Aish.com New Articles - August 23, 2009

A Place for the Light
by David Sacks
Sometimes the wrong way gets you to the right destination.

The Year of The Seed
by David A. Linn
A college student infiltrates and exposes a messianic cult.

Divorcing God
by Rebbetzin Feige Twerski
Does ending my marriage also mean turning my back on God?

Deep Water Test
by Rabbi Boruch Leff
The secret to making lasting changes.

The Hebron Massacre
by Toby Klein Greenwald
Eighty years ago, an Arab mob went on a rampage and murdered 69 Jews.

Falling in Love in Elul
by Rabbi Jason Gelber
What's love got to do with it?

Miraculous Rescues
by Tova Younger
Any survivor has at least one miracle story. My father has several.

Four-Letter Words
by Rabbi Leiby Burnham
Is there anything wrong with swearing?

Tweet4Shalit
by David Appletree
Join a Twitter Campaign for Gilad Shalit

Say Goodbye to Summer
by Gitta Bixenspanner
Cool dishes for final hot summer days.

Embarrassing Actions
by Rabbi Avi Shafran
Whatever a Jew does reflects the entire Jewish people. Editors Pick

Three Steps to Genuine Change
by Rebbetzin Tzipporah Heller
Getting free from the prison we've erected around ourselves.
This weeks Torah reading: Ki Tetzei

The Plain Truth about David Ben-Ariel's Ads

Deceptive Ad

You recently ran an ad for a book, Beyond Babylon, by "David Ben-Ariel."
This is a Christian radical theology fronting for offshoots of the Worldwide Church of G-d, Herbert W. Armstrong, representing the British Israel branch which has crossovers with other antisemitic groups.
I thought you would want to know.

Yitzchok Dovid Smith
Received by email

SLR Responds: You are 100 percent correct we would want to know, and we are very grateful to you for pointing out our potentially severe error. We have no idea if this group is antisemitic (nothing we found out about them would indicate that), but they are definitely a Christian evangelical group, and their ad in our paper indicates that they were being deceptive. You can trust their ad will not appear again.

This exchange appeared in The Jewish Voice and Opinion magazine, May 2009, in reference to two full page ads that I, David Ben-Ariel, bought and paid for in full (January and April issues) - not any group or organization!

I sincerely hope that "Yitzchok Dovid Smith" knows more about Judaism than he does about Herbert W. Armstrong and the offshoots of the Worldwide Church of God, as those who are knowledgeable about Mr. Armstrong and those associated with him, having read or are familiar with his former magazine The Plain Truth, know that we are not antisemitic in any manner, shape or form and to attempt to discredit us by a faulty connection to some who are is as deceptive as linking all Jews with Bolshevism or other godless movements!

Mr. Armstrong was well known in Israel among the leadership for years, even honored in Jerusalem many times, and met every prime minister from Golda Meir on until his death in 1986. Ambassador College (Pasadena, California) worked with Hebrew University on many archaeological digs and Liberty Bell Park in Jerusalem honors Herbert W. Armstrong to this day with a monument.

Furthermore, I am not a member of any "Christian evangelical group" and neither Herbert W. Armstrong or offshoots of the Sabbath-keeping Worldwide Church of God have anything to do with traditional Christianity, which we consider baptized paganism: the Babylonian Mystery religion in Christian drag!

My two full page ads (they were my ads, representing my politico-religious concerns for Israel in light of the pope's campaign to undermine Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem, Europe's new crusade) in The Jewish Voice and Opinion were not deceptive in the least, as I have always focused on where I agree with Jews, as Torah-observant Jews can testify who have known me for years, like Gershon Salomon, chairman of the Temple Mount Faithful, and Ze'ev Bar-Tov; Aryeh Gallin, President of Root and Branch Association; Attorney Howard Grief; rabbis Yehoshua Friedman and Avraham Feld; Yair Davidiy of Brit Am Yisrael; Barry Chamish, etc.

Last but not least, my legal name is David Ben-Ariel. Again, nothing deceptive. Just the plain truth!

For Zion's sake,
David Ben-Ariel

Kibbutz pictures reacquaint friends

I'm very happy to have already received a few responses from my fellow kibbutz volunteers, due to pictures I've posted. :-)

So far I've managed to post pictures from:

Kibbutz Shoval, a rose in the Negev desert

Kibbutz Adamit photos

Pictures of Kibbutz Reshafim volunteers!

Kibbutz Regavim

Moshav Kfar Haim

Waves of Memories of Sdot Yam

Ramat Yohanan


From Ramat Yohanan:

This was a wonderful time in my life...in our lives. I remember Ilan. I remember us & that Dutch guy we accidently on purpose walked into Lebanon :D

I also have many lovely photos I'm eager to share & will share as soon as I am able.

Our friendship was/is a gift. I'm so glad to have reconnected w/u. I'm tempted to say next year in Jerusalem or NY.

...Shelia emailed me the next day about the photos u posted. Did she contact u? One of the photos u have of me wearing a shirt w/a balloon on it & I'm not looking directly into the camera is very special would u mind sending it to me. Please I totally love it I may even make it into poster size. Please please send it. Thanks in advance :)

Gwen Anne Strum
Jamaica, NY

From Sdot Yam:

Hello David,

I have been getting nostalgic in the past year and usually google Sdot-Yam. I see your name everywhere and I just smile. I loved seeing the pictures, and just remembering that part of my life does me good. I have been in search of Anja Zerwas for many years now, just seeing her picture on your website has renewed some hope that I may still find her. I miss Donna as well, she was always good to talk with when things were rather dismal, do you hear from her at all?

There is a website called KibbutzReloaded.com, it's for volunteers and ulpan students. I was surprised not to see your name and story on the list. I saw the picture you had of me on top of Masada with the machine gun, I have that picture on my fridge.

... the pictures are fantastic. Thank you David, there is something very comforting about looking at old photos. ..

I have to say what shocked me most about you was your brilliant writing ability, and here I thought you were just another pretty face. I had no idea you are such a deep thinker. I look forward to getting out to the bookstore and buying it.

Would love to hear from you again,
Veronica Pierce
Boston

Tribe of Zebulon

Tribal identifications: Zebulon (Adapted from "The Tribes" by Yair Davidiy)
ZEBULON

"And the sons of Zebulon; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel" (Genesis 46;14).

See also:Netherlands

Some Main Points:

We identify Zebulon as primarily the people of Holland. In general Israelites settled in that area: A people named Sebulingoi were recorded as being there and this name means "People of Zebulon" and other names confirm that. It was prophesied that Zebulon would dwell on the shores of the sea: One third of Holland is below sea-level and another third would be subject to periodic flooding by the sea if it was not for protection by the dykes. Most of the country is therefore on the seashores and it is the only country in the world about which this can be said. The symbol of Zebulon was a ship and this was the traditional symbol of Holland. For more points read on:

Moses (Deuteronomy 33;18) grouped the two brothers Issachar and Zebulon together, saying, "Rejoice, Zebulun in thy going out; and Issachar in thy tents". From this verse it was understood11that Issachar and Zebulon had a symbiotic relationship, Issachar being involved in Religious and scientific intellectual pursuits and Zebulon setting forth in ships to trade and, with his earnings, contributing to the support of Issachar. Other Rabbinical opinions12 say that it merely implies that Issachar was more inclined towards working the land and less given to venture out. Groups of Zebulonite origin are often found in association with groups from Issachar. Zebulon is identifiable with Holland. The people of Alsace and Lorraine (in France) come from both Issachar and Zebulon and their region forms a bridge from Switzerland to Belgium and Holland.

The symbol of Holland was a ship in popular tradition13 and a ship was the symbol of the former Dutch Republic. Many of the Boer (Afrikaans) population of the Republic of South Africa are of Dutch descent. A ship was also the symbol of Zebulon14. Zebulon, in Talmudic Literature, was pictured as a merchant seafarer, which description fits the Dutch. Rotterdam in Holland is the world's busiest port. Moses blessed Zebulon (Deuteronomy 33; 19): that he should "Suck of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hid in the sands". Today both South Africa and Holland are on the seashores and a good portion of the earlier diamond wealth of South Africa was found in the "sands". Another important element in the population of both Holland and South Africa is a portion of Naphtali of whom it was said, (Deuteronomy 33; 23): "Possess thou the west and the south"; - being the west of England (settled by Vikings from Norway) as well as both Holland and Norway. The South meant both South Africa and New Zealand. South Africa was settled by British and Dutch, and New Zealand by British of a particular type. Shillem, son of Naphtali, has been traced15 by archaeological similarities (supported by linguistics16) to the Vandals of Silesia [Germany-Poland] (Silingi-Silem, -Silen) and to Vendsyssel of Jutland (Denmark) in the first century b.c.e. Previous to that time, the cultural contacts of Vendsyssel were more to Zeeland in southern Holland17. The Huns of Nephtali (in addition to settling in Norway) re-appeared as recognizable groups among the Frisians who invaded England. The Frisians of Holland in their character fit Zebulon though to some degree they are also traceable to Menasseh (Peres) and Judah (Peretz) and the Nephtalite element amongst them may have been important in early South African colonization.

Similarly, Zebulon, though dominant in Holland, is also represented by "Halland" of the southwest coast of Sweden, and by Hallin in Norway which names come from that of Elon, son of Zebulon, as does the name for Holland itself. Only The Dutch dwell "on the shores of the Sea" since the Dutch descend from Zebulon!!

Jacob prophesied (Genesis 49;13): "Zebulon shall dwell at the haven of the sea and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon". Zidon, at one stage, was conquered by the Sakkara who were named after the Tribe of Issachar18 but whose forces in this case probably comprised or at least included Zebulonites [1] A Prophecies concerning the tribes were applicable both within the Land of Israel and outside of it. In both cases, some degree of literal significance is to be expected. The expression concerning Zebulon, "His border unto Zidon" could be fulfilled in a number of ways[2]G. In the verse, "Zebulon shall dwell at the haven of the sea and he shall be for an haven of ships... " (Genesis 49; 13): The expression, "dwell at the haven of the sea" according to the HEBREW original (Hof-yamim) may be preferably translated as "dwell on the SHORES of the Sea"19. The only nation in the world whose population is known for dwelling extensively on reclaimed sea-land, literally, "On the shores of the sea", is Holland. The SABALINGOI went to Holland and their name means "People of -ZEBULON"!!!

Zebulon through the Alans and Alamans of Elon, son of Zebulon, merged with the Suebi from Jashub (pronounceable as Ja-sueb, Num. 26;24) of Issachar in Alsace and in Switzerland i.e. they bordered "Sidon", as Switzerland was referred to. In early Scythian times the name Zebulon was recalled in ZABULISTAN which was to the south and south-east of Hara in the Iranian area.

The name of ZEBULON is also found in the Sabalingoi recalled by Ptolemy in south Jutland and northern Frisia in Holland. The name SABALINGOI in Hebrew means "People (Goi) - of - ZEBULON" since in Northern dialects "Sabalin" and Zebulon would have been alternate pronunciations of the same name: The "Z" was replaced by "S"; and "goi" means people in Hebrew. The Sabalingoi were to the north of the Sigulones (whose name in Hebrew means "Chosen Ones") and of the Saxons and in turn, to the north of the Sabalingoi were the Chali sons of Jahleel [Yachlayl in Hebrew, and the Ya would have been dropped] (Genesis 46; 14). Sered was a son of Zebulon as was Jahleel and also Elon. The Suardinoi (from Sered) were identified (by Kaspar Zeuss , "Die Deutschen und Die Nachbarstamme," Germany 1835) as inhabitants of Holland. From Jutland and Scandinavia there were several waves of migration into the area of nearby Holland especially into Frisia so the Sabalingoi and Chali moved to the Netherlands' region. Ptolemy may in fact be interpreted as placing the Sabalingoi in northern Frisia and thus in Holland . Pytheas20 (ca. 325 b.c.e.) is reported as describing Holland as peopled by Skuthai (i.e. Scythians) meaning (probably) Frisians who, in the 300's and 200's b.c.e., are claimed to have begun absorbing the native Celts. There followed several centuries in which the population fluctuated greatly. In about 200 c.e. the Franks invaded. Angles, Saxons, and JUTES from Jutland overran the land in 450-500 c.e. Consequently, Frisians, together with others, participated in the Anglo-Saxon invasions. After ca.600 c.e. Frankish influence re-asserted itself. Roughly speaking, modern Holland has Frisians in the north, Saxons in the east, and Franks in the south. It also has important continents of French Huguenots, Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews, Malays, and Eurasians of mixed blood. In other words, the population is of mixed origins like the populations of most countries. This does not contradict the fact that a good proportion of the people (if not most) are descended from Israel or that amongst the Israelites a certain tribe has the ascendancy. Enough has been shown to prove that often groups of divergent backgrounds converging on one spot, are revealed as having originally the same tribal identity.

The Dutch speak Germanic dialects but Professor Theo Vennemann of Munich and his school have shown that underlying these dialects in Holland there may be discerned a linguistic substratum similar to that found amongst the Insular Celts of Britain and ireland and which is Semitic in origin.

The FRISIANS are a people now concentrated in Northern Holland but once spread all along the coast from Scandinavia through Holland, Belgium, and into France21. The Angles and Saxons before they, together with other northern peoples, invaded Britain in the 450s c.e. had sojourned (at least in part) for about 200 years in Holland especially in Frisia. Some of the Jutes had also been in Frisia. The Byzantine historian, Procopius (Gothic War vii; 20) said that the Frisians were an important element amongst the invaders of Britain. The name of the Frisians is traceable to Peres son of Gilead of Menasseh but the actual inhabitants of present-day Frisia and Holland are identifiable on the whole more with Zebulon. In Biblical times, Tribes such as Zebulon, Issachar, and Asher were closely associated with Menasseh and it would seem that this linkage was repeated after their exile in areas of their re-settlement. At all events the identity of the Frisians must be closely linked with that of peoples who invaded and settled the British Isles. Frisian-Legends Affirm Their Israelite Origins!

According to Frisian-legends[3]` a certain King Adel was a descendant of Shem[4]k King Adel in India had three sons: Friso, Bruno, and Saxo. Legendary sources quoted by the historian Le Petit (1601) also mention Friso, Bruno, and Saxo and say too that they were descendants of Shem and lived in "India". The term "India", however, did not always mean the place known today as India but rather was more synonymous with "Cush" which term was sometimes applied to areas east of the Caspian Sea in present-day Central Asia and is the "Cush" (i.e. "Ethiopia") mentioned in Genesis 2; 13. Zephaniah 3; 10 and Isaiah 10; 10 said that Cush was one of the places to which the exiled Israelites would go and the Aramaic Translation renders Cushas as Hodu(translated as India) and refers to the region of Hara in eastern Iran and surrounding areas[5]¤. Similarly, Le Petit located the "India" he spoke of in a land by the Emodian Mountains which according to Ptolemy were in the area adjoining the Caspian and Aral Seas, in east Scythia, to the north of Afghanistan and India-proper. Tzvi Chasdoi related that in Jewish tradition the area east of the Caspian was known as "Cush". Jewish legends traced the Tribes of Zebulon and Nephtali to this area and placed other Israelite Tribes in the immediate vicinity. This is the area where Frisian legends say Friso, Saxo, and Bruno came from. In this land east of the Caspian archaeologists have found the ruins of an extensive civilization whose inhabitants spoke Aramaic. Some of the Israelite Tribes had spoken Aramaic even before their exile and the language was used as an official tongue in the Assyrian Empire and is believed to have been the most commonly-used one. Phillip Lozinski (1953) believed that from this region east of the Caspian came the "Barbarian" peoples whom he suggests may have been at least partly Semitic. They invaded Europe beginning from around the 200s c.e. Additional evidence exists showing that the invaders must have come from Scythia and the region east of the Caspian. These invasions and migratory movements were often connected with activities of the Huns who themselves were a mixture of various peoples. The Huns from this vicinity caused other nations to flee westward. N.C. Lukman (Copenhagen, 1943) showed how in Nordic Mythology the name Adel (meaning "Noble") was often used as a euphemism for Attila the Hun and for the Huns in general. In the Frisian legends King Adel was the father of Friso, Bruno, and Saxo. Scientific Linguists have concluded that the Northern "Barbarians" who entered Europe had the later European aspects of their languages imposed upon them by an external force. They originally spoke both Hebrew and Aramaic.

The legends speak of these three brothers being descended from Shem and having been in Jerusalem at the time of its destruction by the Babylonians:

"In the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnessar (586 B.C.), 3 brothers - Friso, Bruno, and Saxo with [their] wives, children, and relatives fled out of the country, encouraged to do so by announcements of the Prophets concerning the fall of the town". In this legend Bruno represents the Angles who according to Ptolemy had at one stage been centered on the region of Brunswick in eastern Germany. They had also had a center in Angeln to the south of Denmark or else they moved to Angeln prior to the invasion of England. By placing Friso, Bruno, and Saxo in Jerusalem (which became representative of all Israel) before its capture the legend in effect infers that the Frisians, Saxons, and Brunswickian-Angles were therefore originally Israelites or Jews.

F. Koeslag points out that "In legends...events of several eras may be concentrated around famous historical figures - as you see with Charlemagne". The legend may therefore be taken as reflecting a tradition that the three brothers were related to the Jews which is consistent with their belonging to the Lost Ten Tribes who had been exiled from their own lands in Israel at least 140 years before the actual fall of Jerusalem. The legend contains the recognition that the three brothers had left the Land of Israel (identified as "Jerusalem" or the Land of the Jews) before Nebuchadnessar of Babylon captured it. The northern Israelites had indeed been exiled prior to the Babylonian onslaught. The Lost Ten Tribes had been re-settled in Assyria and in lands ruled by Assyria. Another Frisian legend says that Albione and 32 sisters went from Assyria by ship and landed in England which they called Albion. After they landed, Brutus drove them out of the country and re-named it Britain in his own honour. The Albioni crossed the Sea and landed in Frisia. This legend may also serve as an indicator of Israelite origins since the exiled Israelites had indeed been re-settled in "Assyria" (or in Assyrian-controlled areas) before asserting their independence and moving elsewhere.

The legends relate how while still in "India" Friso married Hilla daughter of Agathocles king of Thrace. They were driven out of "India" and sailed to Greece where Friso became a student of Plato (427-374 b.c.e) and then joined the Army of Alexander the Great. Alexander from Macedonia and Greece advanced into Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and from there continued into Persia, Bactria, the area east of the Caspian Sea and northwest India. In the east Alexander reformed his army and took into his Special Forces mainly peoples belonging to the Sacae-Scythian Tribes. From the Sacae descend the Anglo-Saxons and company. Le Petit also says that the brothers served under Alexander. A strong early tradition existed in Europe that the Saxons had been soldiers in Alexander's armies. This tradition was mentioned in the time of Charlemagne King of the Franks (768-814 c.e.). Additional traditions and evidence connect the Anglo-Saxons with the ancient Sacae-Scythians some of whom really had been in Alexander's forces. The legends state that via Asia Minor the people of Friso, Bruno, and Saxo came on a very large ship called "di Mannigfuald" (i.e. "The Multitude") to the west. Friso in 313 b.c.e. landed in Friesland (i.e. in Frisia) and founded a settlement called "Stavoren"[6]A Bruno and Saxo (brothers of Frisso) went eastward though Saxo (according to Le Petit) then returned to the west. Bruno founded the city of Brunswick in which area of Germany Ptolemy placed the Angloi thus identifying them with the people of Bruno. The Angloi (Angles) also moved northward to the regions bordering Denmark and from there they went to Britain some of them sojourning (like the Saxons) in Frisia on the way.[1]A Even so Issachar was also linkeable with Sidon: The Tribe of Issachar were destined to dominate Switzerland and a people named SEDUNI once dwelt in Celtic Switzerland (ca. Sion) which, together with all Switzerland in medieval times, was named "Sidon".[2]G. "Sidon" (i.e. Zidon) could be represented in any one of a number of ways. There were the people of "Sidone", scattered groups of whom seem to have usually accompanied Vandals from the Tribe of Asher which tribe had encompassed the original Phoenician City of Sidon. Switzerland was called "SIDON" in medieval times. The coast of northern Gaul (France and Belgium) had been partly settled by groups of Phoenician culture and possibly SIDONIANS were amongst them since Sidon and Tyre were the major Phoenician cities also all Phoenecians were called "SIDONIANS".[3]` This following section has been adapted from an article by Yair Davidy that was first published in the journal Tribesman.[4] k Mr. Fred J. Koeslag of Gouda, Holland, sent me the following information that he obtained from a book ("Freische Mythen en Sagen" by J.P. Wiesma, 1973) about Old Frisian legends. This information supplements other sources such as that of Jean Francoise LE PETIT ("Le Grande Chronicle Ancienne et Moderne de Holland, Zeelande, Utrecht, Frise, Oversyseel; et de Groenungham". Dordrecht, 1601). The book of Le Petit is written in a type of Old French and a copy is to be found in the Rare Books section of the National Library in Jerusalem. Le Petit relates the history of peoples who settled in the Netherlands.[5]¤ For an explanation of this subject see Section Two.[6]A The account says that Stavoren was named after after the god "Stav" but F. Koeslag of Holland suggests that the name "Stavoren" was originally derived from that of Mount Tabor in Israel since "v" and "b" are interchangeable and the names are therefore quite similar.

The Plain Truth about the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel

The United Kingdom of Israel split in two during the reign of Solomon's son, Rehoboam.

The Northern Kingdom of Israel was composed of 10 tribes, headed by the tribe of Joseph, in their new capital called Samaria.

The Southern Kingdom of Judah continued to rule from Jerusalem, with the Royal House of David presiding over them.

Both sinned against the God of Israel and were patiently warned by the prophets, but Northern Israel fell first and was deported by the Assyrians approximately 130 years before Judah was conquered by the Babylonians and the Temple destroyed (2 Kgs. 17).

After 70 years, a small number of Jews returned and restored Jerusalem and built the Temple. The Jews had been deported to Babylon and were from the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The Northern Israelites had been taken captive earlier to other areas (2 Kgs. 17:6) and have never returned.

If you check the records of those who returned from the Babylonian exile it becomes clear that basically it was only those from the Southern tribes of Benjamin, Levi and Judah. There are a few exceptions to this rule, certain individuals from Ephraim and Manasseh and undoubtedly some of the other tribes who joined with Judah (1 Chronicles 9:3).

Some carelessly assume that just because those who returned are all sometimes referred to as sons or children of Israel that it means they were from the Northern Kingdom of Israel. However, Jacob-Israel had twelve sons who were the patriarchs of the twelve tribes.

Every Jew is an Israelite, an ethnic descendant of Jacob-Israel, but not every Israelite is a Jew! The Northern Kingdom of Israel, as a whole, remain in exile as the "Lost Ten Tribes" as far as the world goes.

It is historically and biblically important to make this distinction between Jews and Israelites and to be careful not to blur their identities (Ezek. 44:23). After all, God has devoted four books of the Bible to do just that!

But did God intend for Northern Israel to remain lost? Since we acted like pagan Gentiles God let us lose our spiritual minds and think we're Gentiles, but was the punishment for our religious sins supposed to last forever?

Didn't God promise that He would preserve Israel's unique identity even though they were scattered throughout and among many nations?

Clearly God has never lost sight of who the "Lost Tribes" really are and where they're located today: "For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the House of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth" (Amos 9:9).

If God's aware of a sparrow's condition, certainly He's more concerned with collective Israel's affairs, especially since we're beloved for the fathers' (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) sakes. Yet we see grief-stricken Israel feeling helpless and hopeless, dead to history, cut off from their roots, having given up any hope of being restored to national life, being reassured by God Almighty that He will restore their physical identity!

Once God begins the healing process, the life-giving spirit of reconciliation between Judah and Israel will result in our restoration as a United Kingdom, One Nation under God!

God will restore us to our ancient homeland and revive the Davidic monarchy to rule with but under Messiah.

God's Sanctuary will again be found in Jerusalem, and shine as a sign to the whole world, since He'll return home with the exiles (Ezek. 36).

Israel was only to remain lost until just before Messiah comes. That's when we would begin to fulfill our tribal destinies as prophesied by Jacob and Moses (Gen. 49; Deut. 33).

The sons of Joseph, the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic peoples, have fulfilled the prophecies like no other "claimants" to Israel's inheritance can: Manasseh has become the single great nation of the United States, and his brother Ephraim has become the British Commonwealth of Nations (Gen. 48:19), as clearly brought out in The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy, influenced by Herbert W. Armstrong, one of the greatest proponents of this biblical truth (The United States and Britain in Prophecy continues to educate folks around the world).

After our prophesied 2520 years of exile, Israel began to grow and multiply and be blessed around 1800-1803.

A Jewish Homeland reveals how our Jewish brethren also came into their own after the time of their punishment came to a close, and boldly declared their statehood in 1948, holding the Promised Land in trust for all Twelve Tribes of Israel (Rom. 3:2).

Joseph and Judah are the top two leaders of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. It was around the ordained time that God began to bestow Joseph's Birthright that He began to restore Israel's identity among both the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic peoples and Jews (1 Chron. 5:2).

Some have embraced this wonderful truth and consequently have drawn closer to each other as brethren, but others have foolishly allowed Satan to create enmity and alienate us. Soon such "sibling rivalry" will be a thing of the past (Isa. 11:13).

Some rabbis/ministers have stubbornly refused to search for the "Lost Ten Tribes" and have left them to wander in their pagan Gentile ways and days! GOD HOLDS MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT HELPING TO RESTORE ISRAEL'S ROOTS AND RESPONSIBILITY! (Ezek. 34:4).

He'll personally cut them off from the pulpit and strip them of their duties! They've proven themselves unworthy of shepherding God's people Israel and have forfeited their future as leaders (Ezek. 34:10; Matt. 12:30).

Nevertheless, God has raised up others to accomplish this urgent "search and rescue" mission (Ezek. 34:16).

Surely God wouldn't leave His Church in the dark about Israel's identity, especially since the Gospel should go first to Israelites and then to Gentiles. And the Gospel is ONE BIG PROPHECY!

Thankfully, there are a growing number of groups and organizations, books and articles, both Christian and Jewish, that are assisting this GREAT WORK OF ISRAELITE IDENTIFICATION. They are helping to proclaim: "I am Joseph your brother" (Gen. 45:4).

The Jerusalem-based Brit-Am Israel organization (founded by the Israeli Orthodox Jew Yair Davidiy) is a pioneer among our Jewish brethren.

God reveals our Israelite identity and expects us to help restore our brethren to their biblical senses (Isa. 42:22; 51:1-2).

Those ministers who fail to respond to God's call to search and rescue Israel have robbed them of a right relationship with God and our forefathers, substituting pagan hollow days for God's holy days (Isa. 63:16; Hos. 5:7; Malachi 4:4-6).

They've stubbornly put their idolatrous traditions above God's commands, preferring doctrinal darkness and captivity over Messiah's spiritual light and freedom.

Nevertheless, a number have been called from the womb to help restore Israel's identity and religion (Isa. 49:5-6), blasting Babylon and clearing away the stumbling blocks of religious confusion (Isa. 57:14; 58:1, 12).

Even if our people as a whole reject the plain truth for popular error (2 Chron. 30:5-11), a precious few will always respond to God's call to forsake Babylon (traditional Christianity/Jewish myths) and return to our biblical roots and responsibility (1 Kgs. 18:21, 36-37; Rev. 18:4).

It's vital to know who Israel is so they can return to the biblical faith once delivered. Why? To enable them to be spared from "the Time of Jacob's Trouble," the "Great Tribulation" that is prophesied to fall especially hard upon our heads. God expects us to work together to remember our Hebrew roots and responsibility, and to lead and direct our Israelite nations in the right direction (Jer. 31:21).

In order to warn Israel about the many prophecies that preview our coming captivity (due to our idolatry and immorality), it was first necessary for God to restore our identity. God has now restored our identity, He's again warning our nations, and it's up to us what will happen next.

May we take God's Word to heart, return to the God of our fathers, and have hope: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chron. 7:14).

Israel and Judah Must Get House in Order Before King Messiah Arrives

According to the rabbis, the "Lost Ten Tribes" are for all intents and purposes "Gentiles." This information constitutes further proof that the "Lost Ten Tribes" are not those diverse claimants (African, Indians, Burmese) who maintain remnants of Judaism from somebody's former conversion or contact with the religion of Judaism.

Such truly Gentile claimants, unlike the Anglo-Saxons and white Northwestern Europeans, don't bear a single biblical birthmark of fulfilled prophecy.

Joseph was an international leader and a feeder of the nations -- not some impoverished people in a jungle looking for a better life in this material world. Besides, Joseph isn't Jewish!

The birthmarks of fulfilled biblical prophecies include, as the Jerusalem-based Brit Am Israel organization teaches:

According to the Bible ten out of the twelve tribes of Israel split away (1 Kings 12:19), formed their own kingdom of "Israel" (1 Kings 12:20) and were exiled by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:18). They forget their identity (Hosea 1:9, 7:8; Isaiah 49:21) and became the Lost Ten Tribes. In the future they will re-unite with the Jews (Ezekiel 37; Isaiah 11:13; Jeremiah 3:18) of "Judah", but until then they have a role of their own to fulfill. They were destined to be situated at the continental extremities of the earth such as North America, the British Isles, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa (Deuteronomy 33:13; Isaiah 24:16, 26:15, 41:8-9, 49:6), to be the richest (Genesis 27:28, 49:25; Deuteronomy 33:13-16; Hosea 2:8), and most powerful (Numbers 24:8-7; Micah 5:7-9) nations on earth and to control major international strategic bases (Genesis 22:16-17, 24:60). All of these points together with numerous others show that descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes can only be found amongst Western Nations, especially the English-speaking ones.

I don't denigrate those who are converts to Judaism, however those who are legitimate ETHNIC Israelites have every reason to be concerned when we see hordes of converts pretending to be our specific tribe (Indian converts pretending to be from Manasseh) rather than acknowledge they're merely descendants of converts to Judaism.

If you study the Bible you will see converts are the exception to the rule, and yet some are attempting to force it to be the rule. It is not and never will be according to the Bible that rejects such replacement theology. The Bible continues to make the clear distinction between all Twelve Tribes and doesn't blur their identity into the tribe of Judah and neither should we.

Whereas I believe some Israelites have merged with those of the Kingdom of Judah, they are the exception and not the rule. Proof that the "Lost Ten Tribes" (represented by Joseph - the Joes) is not incorporated, as a rule, into Judah is the very clear and distinct prophecy of Ezekiel 37 that the two (not one) are represented as TWO STICKS -- Joseph and Judah -- who will again become "one" in the future. They're not one now despite all the attempts by some to teach otherwise.

I praise Judah within Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall (at least those Jews to whom it applies) for remaining faithful to their God-given understanding of the Sabbath, biblical festivals, dietary laws, preserving the sacred calendar, and other holy responsibilities. God has blessed the Jews to bless us all with such knowledge.

The Gentilized Israelites (many Catholics and Protestants) must confess and forsake our baptized paganism, our whitewashed heathen customs that Roman wolves have polluted the world with and misled the masses, and Judaism must reject its Babylonian relics of astrology, amulets, "hell" and other religious lies, as Zechariah proves Judah isn't perfect either. Gentilized Jews, assimilated Jews, must remember their Hebrew roots and biblical responsibilities and act accordingly.

Both Joseph and Judah need to get our House in order that we may become filled with the Holy Spirit of God and serve as His light to the nations. The House of Jacob-Israel must become the House of God, so help us God.

Some members of Judaism have suggested I become a Noahide or convert to Judaism, even though they're opposed to any proselytizing for them to become Christians. I'm very aware of the Noahides and of Judaism and consider both incomplete.

I am graciously numbered among the pioneers, the chosen few, who have already perceived who the Pierced One is, who are partakers in spirit of the prophesied renewed covenant, and patiently await the political and religious rulers of Jerusalem to look up and come around and have the necessary change of heart and attitude that Zechariah 12:8-14 foresees, preparing for the Blessed One who comes in the Name of the LORD -- sent from Heaven above.

One in the spirit of Elijah (who is dead and buried according to the Bible) -- a living descendant of King David -- will lead the Way to bring Israel and Judah to such a place, ready to receive our King, prepared to meet our God. Such a scion of David will be the chief spokesman between two witnesses who will testify to these truths and offer hope and comfort to their captive audience.

Jews are free to believe whatever they want and I have never said otherwise, even if I call them (like traditional Christianity) on certain inconsistent points, and encourage them to follow their Judaism to Israel rather than remain in a self-imposed exile.

I believe what I'm convinced of before God whether or not Judaism or professing Christianity approves. God is my Judge. I just find it rather interesting that according to Judaism an atheist or Communist is still a "Jew," yet some Jews (members of Judaism, not necessarily from the Tribe of Judah) have the chutzpah to deny the other tribes' inheritances and reject their legitimate claims as Joes (Joseph) or whatever ETHNIC tribe they're from which remains true regardless of religious affiliation. This anti-Semitic attitude is represented and foretold:

Ezekiel 11:15

15Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.

Thankfully, such sibling rivalry will soon be history, as Isaiah assures us:

Isaiah 11:12-13

12And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

13The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim [Joseph] shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

Even as some Karaites and Orthodox Jews reject the modern state of Israel (because it was founded by secular Jews -- for the most part -- and is far from holy) because they've failed to see or submit to the prophecies that reveal Jews would begin to be restored in these latter days, with repentance FOLLOWING that fact (once they're in the Land, in God's good time), so some stumble that the Gentilized Israelites aren't kosher enough according to their "Jewish" standard rather than humbly acknowledge them as brethren (having all the biblical birthmarks of fulfilled prophecy).

It would be better to patiently pray for whatever conversion or change of heart is necessary, one step at a time, leaving it all in God's good hands who gathers the stick of Joseph and the stick of Judah and makes us one (Ezekiel 37).

Israel and Judah Must Get House in Order Before King Messiah Arrives

Khazars, Kevin Brook, and Yair Davidiy

Khazars, Kevin Brook, and Yair Davidiy

As posted on Khazars dispute on Physics Forums

On Thu, 26 Feb 2004, davidbenariel wrote:
Shalom,
Are you familiar with Brit-Am Israel and their article on the Khazars?
Here it is: http://www.britam.org/khazars.html

Sincerely,
David Ben-Ariel
*************

From: "Kevin Brook"
To: "davidbenariel"
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 1:53 AM
Subject: Re: Yair Davidiy


I am familiar with EVERY ARTICLE ON THE WEB about Khazars. Brit-Am is an agenda-driven cultish propaganda organization which dismisses the truth about Khazar people's origins to fit their pet theory that Israelites are everywhere throughout Europe. Since you're associated with them, I have no interest in corresponding with you further. I RELY ON FACTS, EVERYTHING I STATE IS THE TRUTH. The Khazars were ORIGINALLY TURKIC - ALL the sources say so. They mixed later with some Hebrews, but that wasn't their main lineage!
And some other contentions of Brit-Am are also false: Khazars aren't Agathyrsoi, and Picts aren't Agathyrsoi, and Celts and Brits aren't Israelites, USA isn't Menashe. Yair Davidy is no historian.

Don't waste my time with any further religiously-inspired false interpretations of history.
And as you are a Christian you have no business going by a Hebrew name unless you have Israelite ancestry, nor do you have any business trying to establish a Jewish Third Temple on Jews' behalf. And there's no need for a new Third Temple anyway except in the minds of extremist wackos who think ritually slaughtering animals accomplishes something.

References:
http://www.britam.org/now253.html
http://www.britam.org/now317.html
http://benariel.port5.com/
http://www.network54.com/Forum/message?forumid=4359&messageid=1019880875
http://www.mideasttruth.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=437&sid=53a5fd5d872378c0ff39ab5be6ac0b5a
http://www.physicsforums.com/archive/topic/9463-1.html

About your alleged attempt to destroy the Dome of the Rock so that Jews could rebuild the Third Temple:
http://www.paktoday.com/joana30a.htm
http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/3180/edition_id/56/format/html/displaystory.html

You admit your real name is David A. Hoover - and that you're a "a blond, "non-Jewish" American" who is a "Christian Zionist" believing in "the Israelite identity of the peoples of Northwestern Europe":
http://www.jewish.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Forums&file=viewtopic&topic=195&forum=40
****************

"Friendly" fellow....NOT. This brash fellow has some website on the Khazars. Too bad he wasn't a real historian who accepts history AND the Bible as two witnesses to Israelite identity truth. Regardless of his vain rantings, the United States remains Manasseh and England is Ephraim, sons of Joseph!
**************

Truly Abrahamic (aka Kevin Brooks)
02-27-2004, 03:58 PM
David, I did not give you permission to copy my private email to a public forum. This shows your lack of understanding of copyright law. The email I sent you had a valid copyright notice:

This email is Copyright (C) 2004 Kevin Brook, All Rights Reserved. No retransmission is permitted.

The Christian cult of British Israelitism, founded in the 19th century, is not based on truth, but on biased biblically-inspired interpretations. Brit-Am has the preconceived notion that Western Europeans are Israelites and then tries simplistically to tailor information and names to suit that idea. Whereas by contrast I have no preconceived notion and am open to real facts from objective sources (read: real historians - the type you and Davidy casually ignore).

It is very telling that Brit-Am's Yair Davidy uses defamation tactics to attack Dunlop, Koestler, Artamonov, myself, and other historians of the Khazars, without actually addressing the points we raised. His method is to selectively present his point of view and not presenting the actual facts presented by these authors. For instance I didn't see any time when Davidy quoted the several medieval documents that call Khazars TURKS. Why is he afraid? Because it defeats his theory?

Many medieval writers attested to the Khazars' Turkic origins including Theophanes, al-Masudi, Rabbi Yehudah ben Barzillai, Martinus Oppaviensis, and the anonymous authors of the Georgian Chronicle and Chinese chronicle T'ang-shu. The Arabic writer al-Masudi in Kitab at-Tanbih wrote: "...the Khazars... are a tribe of the Turks." (cited in Peter Golden, Khazar Studies, pp. 57-58). T'ang-shu reads: "K'o-sa [Khazars]... belong to the stock of the Turks." (cited in Peter Golden, Khazar Studies, p. 58). In his Chronographia, Theophanes wrote: "During his [Byzantine emperor Heraclius] stay there [in Lazica], he invited the eastern Turks, who are called Chazars, to become his allies." (cited in Theophanes, The Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor, translated by Cyril Mango and Roger Scott, 1997, p. 446).

Yes, Khazars mixed with Israelite immigrants (who came to Khazaria AFTER Khazars already existed as a group), but that doesn't mean Khazars were predominantly or exclusively Israelite.

It's one thing to say that some Western Europeans have a small amount of Israelite ancestry. It's quite another to suggest that their principal origins are in Israel. I believe the former is true, but the latter is definitely false. When people speak about part of Spain's Christian population descending partly from Sephardim who were forced to become Catholics, it's true. But Celtic Welsh people, Germanic Frisian & English people, etc. can't be shown to have any
connection to Israelites whatsoever. Nor American Indians (the Mormons' pet theory).

By the way, please prove that Yair Davidy has recent Jewish ancestry! And that the Bible is a pure work of history! And even that Jesus existed!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

David Ben-Ariel
02-27-2004, 04:42 PM
Originally posted by Truly Abrahamic
David, I did not give you permission to copy my private email to a public forum.

I didn't ask for it, especially when such "private" email is PUBLICLY posted on your website. What are you trying to hide? What's so special about your OPINION you must "guard" it?

Many medieval writers attested to the Khazars' Turkic origins...

You're arguing with yourself, your strawman is a figment of your biased imagination, especially since Mr. Yair Davidiy never ignores the alleged Turkic origins of the Khazars.

Yes, Khazars mixed with Israelite immigrants (who came to Khazaria AFTER Khazars already existed as a group), but that doesn't mean Khazars were predominantly or exclusively Israelite.

A CONFESSION! You belatedly acknowledge Israelite origins of Khazars, and yet try and cover your tracks by your theories that seek to minimize its importance. Pitiful.

It's one thing to say that some Western Europeans have a small amount of Israelite ancestry. It's quite another to suggest that their principal origins are in Israel.

More confessions from copyright man! Yes, indeed, the Western Europeans are Israelites!

I believe the former is true, but the latter is definitely false.

YOU "believe." Regardless, both the Bible and history PROVE our Israelite origins, O doubting Thomas! But then again, Joseph's brethren were BLIND to his identity and he was right in front of them. History repeats itself!

By the way, please prove that Yair Davidy has recent Jewish ancestry! And that the Bible is a pure work of history! And even that Jesus existed!

It sounds like you have some REAL issues. Prove it yourself. What about YOU? With that "Christian" sounding name, are you a Jew trying to fit in with Joes? (Joseph/Anglo-Saxons). And if you're a Jew, why haven't you made aliyah/ascent/emmigrated to Israel? Or it is (always) "NEXT Year in Jerusalem..."?
***********************

A Jewish Homeland

The Khazars by Yair Davidiy

Why the Jews are Judah

Joseph isn't Jewish!

Israel in the Isles

The Plain Truth about the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel

Not All Twelve Tribes of Israel are Jewish?

German-American Israelites?

The English-Speaking Nations of White Israelites

Israel and Judah Must Get House in Order Before King Messiah Arrives