"Brit-Am Now"-965
Contents:
1. Maximus Taylor: Jews in Spain
2. David McLeod: Salvation for Israel
3. The Pots = Mud?
4. Serious Brit-Am Mistake concerning Date of  Rosh HaShannah
5. Question on Psalms 81

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1. Maximus Taylor: Jews in Spain
Subject: Re: Alhambra Decree
re "Brit-Am Now"-964
#1. Question on the Expulsion of the Jews from England 1290 CE.

In my limited understanding of this topic, 250,000  of the 600,00 Jews resident in Spain at the time of this decree chose to stay, hoping that their time of being a 'converted Christian' would be a temporary one.  These were mostly the Jews who had something to lose by leaving (i.e., upper middle class or higher).  The article went so far as to state that demographers have estimated that 90% of Spain has Jewish ancestry.  I know far less about the expulsion of Jews from England, France and Sicily (expelled from Sicily in1492 CE).

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2. David McLeod: Salvation for Israel
Subject: Re: "Brit-Am Now"-964
#3. Nickie: Need for the Repentance of Judah and Joseph


The salvation for Israel lies in following and trusting the Lord, God of Israel. Everything belongs to the Lord and for the Lord...
 Moses said what would befall the Israelites should they ever live in violation of the covenant with the Lord in the Torah(Deuteronomy 28) and this is precisely what happened to them even in relatively recent 20th century history.
Shalom,
David
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3. The Pots = Mud?
[Psalms 81:6] I REMOVED HIS SHOULDER FROM THE BURDEN: HIS HANDS WERE
DELIVERED FROM THE  POTS.
   <<THE  POTS>>:  Hebrew "me-dud" literally "from the pot". It may be that
subjection of Joseph or of the Hebrews in Egypt included labor connected
with "the pot" such as the preparation of food or of clothes-dye, etc.

Hi Yair, Perhaps from MAKING the pots? I work in an organization of hand
crafters and pottery is one of the major ones. The clay is commonly referred
to by potters as "mud" -- could there be a tie between "me-dud" and "mud"?

S

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4. Serious Brit-Am Mistake concerning Date of  Rosh HaShannah
Yair - is this when you are keeping Rosh haShannah, as stated in the Psa 81 commentary?

(Rosh HaShana) which is approaching us soon (30-Sept-07 and 1-Oct-07)  That isn't what is on the traditional Jewish calendar.
In peace  sandie b.

Brit-Am: Sorry. Our mistake. It should have been September 13 and 14.
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5. Question on Psalms 81
From: Cherie L Koch
Subject: RE: Psalms 81


Shalom ~

This was beautiful, Yair.  And your commentary was very timely.  I had just hung up the telephone from a conversation with a friend and fellow Yisraelite, and we had spoken about some of these very things!

Can you explain this statement:
"Even though the Israelites  were delivered from Egypt in the month of Nisan at the time of Passover which is about seven months later, on Rosh HaShanah their actual physical servitude in Egypt itself came to an end."

This is the statement that hit me between the eyes:
"In principle, we can make a new beginning any moment we decide to do so but some seasons are more propitious than others.  This is another chance we all have now to start over again. Let us do our best."

Boy, does that one ring true!  This is happening.  This fall feast time I believe is a further exposition and bringing TO LIGHT what is really there.
We have a choice to break off what is shown to be fruitless and to turn to paths that will bear fruit even in difficult times.  This is an opportunity to become more Set-Apart (kodosh) and to be connected with the Source of all life.  In Him we live and move and have our being!

I know that you review these in order, so it was really a surprise and delight at how much it touched me today!  I am excited to enter this time of the fall feasts.

Blessings,

CK

Reply: Cherie Shalom,
In answer to your question, tradition says that on Rosh HaShana the Israelites in Egypt simply ceased to
be under Egyptian servitude, they no longer turned up for work, etc, and the Egyptians no longer had the
power to force them to do so. Nevertheless they still remained in Egypt and were not allowed to leave until
Pesach (Passover) when they went out in a hurry after the firstborn of the Egyptians had all been  slain.