:45] AND PHARAOH CALLED JOSEPH'S NAME ZAPHNATHPAANEAH; AND HE GAVE
HIM TO WIFE ASENATH THE DAUGHTER OF POTIPHERAH PRIEST OF ON. AND JOSEPH WENT OUT
OVER ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT.
Asenath is the daughter of Potipherah priest of On.
The sages said that Potipherah was the same person as Potiphar who first bought
Joseph.
[Genesis 39:1] AND JOSEPH WAS BROUGHT DOWN TO EGYPT; AND POTIPHAR, AN OFFICER OF
PHARAOH, CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD, AN EGYPTIAN, BOUGHT HIM OF THE HANDS OF THE
ISHMEELITES, WHICH HAD BROUGHT HIM DOWN THITHER.
The wife of Potiphar tried to seduce Joseph, then accused him of attempted rape
and Potiphar had him imprisoned. From his place in prison Joseph was elevated to
effective ruler of Egypt, second only to the King.
The Sages explained that Potiphar later realized that Joseph had been falsely
accused.
They also said that even the wife of Potiphar had good intentions in part. She
foresaw that a union between her and Joseph was destined to take place and so
tried to hurry things along a bit. She did not realize that the destined union
indeed come to pass but through her daughter.
Asenath was the mother of Ephraim and Manasseh.
[Genesis 41:50] AND UNTO JOSEPH WERE BORN TWO SONS BEFORE THE YEARS OF FAMINE
CAME, WHICH ASENATH THE DAUGHTER OF POTIPHERAH PRIEST OF ON BARE UNTO HIM.
The Bible no-where indicates that Asenath was anything other than an
Egyptian.
Before the giving of Torah it was permitted to marry an Egyptian.
After the Torah was accepted an Egyptian convert could be accepted for marriage
three generations after his/her conversion.
This was the same status as for an Edomite convert.
The Edomites descended from Esau the twin-brother of Jacob as the Bible
emphasizes.
The Egyptians came from Ham son of Noah but are not to be discriminated
against.
They are given the same status.
[Deuteronomy 23:7] THOU SHALT NOT ABHOR AN EDOMITE; FOR HE IS THY BROTHER: THOU
SHALT NOT ABHOR AN EGYPTIAN; BECAUSE THOU WAST A STRANGER IN HIS LAND.
[Deuteronomy 23:8] THE CHILDREN THAT ARE BEGOTTEN OF THEM SHALL ENTER INTO THE
CONGREGATION OF THE LORD IN THEIR THIRD GENERATION.
There is no need to apply speculations to Scripture that are not supported by
Scripture itself.
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