"Brit-Am Now"-359

January 31, 2004
  1.  Brit Am meeting this Sunday at 3pm
2. Changing address, Subscribing to  the list and Resubscribing
3. "Mark R. Ensign": Health Hints
4. Batya Ruth Wootten: Servanthood is what we need
5. Jeremiah -Haftorah
6. Brit-Am and Pay Pal
7. On line Bible Atlas: Worth Noting

1. Texas Brit Am meeting this Sunday at 3pm
From: Judy Snyder <yahudeit@excite.com>
There will be a Brit Am meeting at my house this Sunday, Feb.8th
at 3pm.
Mr. David Thomas will be speaking or will show a video on related
subjects of Israel.
For more information call 817 355 6097.
Judy L. Snyder

Tehillim 122 ...when our feet stood within thy gates, O Jerusalem; O
Yerushalayim,  built as a city that is strong: there the tribes used to go
up...an appointed practice for Yisra'el, to give thanks. For there are set
thrones of the house of David.              Shalom, Yudy

2. Changing address, Subscribing to  the list and Resubscribing
To Subscibe send a message with "Subscribe" in the subject line
To unsubscribe send a message with "Unsubscribe" in  the subject line.
If you have changed your address and wish to subscribe anew please
tell us what your former address was.
If a period goes by and you have not received any mailing from us please
contact us.
There are periods when  our postings do not always get through to their
addresses and are returned.
This is usually because the address is no longer valid so we end up by
deleting it.
It sometimes happens that there are other reasons for the address not
working so addresses get deleted
when they should not have been.

3.  "Mark R. Ensign" <mrensign@arn.net>
Subject: Health Hints
Shalom, Yair.

Thank you for posting what you did of my response to your Health Hints.
However, I'm sorry to see that you cut off the actual tip about using
Hyrdogen Peroxide in the ears.  Perhaps if you and your loved ones try it
you'll validate it as so many other have and then post the rest of the
hint, how to actually use the hydrogen peroxide.  This will save so many
people unnecessary trips to doctors and save so much money that is better
used for HaShem's purposes.  I'll add it below my signature again so you'll
have it handy to post later.
Shalom,
Mark R. Ensign
Amarillo, TX

Brit-Am Comment: I do not want to turn the list into a Discussion group on
health matters.
My Personal observations on the subject were a one-time exception. They
also made observations that are not likely
to be disputed. If anyone is interested  in the virtues of  Hyrdogen
Peroxide  they are hereby invited
to write to you.

4. Batya Ruth Wootten: Servanthood is what we need
From: Batya <batya@mim.net>
Subject: Re: Tribal Identifications: Joseph-1

Shalom Yair,
Thank you for sharing this synopsis of the blessings of Judah and Joseph.
You said, "The Natural Right of Leadership was to involve Judah who
provided the House of David and was to receive the task of Lawgiver."  And
that , "The Birthright, in effect, meant reception of those same blessings
given to all the Tribes but in greater quantity and intensity. It also
indicated a natural right to certain predominance  -and a two-fold portion
in the inheritance.
After saying this, you quote the verse, "Judah prevailed above his
brethren, and of him (comes) the chief ruler; but the birthright was
Joseph's" (1-Chronicles 5;1 2).
Having worked in this field for years, it seems to me that the issue of
"predominance" continues to divide the two houses of Israel.  However, if
we would all realize one salient point, much of our division would cease.
In my book, "Who is "Israel?",  I note the following about the birthright.

"In ancient Israel the birthright consisted of a double portion, as well as
family preeminence (the right to act as the next family ruler). The
Almighty commanded that the father must "acknowledge the firstborn...by
giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of
his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn" (Deuteronomy
21:17).  The firstborn was given a double portion, that he might be
equipped to act as a kinsman-redeemer for his brethren. This "right," or
mishpat (jpXm), of the firstborn (bekor, rwkb), speaks of preeminence,
primogeniture, the right to act as family ruler, to dispense justice, to be
the family redeemer."

This, along with the double portion, is what was given to
Joseph/Ephraim.  He too was clearly called to a place of leadership.  And
based on the above described division of Jacob's blessing, it seems that,
if the two houses view leadership as a matter of "predominance," they begin
to fight all over again.

To solve the problem we need to see that the call to be the people of
Israel is a call to "Servanthood."

The Holy One said of the Moshiach, "You are My Servant, Israel, in Whom I
will show My glory" (Isaiah 49:3).

The Messiah is the epitome of all that is Israel and if we want to see His
glory shine on the restored people of Israel, we need to concentrate on our
call to servanthood and not on our call to predominance.

I am sure you agree with me on this and just wanted to share it with you.

Blessings to you as you serve the Holy One,

Batya


5. Jeremiah -Haftorah

As most of you know every week in the Synagogue a portion of the Five Books
of Moses (Hebrew: Cumash, English: Pentateuch)
is read so that in the course of the year all Five Books are read through.
In addition a short section of the Prophets is also read.
This week the following excerpt from Jeremiah 46 was read. If you are
interested in a commentary on this section go to:
http://www.britam.org/jeremiah1.html

Otherwise please read this section through quickly till the comment at the end:

[Jeremiah 46:1] THE WORD OF THE LORD WHICH CAME TO JEREMIAH THE PROPHET
AGAINST THE GENTILES;
[Jeremiah 46:2] AGAINST EGYPT, AGAINST THE ARMY OF PHARAOH NECHO KING OF
EGYPT, WHICH WAS BY THE RIVER EUPHRATES IN CARCHEMISH, WHICH NEBUCHADREZZAR
KING OF BABYLON SMOTE IN THE FOURTH YEAR OF JEHOIAKIM THE SON OF JOSIAH
KING OF JUDAH.
[Jeremiah 46:3] ORDER YE THE BUCKLER AND SHIELD, AND DRAW NEAR TO
BATTLE.
[Jeremiah 46:4] HARNESS THE HORSES; AND GET UP, YE HORSEMEN, AND STAND
FORTH WITH YOUR HELMETS; FURBISH THE SPEARS, AND PUT ON THE
BRIGANDINES.
[Jeremiah 46:5] WHEREFORE HAVE I SEEN THEM DISMAYED AND TURNED AWAY BACK?
AND THEIR MIGHTY ONES ARE BEATEN DOWN, AND ARE FLED APACE, AND LOOK NOT
BACK: FOR FEAR WAS ROUND ABOUT, SAITH THE LORD.
[Jeremiah 46:6] LET NOT THE SWIFT FLEE AWAY, NOR THE MIGHTY MAN ESCAPE;
THEY SHALL STUMBLE, AND FALL TOWARD THE NORTH BY THE RIVER EUPHRATES.
[Jeremiah 46:7] WHO IS THIS THAT COMETH UP AS A FLOOD, WHOSE WATERS ARE
MOVED AS THE RIVERS?
[Jeremiah 46:8] EGYPT RISETH UP LIKE A FLOOD, AND HIS WATERS ARE MOVED LIKE
THE RIVERS; AND HE SAITH, I WILL GO UP, AND WILL COVER THE EARTH; I WILL
DESTROY THE CITY AND THE INHABITANTS                      THEREOF.
[Jeremiah 46:9] COME UP, YE HORSES; AND RAGE, YE CHARIOTS; AND LET THE
MIGHTY MEN COME FORTH; THE ETHIOPIANS AND THE LIBYANS, THAT HANDLE THE
SHIELD; AND THE LYDIANS, THAT HANDLE AND                      BEND THE BOW.
[Jeremiah 46:10] FOR THIS IS THE DAY OF THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS, A DAY OF
VENGEANCE, THAT HE MAY AVENGE HIM OF HIS ADVERSARIES: AND THE SWORD SHALL
DEVOUR, AND IT SHALL BE SATIATE AND MADE DRUNK WITH THEIR BLOOD: FOR THE
LORD GOD OF HOSTS HATH A SACRIFICE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY BY THE RIVER
EUPHRATES.
[Jeremiah 46:11] GO UP INTO GILEAD, AND TAKE BALM, O VIRGIN, THE DAUGHTER
OF EGYPT: IN VAIN SHALT THOU USE MANY MEDICINES; FOR THOU SHALT NOT BE CURED.
[Jeremiah 46:12] THE NATIONS HAVE HEARD OF THY SHAME, AND THY CRY HATH
FILLED THE LAND: FOR THE MIGHTY MAN HATH STUMBLED AGAINST THE MIGHTY, AND
THEY ARE FALLEN BOTH TOGETHER.
[Jeremiah 46:13] THE WORD THAT THE LORD SPAKE TO JEREMIAH THE PROPHET, HOW
NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON SHOULD COME AND SMITE THE LAND OF
EGYPT.
[Jeremiah 46:14] DECLARE YE IN EGYPT, AND PUBLISH IN MIGDOL, AND PUBLISH IN
NOPH AND IN TAHPANHES: SAY YE, STAND FAST, AND PREPARE THEE; FOR THE SWORD
SHALL DEVOUR ROUND ABOUT                      THEE.
[Jeremiah 46:15] WHY ARE THY VALIANT MEN SWEPT AWAY? THEY STOOD NOT,
BECAUSE THE LORD  DID DRIVE THEM.
[Jeremiah 46:16] HE MADE MANY TO FALL, YEA, ONE FELL UPON ANOTHER: AND THEY
SAID, ARISE, AND LET US GO AGAIN TO OUR OWN PEOPLE, AND TO THE LAND OF OUR
NATIVITY, FROM THE OPPRESSING SWORD.                  emiah 46:17] THEY DID
CRY THERE, PHARAOH KING OF EGYPT IS BUT A NOISE; HE HATH PASSED THE TIME
APPOINTED.
[Jeremiah 46:18] AS I LIVE, SAITH THE KING, WHOSE NAME IS THE LORD OF
HOSTS, SURELY AS TABOR IS AMONG THE MOUNTAINS, AND AS CARMEL BY THE SEA, SO
SHALL HE COME.
[Jeremiah 46:19] O THOU DAUGHTER DWELLING IN EGYPT, FURNISH THYSELF TO GO
INTO CAPTIVITY: FOR NOPH SHALL BE WASTE AND DESOLATE WITHOUT AN
INHABITANT.
[Jeremiah 46:20] EGYPT IS LIKE A VERY FAIR HEIFER, BUT DESTRUCTION COMETH;
IT COMETH OUT OF THE NORTH.
[Jeremiah 46:21] ALSO HER HIRED MEN ARE IN THE MIDST OF HER LIKE FATTED
BULLOCKS; FOR THEY ALSO ARE TURNED BACK, AND ARE FLED AWAY TOGETHER: THEY
DID NOT STAND, BECAUSE THE DAY OF THEIR  CALAMITY WAS COME UPON THEM, AND
THE TIME OF THEIR VISITATION.
[Jeremiah 46:22] THE VOICE THEREOF SHALL GO LIKE A SERPENT; FOR THEY SHALL
MARCH WITH AN ARMY, AND COME AGAINST HER WITH AXES, AS HEWERS OF
WOOD.
[Jeremiah 46:23] THEY SHALL CUT DOWN HER FOREST, SAITH THE LORD, THOUGH IT
CANNOT BE SEARCHED; BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE THAN THE GRASSHOPPERS, AND ARE
INNUMERABLE.
[Jeremiah 46:24] THE DAUGHTER OF EGYPT SHALL BE CONFOUNDED; SHE SHALL BE
DELIVERED INTO THE HAND OF THE PEOPLE OF THE NORTH.
[Jeremiah 46:25] THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, SAITH; BEHOLD, I
WILL PUNISH THE MULTITUDE OF NO, AND PHARAOH, AND EGYPT, WITH THEIR GODS,
AND THEIR KINGS; EVEN PHARAOH,  AND ALL THEM THAT TRUST IN
HIM:
[Jeremiah 46:26] AND I WILL DELIVER THEM INTO THE HAND OF THOSE THAT SEEK
THEIR LIVES, AND INTO THE HAND OF NEBUCHADREZZAR KING OF BABYLON, AND INTO
THE HAND OF HIS SERVANTS: AND AFTERWARD IT SHALL BE INHABITED, AS IN THE
DAYS OF OLD, SAITH THE LORD.
[Jeremiah 46:27] BUT FEAR NOT THOU, O MY SERVANT JACOB, AND BE NOT
DISMAYED, O ISRAEL: FOR, BEHOLD, I WILL SAVE THEE FROM AFAR OFF, AND THY
SEED FROM THE LAND OF THEIR CAPTIVITY; AND                      JACOB SHALL
RETURN, AND BE IN REST AND AT EASE, AND NONE SHALL MAKE HIM
AFRAID.
This expression was also found in Jeremiah 30:10.
The Midrash on this verse says:
<<AND THY SEED FROM THE LAND OF THEIR CAPTIVITY: From Gaul [France], and
Spain, and its associates
(Tanchuma, VaYayatsei, b).

Comment: The whole of this section right up to this last verse, Jeremiah
46:27, spoke of matters concerning the recent history of Judah
from the point of view of Jeremiah. Then Jeremiah speaks words of comfort
and ultimate redemption not just concerning Judah but
also concerning the Lost Ten Tribes. At a higher level there is no
difference between the two. The good of the one is the good of the
other and the ultimate redemption of them both entails their unification.
This is what God wants according to what He wrote through His prophets in
the Bible.

6. Brit-Am and Pay Pal
To make orders or offerings to Brit-Am by Pay Pal please go to:
http://britam.org/book-offer.html

7. On line Bible Atlas: Worth Noting
http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/