was taken by Chaim David Sidman

 
Editorial
                                                                   


Shalom, We have renamed the magazine yet again. It is now called “BRIT-AM Truth instead of “BRIT-AM Magazine”. The chances are that this time the new name will remain.  The articles in this issue deal with a variety of issue. There is an important article by Stephen M. Collins about Judah and the Jews. In order to understand the Lost Ten Tribes we have to also be aware of those Tribes that were not lost. Remember the quotation at the end of the Recommendation of Rabbi Avraham Feld to the Second Edition of The Tribes?  It said: They [i.e. the Lost Ten Tribes] are those who were exiled beyond the Sambation River. The exiles of Judah and Benyamin [i.e. the present-day “Jews”] are destined to go unto them and bring them back in order to merit with them the Messianic Era and life in the World-To-Come. This is as it says, “In those days the house of Judah shall go unto the house of Israel and they shall come together out of the land of the north unto the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers” (Jeremiah 3;18).
-Yalkut Shimeoni, Song of Solomon 905.
The Lost Ten Tribes will return.  Biblical indications and Jewish tradition indicate that the Jews will be be instrumental in making the Lost Tribes aware of their Israelite Identity.  If this is so – and we believe it will be, then the Jews must firstly know who the Lost Ten Tribes are. This is one of the tasks Brit-Am has taken upon itself.  To instruct both Judah and the Lost Tribes of Israel.  We are preparing a book in Hebrew that may well be published soon. Brit-Am is centered in the Land of the Jews, in the State of Israel, in Jerusalem. The Brit-Am office and place of residence of Yair Davidiy is almost literally just across the road from the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) Building. Since Brit-Am in Israel is mostly Jewish then too in a small way we are beginning to fulfill the task of Judah by going out to the other Tribes as we do.  It also requires that those of Israel from the Ten Tribes should not be misled by Enemies who says false things about Judah. The article by Stephen Collins in this present issue comes to meet that need.

<<And you find that Israel will not be redeemed until they become one unity, as it says,   
[Jeremiah 3:18] IN THOSE DAYS THE HOUSE OF JUDAH SHALL GO UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND THEY SHALL COME TOGETHER OUT OF THE LAND OF THE NORTH TO THE LAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN FOR AN INHERITANCE UNTO YOUR FATHERS.   
Only when they are one unity will they merit receiving the Divine Presence.>>Tanchuma, Nitzavim, 1;18
The quotation from Scripture above says “GO UNTO” instead of “walk with” which is how the King James translates it. Our version which has “go unto” is based on the Hebrew and the understanding of the Tanchuma Midrash we have quoted from.

We have an interesting section of Letters. Many of our subscribers consider the Letters section the most important (and most interesting) feature we have.  Theodor Opatowski gives us examples of how Torah Biblical principles were embodied in the English traditional legal system from the earliest times. This also says much about ancestral identity. Örjan Svensson was responsible for three articles in the present issue: two of his own and one that he translated. Orjan proves that Israelites were present in the formation period of Scandinavian and especially Swedish history. The Anglo-Saxons and most peoples of the north were ethnically linked to groups in Scandinavia so what applies in that region concerning Israeli Identity reflects on other peoples as well. Athol Bloomer provides us with unique geneaological information directly connecting many leading family trees in the British Isles to Israel and Judah and especially to the House of David. STEPHEN J. SPYKERMAN shows how yet another (out of very very many) Biblical Proof concerning the Lost Ten Tribes applies (and can only apply) to North America, Britain , and their kinred nations. Altogether the present issue presents a very respectable collection of articles each one of which is of much importance and geat value.
               
Brit-Am as an organization is comprised of both Jews and non-Jews. Between us we are working out a system of reaching a consensus and engaging in mutual effort that will accommodates all of us and takes account of the sensibilities of us all.
May the God of Israel bless all of us, Yair Davidiy

WHY THE JEWS ARE JUDAH
Points Made by Stepehen Collins and Brit-Am in Summary
Stephen Collins explained:
Zephaniah chapter two predicted the Judah would inherit the coastal regions of “Palestine” including Asdhdod, Ekron, Ashkelon, and all the coastland when they return from their captivity.
Zechariah chapter 14 supplements Zephaniah and explains how the Jews of Judah will dwell in Jerusalem and fight in defence of Jerusalem during this same period. "Judah" would be a militarily victorious nation in the Middle East.
Genesis 49 also predicted that Judah in the Last Days will be like an old lion (an old nation) and a young lion (a reborn entity) fighting nation in the End Times that casts terror on those around her.
 Genesis 49 also shows how the reborn State of Israel set up by Judah will be agriculturally prosperous.
The Jews in the present State of Israel have fulfilled all of the above conditions.
In addition:
Brit-Am has shown how:
5. The Jews were persecuted by the Gentiles as it had been prophesied Judah would be:
Zechariah 1:15, Zechariah 8;13, Isaiah ch.53, Isaiah 42; 10, Psalm 44; 22
6. The Jews kept the Law as it had been prophesied that Judah would: Psalms 60; 9, 108; 90
Genesis 49; 10, Zechariah 8; 23
7. The Jews keep the four fasts of mourning over the Destruction of the Second Temple as prophesied by Zechariah 8:19
 i.e.
THE FAST OF THE FOURTH MONTH,  -17th  Tammuz
THE FAST OF THE FIFTH,  -  9th of Av
AND THE FAST OF THE SEVENTH, - 3rd of Tishrei (Gedaliah)
AND THE FAST OF THE TENTH,  - 10th  Tebeth (Tevet).


LETTERS
 


YAIR, OF MANASSEH FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH!
 Shalom Yair:  I was reading the Torah portion this week from Parasha Mattot.  In Bamidbar 32:40-41 it speaks of Yair, son of Manasseh.  The Stone Edition Chumash comments on verse 40 and says that Yair was from the tribe of Judah and his grandmother was a daughter of Machir.  Ramban and Ibn Ezra comment and say that Yair was adopted as a member of the Macharite family.  He was able to receive heritage in the territory of Manasseh because only the land of the Canaan was divided into exclusive tribal shares. 
 
There are Rabbinic teachings that in the Acharit Yamim [the Last Days], those with the same name as their namesake will either fulfill completely the calling on the name, or will provide redemption for that name.  In your case, it is entirely plausible that you may be the specific and exact person that will spiritually fulfill all that is promised and given to Yair Ben Yehudah/Manasseh.  The fact that you are from Yehudah, yet have a strong connection with Manasseh tells me that you have been selected and anointed for such a task.  You have a very special ability to reach out to people, to be diplomatic, and to bring unity between the various tribal groups.
 
I thank G-d for your life and all the fantastic research and teachings that you are doing to redeem and repatriate the tribes of Israel.  May HaShem lift up his countenance and smile upon you today.  May you prosper with the blessings of Deuteronomy 28.  May the dew of heaven and the oil of the earth always bless you and your dear ones.  Shalom, Bill Rasmussen



WHO ONE REALLY IS?
Mr. Davidy,    Received Brit-Am in the mail today. Thank you so much. I'm right now working through “The Tribes” and find it completely fascinating. A couple of years ago my wife and I began to keep Shabbat and the Feasts, we also started changing our diet in regards to our Fathers instructions, His Torah. We began to cry out for the Holy One of Israel to teach us His ways so that we may walk in them. While His Torah have become a "strange thing" in the way that we had been brought up, we began to see this as a return to the One we "said" we believed in for so many years and are endeavoring to live Torah out of our love for Him. As these changes began to take place in our lives I began to wonder why. As I looked in the scriptures I saw that this is exactly what is to take place. I began to wonder if this could be an indication of who one really is. Your work has helped us to understand this unexplainable desire to serve the true Creater, the Elohim of Israel. Could it really be that we are descendants of those who were scattered in the nations? That would become in all outward appearances, Gentiles? And would someday be drawn back to the old paths, the ways of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? I'm just beginning this incredible journey and look forward to what is yet ahead. JK, USA.

WAS GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER WINKELMAN JEWISH?    
My family name is Winkelmann. My great-great grandfather came to the USA in the middle 1800's from Mecklinberg-Stralitz area of Germany. It was said that at that time the Kaiser required all males to join the military at age 12 and he did not agree with this so he secured passage from a friend who was a ship captain to come to the US. During WW1 to show allegiance to the US they chose to drop the second "n" and is now Winkelman. I spent some time with my 93 yr. old grandfather a month ago. I asked him to share with me what he knew of our family heritage and this is all he said he knew. I asked him what religion they were when they came here, for that could have influenced his beliefs about the army at that time. He gave no information on that subject.
 Do you know anything about this name or the people from that area? I know of a family in another state with the same name and they are Jewish. Could it be that some separated from Judaism to avoid persecution and some didn't? These are just a few of the many questions I have. While I'm sure you cannot look into everyones requests, if you have, or come across any info on this it would be much appreciated. May the Holy One of Israel richly bless you in all that you do! Doug Winkelman, USA.

BRIT-AM FULFILLING PROPHECY
As you know ALL blessings come from HaShem and many times He blesses through a third party. I believe that HaShem is well pleased with your heart for the reunification and restoration of both houses of Israel totake place and your desire to be obedient to HIM and promote and teach the message.    Gen 12:3 says that we are blessed by HaShem when we are a blessing to Abraham's seed. Since you are of Abraham's seed, I am blessed (ultimately through HaShem) by being used by HaShem to be a blessing to you. I believe that we are ALREADY in the "days of Elijah" because the hearts of the fathers (Judah) is being turned to the children (Ephraim) and the hearts of the children (Ephraim) is being turned to the fathers (Judah) because Ephraim is beginning to develop of heart for TORAH. Because you are seeing so much interest in your ministry (Brit-AM) from NON-JEWS this is evidence that we are in the "days of Elijah" in my humble opinion. The winds that have ALREADY started to blow (in the HEARTS of people) will culminate in the restoration and reunification of both houses of Israel, the coming of King Messiah and the Messianic Era in the fullness of time. Edward L. Chumney.

HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS TO ISRAEL
Yair,    Thank you for your methodical Bible studies. They must consume a lot of your time, and they offer helpful insights. I'm hoping within the next year or so to make my 4th trip to Israel, along with a small tour, and I'd look forward to having the chance to meet you. I find your work fascinating, and entirely (or nearly so) compatible with the teaching I've received on this subject all my life, and which I am passing on in my vocation.    
Let me tell you about myself, too, so as to be fair!  I'm 56 years old, a teacher for 30 years or so in a small Bible School in New Hampshire, USA. I represent a small Christian movement known as The Kingdom Christian Ministries, started in 1893 under another name, which has maintained a spiritual (and sometimes physical) link with Israel since 1898, the date when our founder first visited the Land.    
There has hardly been a period longer than 5 years over the past century when one or more of us hasn't been over there, visiting, exploring, and praying for the fulfillment of prophecy in that place.  My father was born in Jerusalem to Canadian and American parents, who were prayer "watchmen" staffing what's now the Bezalel Art School in Western Jerusalem. They and their companions were the first occupants of that building, which was brand new at the time, and they remained (with a larger staff), raising a small family there, until my father's birth in December 1909, when all returned to USA.    
One project undertaken by others of the staff in that station was the exploration of the scriptural boundaries of restored "Beulah." After careful study of the border passages in Numbers and Ezekiel, two men trekked the Biblical borders, north, east, and south, while the movement's yacht made 3 painstaking traverses of the coast from El Arish to Tripoli and back, putting in at every harbor, and taking small boats up nearly every brook and river as far as they could go. This all occurred between 1905 and the end of 1909. Since then, interest has not died. We (their spiritual descendants) remain strongly pro-Israeli, pro-Jewish (though recognizing the place for the non-Israelite "sojourner" in God's Law), and pro-Bible prophecy. The Land belongs in perpetuity to Isaac's seed, not to Ishmael's —to Jacob's not Esau's; that can never be altered or amended. We continue to pray earnestly and regularly for the return of the lost tribes in what we call the "Second Exodus" of Jeremiah 16:15 and 23:8. We have taken most of our study material for the Lost Ten Tribes thesis from the work of a late 19th, early 20th century scholar, Prof. C.A.L. Totten, of Yale University. He, in turn, refers to ancient historians as well as more recent figures in the 18th and 19th centuries.    I teach a 2-week seminar in all this (far too little time to do it justice!) in the small school I referred to above, called "Fairwood Bible Institute" here in southern New Hampshire. That should help explain my interest. Cordially, Tim Murray, PO Box 445, Dublin, NH 03444, USA.

ENJOY THE MAIL
I do enjoy the mail that is why I have subscribed to the Magazine and ordered your books. Shalom and May the Temple be built soon, David Thomas

MOURNERS FOR ZION
There are many of us who live IN the USA who are weeping for Israel and mourning for ZION as we see it crumble and be betrayed.  When the USA helped Israel we CHEERED!! We ache as well, over the fact that we've become the lead character in power who allows and guides Israel into giving up what the God of Israel has given to His people. We recognize that the current degradation of the State of Israel is caused by the sins of those in Israel, and even of others, and that America will be judged harshly for being a huge player in destroying Israel right now. As well as America will be judged for not keeping the law of the God Whose Name we professed since our blessed origination. And so we say "Baruch ha ba, B'shem Adonai" and repent for our sins and even for our anti-Jewish thoughts...as we recognize him as our Brother.  May we return from our wicked ways, and return with our Brother to the Land, embracing Torah in love. Shalom, Fredrick Murphy, USA.

“MY DAD TAUGHT ME THAT WE WERE PART OF
THE NORTHERN HOUSE OF ISRAEL”
Dear Mr Davidy I have received your e-mails for about 8 months and have enjoyed them a great deal…As a child my dad taught me that we were part of the northern house of Israel.  It is nice to see someone with the same view. Also I would like to know more about the land of Samaria and a group of people known as the Samaritans? Do you have any information on them? Thank you very much for your hard work. Sincerely,  Mrs Mc., Tennessee, USA.

KEEPERS OF THE LAW
Dear Mr Davidy, For many years there have been some families who believe they are part of the Northern House. We keep the Levitical feast days and try our best to keep the law. We are scattered throughout the U.S.A. We do not claim to be Jews or Christians. We believe Yahshua was a prophet, as to him being the Messiah we must wait and see as he did not fulfill the Messianic requirements as yet. All things must be according to the law and the prophets. We have certain points of doctrine: Circumcision.The Levitical Feast days (including the ordinance of Passover) and law.We believe we shall return to our land in the end. The land between the Nile and Euphrates as promised to our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Yacob by the creator YHWH.That Yudah and Yoseph will again be one nation. Keep up the good work. Sincerely yours, C., Tennessee, USA.

QUERIES
Shalom Yair, I realise that to follow the Torah she-Bael-Peh [Oral Tradition] is the right way. I accept it's full authority over my life and am already making moves to follow it. I have contemplated approaching my local Beis Din to seek about conversion etc. But, this week I was pulled short after a conversation with someone and a thought or two. I hope you can help. I believe myself to be a part of the House of Israel. Due to that I thought conversion was the natural progression. But I recognised in prophecies in the Tanakh that the House of Israel and the House of Judah remain distinct from each other right up until the time Moshiakh rules over them (Eze 37). In fact, the Tanakh indicates that it is only when Moshiakh comes that they will no longer be TWO distinct kingdoms or nations but ONE under his headship (Eze 37). So, if all the House of Israel convert, then they will be united with Judah as Jews or as Judah as ONE nation (Judah). This doesn't make sense where prophecies are concerned. Yet, contrary to that the Tanakh seems to say that Israel should keep their distinctiveness as Israel. Is it not right that the House of Israel should indeed return to the Torah as is defined by the Torah she-Bael Peh alongside the House of Judah but remain distinct like the Chasidics are from the Lubavitch or Chabad until Moshiakh comes to sort things out? "JF," UK.
 
GENEALOGY
Bless you for seeking this information.  I am a heritage mix of Irish and German's from Russia (Volga Mountain north and south out of the Black Sea).  My father has been doing genealogy since I was small and has found a great deal in the Black Sea area. ..I always was bored by my father's endless endeavors of genealogy but as of late I here him talk of his new discoveries and then I have different info like yours crossing my path.  It is beginning to make me wonder why but I want to thank you for doing this info and would encourage you to continue.  I do know that this info is either for me or for me to share with others.  I would like to find out more of what your magazine entails.  May the Lord Bless you! Mrs B, USA

MAY YOU BE BLESSED
Dear Yair Davidy, I have read several books about the two sticks coming together and have always believed in that part of world history since I was a little girl. Of late everything I read or get my hands on has something to do with Israel and Jewish tribes coming together in the last days again.I look forward to reading your revealing books. May you be blessed in your work and all that you do. I am a senior citizen and at last have found something I have been looking for a long time. Sincerely, Doris J. Knight, Tulsa, OK, USA

BLESSING
Dear Mr DavidyThank you for your hard work and may Hashem bless you and lead you so he can use you for the preparation for Messiah ben David. Shalom, David Thomas, Bryan, Texas.

SWEDISH ORIGINS
Shalom, I am interested in joining/learning more.  I am Judisk, my grandfather immigrated to America from Uppsala Sweden around 1890.  The family name was Lennberg. My Grandfather changed the name when he came here (to America) as well as some of his brothers that he worked and paid for to immigrate.  The brothers changed their name back to Lennberg but my Grandfather persisted and kept the name Carlson…  I thank you so much for all your work and dedication.  When I read your Goths-Sweden article I almost fell out of my chair when I read of the connection and Uppsala Sweden where MY family is from.   This was such a blessing and confirmation on what Adoni has had my wife and I working on for the last several years...  Thank you again!        Baruch HaSehm, Eric Carlson (Melech Lennberg) Dixon, USA
THANK YOU
I have been interested in this subject for years. Thank you for putting my beliefs into a book. Mrs. Sarah King, New Castle, VA, USA
MORE GENEALOGY
Yair, I have already received Brit-Am Vol. One no's 1 and 2 - They are absolutely great!  There is more knowledge in one of your issues than any other magazine around.  I pursue genealogy with an obsession - as if driven to do it.  I call the great tree our Israelite ancestors the 'Book of Life'.  I didn't even know my grandmother's maiden name five years ago - and now I have completed lines back to the thrones of Wales, England and Scotland.  Your articles on genealogy have interested me greatly.  Hope peace comes to the land of Israel soon. Betty

TEMPLARS AND REUBEN
Yair Davidy, Thank you for sending me your book, The Tribes, which I find most interesting and enjoyable. Here are some comments, etc. The numbers refer to pages in your book.65-6. The Franks: They first became known as Huga: hence the Frankish name Hughes as in Hughes de Payen, the leader of the group of Frankish nobles who exzcavated the stables under the Temple during the First Crusade ahd who formed the order of the Temple (the Templars). Baldwin the First, crowned King of Jerusalem had the same ancestry and his descent from Reuben seems to give a certain legitimacy to his position.139. Levi: 248-9. God “set Ephraim before Menasseh.” This fits with Ephraim’s position at one corner of the camp in Numbers 2 and the fact that Ephraim held one of the “standards.” I believe that this is a pun, meaning both flag and standard in the sense of datum, base reference.263-4. Island is “ei” [in Hebrew]: hence ‘ey’ in the names of islands round the British Isles (Anglesey, which could be translated as Aegel’s island, or Ephraim’s island), Pevensey, etc.265. Hereditary monarchs: the British monarch is anointed on the central stone of the Cosmati pavement, in Westminster Abbey. This pavement is located at the sacred centre of the Abbey and this porphyry stone, together with other stones set in the pavement, came originally from a quarry by the Red Sea. Stone from these porphyry quarries was used in Egyptian temples, then taken by the Romans and used in temples in Rome and finally at the end of the 11 th century CE, used in these pavements designed by the Cosmati family, one of which is in Wesminster Abbey, the only example north of the Alps. I hope these comments will be helpful to you…I have written a book based on the Hebrew text of the Torah and the Prophets…Marke Pawson, Somerset, UK.

SCOTTISH AND IRISH ANCESTORS
I just got a message from Eddie Chumfrey describing your books The Tribes and Lost Israelite Identity. They sound fascinating. It is particularly fascinating for myself because I have Scottish and Irish ancestors on both sides of my family. Thanks Brian Deeker

FAMILY HISTORY
Dear Mr. Davidy, Thank you for sharing your lost tribes commentary, received via Eddie Chumney of Hebraic Heritage Ministries.  I am compelled to share with you a bit of my own personal family history, which is mostly painful, but from what I have learned, it coincides so closely with your findings that I thought it would be ofinterest to you. This is what I know to be the truth today: My father, George Albert Martin, was born to George Lewis Martin and Rebecca Draves.  Her parents were Anna Grabousky and Abraham Feinstein. She was born in Letomer (2 Hitomir) Russia in 1895, but my brother says it was a place called "Oktbr" (sp?)  I never identified her with Judah because she didn't look the same as the Jewish people I saw in and around the area of Detroit, Michigan.  I now believe she was of Benjamin.  She was short (only 4'll) and had a large strawberry birthmark on her neck and cheek.  She spoke three languages, but was illiterate, and a mighty fine cook.  I was not my mother's favored daughter, but my little grandma made me feel very special and loved, and she let me stay with her for weeks at a time.  It was her blessed memory that kept me wondering about things Jewish.  According to my mother, Grandpa Martin was a mean old cuss, and was Holland Dutch and French, as his mother's name was LaLonde.  He did not treat my grandma kindly and divorced her. The story goes that he fooled around on her and even brought another woman into her home.  My grandma left and returned to her parents' house (in Ohio) whereupon he divorced her for desertion - he ultimately lost his little mind and came to a bad end.  Apparently he didn't treat my dad any better and was physically and emotionally abusive.  My father was an alcoholic and sometimes abusive also.  He put my father into catholic school, but it didn't take.  My father ultimately deserted us kids (seven of us) and I believe it was the RCC church that divided my parents.  My mother's mother was all German and her father (McCann) was half Scottish and half Irish.  I was born in 1951, and married in 1969 to Alan John F (nearly all Scottish and a wee bit English on his mother's side).  We raised two daughters.  We have one granddaughter, whose father is African American! The marriage didn't last, but this grandma loves her dearly, thinks she is very special, and she stays with us weeks at a time. :-) Shalom Beth

RE-UNIFICATION
Dear Mr. DavidyYour ministry…is greatly appreciated and the Ten Lost Tribes is one of my chief interests among many others when it comes to the role Israel will play and when and how the two entities (tribes = Judah and Ephraim) will be united once again under the auspices of the direct hand of G-d…It is exciting to know people like you and brother Chumney…hopefully we will be somehow connected not only vie Internet but in person as well in G-d’s opportune time. Be well and Shalom!  Charles H. Sung, D.V.M., OH, USA._______________

Swans From Denmark
 My Mothers family is from Scotland and her maiden name was Swan. Which Swan originally comes from Denmark. Swans invaded Scotland, they were nasty Vikings. My Father and my name is Burningham which is Anglo-Saxon and originate from England. My Grandmother Burningham was Jewish. Her maiden name was Mott. So I already new I was a little bit Jewish. But after reading some of your info which makes a lot of sense I'm probably a lot Jewish. I'am Christian and will always be but I appreciate your message in saying we must all get along. Not only may we all be brothers but we are all humans regardless of religion or blood and we can all do a little to make this world better. Maybe when more people find out how many of us are from the same race we can create a stronger sense of family that will resound through the planet.

The Torah Origins of British Law
The Brit-Am organization uses the following criteria for determining which
nations are descended from the Ancient Israelites:

1. A Relative Lack of Anti-Semitism.
2. The Doing of Justice
3. Possessors of Military Prowess.
4. Intellectual Wisdom.
5. Economic and Physical Blessings.
6. Archaeological and Physical Proofs.
7. Biblical Evidence.

I think the above list should include a detailed comparison between the
country's laws and the laws of the Torah 'bein adam lechavero' [i.e.
between a man and his fellow]. Sometimes it is necessary to go back to
older laws because of the wooly thinking that has crept in recently, as
evidenced by your second criteria, The Doing of Justice Implying Social
Empathy and Responsibility. I am not a lawyer but from my casual knowledge of
English law, having lived there for many years, and my relatively slight
knowledge of Torah law (I am currently studying Nezekim, the Talmudic Laws of
Damages) there are some remarkable identities between them. This follows
on from the fact that Alfred the Great incorporated The Mosaic Code' into
the very beginning of English law. This was followed by intensive study
of the 'Hebrew Scripture' on the part of the English Church who wielded
great power in England until fairly recently and were equally represented
in the legislature. Many of the clergy learnt Hebrew in order to be able
to study the scriptures in the original. The standard translation of the
Mishnah into English, which includes a wealth of explanatory notes, is by
"Herbert Danby, D.D., Resident Canon of St. George's Cathedral, Jerusalem",
(as was presumably).
Some examples of Parallelism between Torah law and English Law that come to mind:-
1) When a contract in England wants to set a nominal rent that is the
lowest possible it prescribes a 'peppercorn' rent. I found that the
smallest legal entity, i.e. having legal significance, in the Torah is a
peppercorn. And they do not grow peppers in England.

2) It used to be that when there was a divorce they first issued a decree
nisi and it only became final after several months. There is a similar
provision in the issue of a 'get' (Hebrew Divorce) where remarriage (and
assumed intercourse) is forbidden for a similar period. The reason that is
given being for the Torah prohibition is the need to know if a possible as yet unborn baby would be a Cohen, Levi or Israel. That hardly applies in England. You also find
similarities in the older abortion laws.

3) In the case of a pending divorce, if the pair were found to have been
together since submitting their case then the divorce was denied. This also
is in Torah law as the husband was then assumed to have withdrawn his wish
to divorce his wife and it is the wish of the man that counted.

4) The case of a husband's rights and responsibilities with respect to his wife's property was also very similar insofar as he had the control of it but could not dispose
of it and (in Torah law) had to account for his stewardship of the assets.

5) The government has the right to appropriate land for the common use.  (ref. 2)

6) In criminal law there is the provision regarding double jeopardy and the
acceptance of witnesses (or evidence) up to the moment of execution.

7) The Talmudic concept 'reshut ha'rabim' may be considered equivalent to
the English 'right-of'-way'. There are very close similarities between
those given in the Talmud (Baba Kama) for 'reshut ha'rabim' and English
laws regarding rights-of-way. English rights-of-way are jealously guarded
and fought over in the courts. One example is the law regarding stop
lights on cars which equate to shouting 'stop' or other warning on a path
or street. If two persons are one behind the other when the front one
stops suddenly and they collide and damage is done, then if there is a
warning (a shout or stop-light) the rear one is at fault and if there is no
warning (stop lights not working) the front one is at fault.   The principle is the same in both cases.

8) In England and in Torah you can only go to court to recover actual
damage. Trespassing, for example (despite the signs) can only be
prosecuted if damage is done and only for that damage, at least that is how
it used to be. All of the Talmudic Laws of Damages (Nezekim) is also
concerned with the restitution of losses that have been caused by
others. It defines what it is reasonable to expect in the way of
foresight and what can be termed (in English law) as "an act of G-d". The
whole idea is inherent in the English law concept of "the reasonable man".

I am sure that there are many more detailed examples.

Torahism
I have a belief that is closely related to that of Brit-Am.  Briefly it
involves attempting to define the Torah that was handed down at Sinai and
that was taught in the desert and the way of life that that implied in 'Eretz Canaan' [the land of Israel] after the conquest, specifically with respect to the organization of society and civil law. This is the Torah that should appeal to all
Israelites, not just Jews, and we should be looking towards that Torah when
deciding changes in our own civil laws and way of life. Obviously it is a long term project even to restore a knowledge of the Torah that was given
starting from that which we have (the only source available) let alone
thinking of trying to apply the result. But one has to start somewhere and
I believe that if it is the right thing to do it will be helped by the
Almighty. The philosophy, ideas, values and even specific decisions embodied in the Torah of Sinai could be called Torahism - in this age of “-isms”. Aspects of the similarity between Torah law and English law are discussed in the Introduction to the Soncino Talmud, Tractate Nezikin Introduction (ref. 3), and it is concluded that the Torah must have influenced the
legal systems of many nations since it was carried to them by the
dispersion of the Jews. In particular Rabbi Yehudah the Prince (who
compiled the Mishnah) had friendly relations with the Roman emperors and
the Mishnah influenced Roman law. In addition, to quote "and the compilers
of canonical law of the Church must, from its very essence, have fallen
back on the Talmud." In England the Church dominated for many centuries and
for some time was almost the only source of learning. They studied the
Torah intensively and even thought that it belonged to them rather than to
the Jews. Indeed the standard translation of the Mishnah is by a Christian
cleric (ref. 4). Thus there was a considerable element of Torah in both Roman and in
Common English law that followed it. It was this element of true justice
that resulted in the corresponding empires. The Romans were tolerated in
England, even welcomed, because they brought order and justice (at the
time) and the same can be said of English domination of other countries in
its time. When the application of that (Torah) justice decayed (or the law
was changed) so too did the acceptance of the power that imposed it, decay.   It has decayed considerably further in modern society and it must be restored if our civilization is not to descend into chaos.It should be stressed that ‘Torahism’ does not imply any change to the ‘halacha.   There can only be one halacha.  Torahism is an attitude of mind and an understanding of what was the halacha and corresponding way of life at one time in the past.   Circumstances change cases and the knowledge of what was then would have to be reinterpreted to suit present conditions before it could possibly be applied.   But first it must be understood.But that is the Torah for which all Israelites must have an affinity as a result of their souls having seen, heard and felt the direct presence of God and His words at Sinai.
Bibliography:

(1)”Present at Sinai” by S. Y. Agnon, translated into English from “Atem Re’item”(2) Soncino Talmud, Tractate Gittin, 36a, page 149. Many of the above
examples can be found in this tractate.

(3) Soncino Talmud, Tractate Nezikin, Introduction page xxxiv.

(4) The Mishnah, translated by Herbert Danby, Resident Canon of St George's
Cathedral, Jerusalem. Oxford U. Press

 


Lingusitics

Similarities between Hebrew and Swedish

by Örjan Svensson

”English, Frisian, Dutch, Flemish, High and Low German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, and Icelandic, as well as the extinct languages of Gothic, Old Norse, Old Saxon, and others, comprise one of the Indo-European groups of languages commonly called Germanic. On a broader scale, the Germanic branch of languages shares many features in common with the Italic, Greek, Celtic, Slavonic, Indo-Iranian, and other Indo-European language groups. However, linguists have also found linguistic elements in the Germanic languages which are foreign to other Indo-European languages. For instance...approximately one-third of all vocabulary entries in the etymological dictionaries dealing with Germanic languages are of an unknown origin. Likewise, the mystifying phenomena known as the Germanic sound shifts and the incursion of gemination are not to be explained from an Indo-European linguistic perspective.
While the causes of these pecularities remain unexplained within the framework of Indo-European linguistics, the purpose of this study is to point out that similar phenomena are to be found in the Semitic languages, and that these similarities parallel most closely the linguistic properties of Hebrew.”

—Terry Marvin Blodgett in the introduction to “Phonological Similarities in Germanic and Hebrew”, Department of Languages, The University of Utah, December 1981.


Mr. Blodgett in his dissertation points out that similar verb conjugations exist in Hebrew and in Germanic languages. For example he writes: “The Hebrew verb barah 'to flee, bring oneself to' produces the following conjugated forms: barahta, baraht, berahtem, berahten, jivrah. These compare well with Gothic forms of briggan 'to bring': bràhta, bràhts, brahtam, brachten (G), gebracht (G).”

In a subsequent chapter Mr. Blodgett then goes on to show that there exist similarities between the vowel systems of Hebrew and Germanic as well. Concerning Ablaut he writes for example that the “series in Hebrew barech, hivriach, barach, beroach, baruch (pass. pres.) compares with German brechen, bricht, brach, gebrochen, Broch, while, at the same time, the Hebrew forms hivrijach, barech, barachta, jivrach compare with German bringen, (Old Frisian brenga), brachte, gebracht.” Most of these similarities are summarized by Mr. Blodgett in a table that has been reproduced below:


 
Hebrew (barach)    German (brechen)    German (bringen)       
barach (3rd)    brach (1st and 3rd)           
barachtij (1st)    ...............................    brachte (1st and 3rd)       
baracht (2nd)    brach(s)t (2nd)    brachte(s)t (2nd)       
barachnu (1st pl.)    brechen (1st, 2nd, 3rd pl.)           
berachten (2nd pl.)    ...............................    brachten (1st, 2nd, 3rd pl.)       
beroach (inf.)    gebrochen           
jivrach (imperf.)    ...............................    gebracht       
barech (pi'el, inf.)    brechen (inf.)    bringen (k=g, pi'el=i)       
hivrijach (hif'ijl causitive)    bricht (E=break with diphthong)    bringt    


From this table it can be seen that there are similarities both in vowels and in the inflectional endings. Corresponding similarities, as pointed out by Mr. Blodgett, can be seen in many other verbs as well, and when verbs in other Germanic languages are compared with Hebrew. For example if inflectional endings are studied it can be seen that in older or more solemn Swedish the ending -o often occurs in plural forms, similar to 3rd person plural in Hebrew. Thus for example the sentence “They came.” can be translated to “De kommo.” when translating to Swedish. The Swedish inflectional verb endings -te, -en (used for plural forms in older Swedish, e.g. “I kommen.” means “You come.”) and -na also are similar to Hebrew inflectional endings.

Further, concerning Umlaut (vowel modification) Mr. Blodgett writes that it “is common to both Hebrew and Germanic, but not to Indo-European. Umlaut occurs when the vowel of a final syllable influences the pronunciation of the stem vowel.”

Finally, apart from the above mentioned similarities and various other similarities that Mr. Blodgett discusses, there exist also several lexical similarities between Hebrew and Germanic languages. In the below table are listed examples of Swedish and Hebrew words that are very similar in both form and meaning.

1.    Norway                        14.    Denmark       

2.    Sweden                       15.    Austria       

3.    Canada                        16.    Luxembourg       

4.    Belgium                       17.    Germany       

5.    Australia                     18.    Ireland       

6.    United States             19.    New Zealand       

7.    Iceland                         20.    Italy       

8.    Netherlands                21.    Spain       

9.    Japan                           22.    Israel       

10.    Finland                       23.    Hong Kong        

11.    Switzerland              24.    Greece       

12.    France                       25.    Singapore       

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