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A New Ongoing Brit-Am Series: What Should the Ten Tribes Do? |
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Introduction: Brit-Am is primarily concerned with proving who the Lost Ten Tribes are today. This to our mind is what Brit-Am has to do. It is the Mandate of Brit-Am. It is what we can do and must do. It is probably the most important task for us and for others like us. We are not receiving sufficient support in our efforts. Those who agree with us in principle seem to feel that there is no further need for it. It is as if the fact that they themselves are convinced makes additional research and propagation of this knowledge superfluous! Such is not the case! Descendants of Israel from the Ten Tribes and from Judah who agree with Brit-Am, as to who the Ten Tribes are, should assist Brit-Am however they can. Brit-Am for its part is prepared to put nearly every other consideration aside apart from this. The Knowledge needs to be spread. Descendants of Israel need to be supportive of Judah and the State of Israel and also Patriotically Dedicated to their own Tribes. Belief in the Bible is imperative but the details are not the concern of Brit-Am. We will speak more on this subject later. Despite the above, we find ourselves constantly assailed by questions and queries and various propositions regarding what should by done by self-aware Israelites in the immediate sense on a practical level. Evidently there may be a strong need for discussion on this issue. We are therefore presenting a series of articles on the subject presenting various points of view. [ Brit-Am is taking something of a risk over these presentations since some of what is said may be offensives to certain circles and we have little to gain by it. Nevertheless this is evidently what the public requires so for the time being we are going ahead.] Different Views and Outlooks followed by Brit-Am Appraisals. The different outlooks involved are the following: 1. The Brit-Am View. Know who you are! Be aware of our ancestry! Knowledge is power and the way to the Truth. We need to know more. We also need to spread what knowledge we now have to others: To involve others and bring our information to as many as possible. Once this process gets under way many unanswered questions will begin to sort themselves out. If one is seriously concerned about this issue then it should be shown through support on this issue. See: Are the Ten Tribes Like Ethiopians???? What About Joseph Knowing as Well? Brit-Am in effect says that before worrying about being accepted or not accepted by Judah, those amongst Joseph who are aware of their ancestry (i.e. "Ephraimites" and others) should be concerned with more of Joseph also knowing as they do. Judah too should receive the information in acceptable presentation such as that which Brit-Am can make available.. Once more of Joseph is aware and Judah is also informed, and interested, other matters will automatically come up for consideration!!! All this seems obvious to us but others prefer to make themselves oblivious to it! Perhaps sub-consciously they are looking for an excuse not to really do anything about it? Is that why support for Brit-Am is not as forthcoming as we feel it should be?
2. The Ephraimite-Jewish View. The Ten Tribes need to know who they are and to return with Repentance to the Almighty God of Israel. They should do this adopting Biblical Practices and learning from Jewish and Noachide Mentors. See: "Arouse Yourself O Israel!" by Avigdor.
3. The Ephraimite-Christian View. Ephraimites should return to the Torah and keep Torah Laws to some degree. They should present themselves to Judah in such a way that Judah will accept them as they are. Ephraimite communities should perhaps in the future be set up in Israel alongside those of Judah. In the meantime Judah should accept Ephraim as his lost brother. Epjhraimites should retain belief in the Christian Messiah. They should not missionize to Judah. Judah should not seek to proselytize Ephraimites to Judaism. See: THE JOSEPH PROJECT by Eddie Chumney.
4. The Jewish Orthodox View. Many of the true supporters of Israel are Evangelical Christians. This support is highly valued. Some elements amongst the National Religious Sector in Israel might under certain circumstances be prepared to countenance an Ephraimite-Christian Presence alongside them if they were assured that no missionary activities would be involved. We doubt however that anything substantial will emerge from this UNLESS the Brit-Am position is emphasized. The Ultra-Orthodox position would be NOT so conciliatory. It would probably be something along the following lines. # No inter-faith dialogue is possible. Each body should keep to itself. Reconciliation and Re-Unification may be left to the Messiah to resolve. In the meantime we all need to get by as well as we can as we are. # Knowledge as to who the Ten Tribes are today is worth acquiring but not necessarily acting upon without the sanction of a great Sage or Prophet. # If they who claim to be from the Ten Tribes are genuine they will convert to Judaism or at least indicate a desire to do so. # Conversion, if it takes place, could be along two different pathways: a. As individuals. Thousands of descendants of the Lost Tribes (according to Brit-Am definition) have already converted to Judaism and continue to do so. They are considered the best converts but even they often suffer from adjustment problems and difficulties. Even after a strict vetting process and a lengthy rigmarole to weed out the insincere and unsuitable only ca. 15% remain religious. Many Rabbis are not happy with this. Some have had bad experiences and would rather not be involved any more with such cases.
5. More Articles in Preparation by Involved Ephraimite and Jewish Personages. Details will follow if and
when the articles become available. | ||||||||
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See: THE JOSEPH PROJECT by Eddie Chumney. "Arouse Yourself O Israel!" by Avigdor. Send us Your REACTIONS TO, AND COMMENTS ON, THE PRESENT ARTICLE! |
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with Brit-Am Replies. |
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From: John R. Salverda followed by Brit-Am Answer. Re What Should Judah Do? Brit-Am Reply: At First only a Minority from the Ten Tribes Returns and Attaches Itself to Judah! Go to the Brit-Am Commentary to Jeremiah chapter three. http://www.britam.org/Jeremiah1to5.html#3 In fact we urge we anyone with a Biblical Question or Query especially when directed to us to first read what we have written in our on-line Brit-Am Biblical Commentaries. The chapter should be considered as one whole. In the days of Kings Josiah (Jeremiah 3:6) Judah had sinned. Judah had seen how northern Israel had been exiled and divorced (3:8) for their sins but Judah still kept sinning herself. The exiles of Israel were in some ways even better than Judah had now become (3:11). The rest of the chapter continues and predicts the eventual return of northern Israel. A minority (one of a city, two of a family, 3:14) of them will come to Zion i.e. re-unite with Judah. Eventually Judah will call upon the Ten Tribes to return (3:18). The Ten Tribes will then come back as one whole. We may perhaps see a progression here: At first a minority of individuals return and attach themselves in effect to Judah in Zion (Jerusalem). Later the whole body of the Ten Tribes come back. We shall all be ashamed of our sins and repent (3:25). |
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What is Judah prepared to do about it? From: John R. Salverda followed by Brit-Am Answer. Re What Should Judah Do? Brit-Am Reply: What is Joseph Prepared to do for Brit-Am? John, Shalom. We do not wish to turn this discussion into an inter-faith dialogue. You can believe what you like as far as Brit-Am is concerned. Rabbi Daniel Lapin once made a famous comment: # For me personally, it bothers me not at all that many of my Christian friends believe I am headed to hell. Frankly I am deeply grateful to be living among such wonderful Christian neighbors who do absolutely nothing to accelerate my arrival there. # We will answer some of your points but we also reserve the right to cut this whole dialogue short if we think it digresses too much from what we want to discuss. We understand that Judah was not exiled and lost in the same way as the Ten Tribes were is because Judah was too keep the Law. This is the whole purpose of Creation. This is also the PRIMARY PURPOSE for the existence of Israel, "a kingdom of priests, a holy nation" (Deuteronomy 33:4)! Brit-Am teaches that the nation of Israel was given two main tasks: a. To Keep the Torah and Commandments and study and develop them. b. Through example, influence, and coercion to uplift the rest of humanity while evolving themselves as viable righteous polities. For historical reasons it proved impossible (as explained by Rabbi Abraham HaCohen Kook) for the two tasks to be fulfilled by the one entity. Consequently the nation of Israel split in two with each half receiving one of the two tasks. The Divine Purpose for the Exile and Division of the Tribes http://britam.org/tape3.html The Purpose of Exile and Loss of Identity. http://britam.org/Purpose.html Geneaology of the Blessings to Israel. http://www.britam.org/GeneaologyofBlessings.html Re-Unification will take place when the separate tasks have reached some degree of fulfillment (as in the present) and when a need is felt by each half to participate in its own right in the task of the other. Such is the situation at present, to some degree. The New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-33 seems to involve a change ("a new heart") in human nature. We may be drawing closer to this goal but do not seem to have yet reached it. It is true that we emphasize the "Western Nations" as being the Ten Tribes. We also recognize the fact that the people in question as "Christians". To our mind this is one of many proofs that they belong to the Ten Tribes. Christianity is a tool of Divine Providence through which the Ten Tribes may draw closer to the truth until the Time of Redemption arrives. See: Notsrim-Christian in Religion. http://www.britam.org/Proof/Attributes/roleNotsrim.html This is one of the reasons why Brit-Am feels it should not have to argue with Christians about their faith. It does not mean that we have to agree with Christianity but we may tolerate it amongst Gentiles. We do emphasize the ethnic aspect. We seek ancestral instinct aroused by Religious Knowledge embodied in Lost Israelite Peoples. You asked: What do you think that Judah is prepared to do to affect our reconciliation? You speak of reconciliation as a subject for discussion. Reconciliate with who? Who knows who the Ten Tribes are apart from Brit-Am and a few others? Brit-Am uses Scriptural Truths from the Hebrew Bible supplemented by secular studies some of which you yourself (John Salverda) have contributed towards. These proofs are convincing and have proven effectability. They need to be propagated, improved upon by further research, and supported. Ephraimites often rely upon evidence taken mainly from the New Testament. This is not going to convince Judah. It is also not accepted by most of the Ten Tribes either. In reply to your question: We cannot say what Judah is prepared to do since Judah (on the whole) is not yet even aware of the question. Neither is Joseph or the Ten Tribes in general. How many are aware that any reconciliation is needed? Reconciliation for what? How can we logically discuss reunification when most do not know that there ever was any unification in the first place? What are Joseph, Ephraimites, Ten Tribers, etc, prepared to do to help Brit-Am spread the message so that questions such as your own may even be considered by anybody??? What is Joseph Prepared to do for Brit-Am? By Helping Brit-Am the Ten Tribes will be Helping Themselves! |
Dear Jair [Yair], Reply by Yair Davidiy: After such a nice letter it feels a little unpleasant to try and have the last word but here goes: We are not engaging in religious dialogue because our Mandate prevents us from doing so. Brit-Am has an obligation to spread knowledge of Israelite Ancestry. Other matters must wait for another time, possibly the Messianic Era. We do not agree with Christianity but recognize it has a role to play for non-Jews and it is not the task of Brit-Am to interfere with this. Neither is Brit-Am to be interfered with. Consider the situation an Armed Truce while we deal with common issues important to all of us. We repeat: Once the information concerning Israelite Identity from the Brit-Am perspective becomes more widely known about and accepted many other matters may be seriously considered. Until then such considerations are liable to be counter-productive. It could be that spreading this Brit-Am knowledge is what all Israel really needs at present. Will you insist on not helping Brit-Am? Will you not answer the call at this time of Israelite need? |