"Brit-Am Now"-995
Contents:
1. Question on Rabbis Supporting Brit-Am etc
2. Brit-Am Questionnaire:
Answers to Question no.A.7
3. "Cyrus the Israelite" by Cam Rea
New Article!
####################################################
1. Question on
Rabbis Supporting Brit-Am etc
Query: I have heard that Rabbi [xx] supports Brit-Am.
Is this true?
Reply:
Rabbi [xx] like several others is very sympathetic.
If he is asked straight out whether or not he supports us he will say something
encouraging
and positive but usually non-committal.
The only Rabbi who may be described as definitely supporting Brit-Am and
actively promoting it
is Rabbi Avraham Feld even though he is no longer officially associated with
Brit-Am.
Many other Rabbis and Rabbinical scholars may potentially be sympathetic to
Brit-Am to some degree.
Brit-Am is just beginning and is in a unique position.
Unlike other claimants to having identified the Lost Ten Tribes Brit-Am is not
leading a whole troop of
potential converts in our trail. Just the opposite. Some of the sympathizers of
Brit-Am amongst Joseph leave little room for doubt
concerning their desire to see more of Judah to come over to their "side" in
the religious sense.
How do you expect Jews especially Rabbis to react to such an attitude?
Religious Jews especially Rabbis may be sympathetic and even favorable in a
private capacity but they
are not sure how to relate to us or what the point of it is.
They have responsibilities of their own.
What would you do in their position?
We will see how things turn out.
We pray that the Almighty will guide us.
The fact is that relatively few people from Joseph are supporting us. The
support we do receive is much appreciated and keeps us going.
Nevertheless it does not cover our needs which relatively speaking are not
great, especially considering the circumstances we work under and the efforts we
invest.
I doubt that Brit-Am at present really pays its own way.
In this regard see entry no.2 (Brit-Am Questionnaire: Answers to Question
no.A.7) below.
####################################################
2. Brit-Am
Questionnaire:
Answers to Question no.A.7
http://www.britam.org/Survey.html#7you
Q. A.7: If you do not support Brit-Am financially for reasons other than
lack of means is there anything Brit-Am could do to change this?
A Selection of answers is given plus a summary and intermediate conclusion:
Extract from the "Extracts":
Pat: This is something I don't understand. Why should the people who support
Brit-Am not be blessed more and more abudantly by Hashem so that they can pass
more of that abundance on to Brit-Am?
Brit-Am Comment: we believe that Brit-Am is a holy enterprise and is fulfilling
the will of Divine Providence. If anyone would tithe for Brit-Am or regularly
help us with offerings our impression is that they would be rewarded. This is
what the Bible says according to our understanding. This may be tested. If
anyone can show that we are wrong on this point we will admit it publicly. You
may ask if Brit-Am is at such a "high level" why does it seem to be always in
dire financial straits?
Good question.
We wish we had an answer.
Nevertheless the basic principle remains. Help us and help will come to you.
We will make our reckonings and you make yours.
Selection of answers given plus summary and intermediate conclusion:
<<This was a difficult question. Many did not answer it. For others it was not
pertinent since they already do what they can or are unable to do anything at
the moment. Our question was meant to be directed to any who would otherwise
perhaps contribute but refrain from doing so. We received a few answers from
people who seemed to fit the "bill" -an appropriate expression. The upshot was
that there may (or may not) be some who would otherwise help but due to
religious differences do not.
<<Another point that was perhaps gently hinted at was that Brit-Am may not
always come across strongly enough considering the urgency of the subject.
<<Again there were others (not all of whom we quoted above) who suggested
alternate means of income such as selling mementoes or setting up a membership
program or keeping a section of our web-site exclusively for they who pay a fee
and receive a password.
<<All these options may at some stage be considered and perhaps put into effect
though each one would require extra effort, investment, and an additional
learning process.
<<Even so, the basic problem seems to be the need to reach more people. This is
the best solution. The more people we reach, the more publications we may sell,
and the chances are that the more offerings we may receive.
<<Human nature will not change. Until we manage to reach out to more people
(which is what we endeavor to do anyway) we will have to rely on the generosity
of our present subscribers even though many of them appear to be of limited
means or have prior commitments.
####################################################
3. "Cyrus the
Israelite" by Cam Rea
New Article!
http://www.britam.org/cyrus.html
####################################################
####################################################
