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THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME BRIT-AM / MACHIR = AMERICA / MENASSEH
BRIT-AM is an ORTHODOX JEWISH Organization
#1) Do Orthodox Jews believe in Replacement theology? NO
#2) Do Orthodox Jews believe in Christian British Israelism? NO
"Brit-Am Israel". (Brit = Covenant, Am = People in Hebrew)
"Brit-Am Israel" at present is headed by Yair Davidy and by Rabbi
Abraham Feld.
The address of "Brit-Am Israel" is Yair Davidy,
"Brit-Am Israel", P.O.B. 595, Jerusalem 91004, Israel.
The e-mail is : britam@netvision.net.il
"BRIT-AM ISRAEL" BELIEVES:
* The Hebrew Bible is the message of God.
* Out of the original 12 Tribes of Israel Ten were lost. Two remained. The present-day Jews are descended mainly from the two remaining Tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
* The Khazars were a Kingdom in southern Russia many of whose leaders converted to Judaism. The Khazars were descended from the Lost Ten Tribes. The Khazars were blood-relatives of the Picts who went to Scotland, and of the Anglo-Saxons, and of peoples in Scandinavia.
* In addition to the Khazars, many other converts to Judaism
through the ages were descended from assimilated Jews or from members
of the Lost Ten Tribes.
* Most of the Lost Ten Tribes migrated to Northwest and Western Europe and their descendants are now in those areas or in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
* We do not claim that all residents of the said nations are descended from Israel. We do however affirm that most descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes are residents of those nations. On the whole
they are unaware of their Israelite Identity. Even so in the course
of history the Israelite origins of peoples in those areas have
influenced national developments and national characteristics.
* The Tribe of Joseph was divided into two other Tribes: Ephraim and Menasseh. People from ALL of the Israelite Tribes congregated in North America but in general the U.S.A. is dominated by Menasseh. Britain has characteristics of Ephraim.
* Reuben was important in France, Issachar in Switzerland, Benjamin in Belgium, Zebulon in Holland, Dan in Denmark, Naphtali in Norway, Gad in Sweden, the country of Finland was influenced by the Tribes of Simeon, Issachar, and Gad; Simeon, Dan, and Ephraim were important in Ireland.
* There is a need for the present-day "Jews" of Judah and the Lost Ten Tribes to recognize each other, and to work towards re-unification and reconciliation.
* Proof exists confirming "Brit-Am Israel" Identity beliefs.
Some of the evidence has been presented in works by Yair Davidy such as "The Tribes" (1993), "Ephraim" (1995), and "Lost Israelite
Identity" (1996), as well as in articles in our journal "Tribesman". Much additional evidence is available and needs to be uncovered and published. Our sources include the Bible, Talmud, Midrashim, Commentators, Classical Greek and Roman historians, Chroniclers, Legends, Linguistics, Archaeology, and where pertinent racial and other scientific studies.
* Even though much of the evidence has been revealed by ourselves it
is not ours alone. Our proofs have never been properly refuted. The
basic claims we have made are irrefutable. If one cannot deny our
claims and there is nobody else who can it follows that one should
accept them. This means that the identity of the Lost Ten Tribes of
Israel with western peoples should be acknowledged. Once this
acknowledgment is forthcoming it is possible to discuss whatever
practical conclusions need to be made.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE, IN DISCUSSION, AND/OR IN JOINING "BRIT-AM ISRAEL", please make contact by Return Mail.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE FROM EDDIE:
FYI: Yair Davidy is an ORTHODOX JEW. He does NOT believe in:
#1) Replacement theology
#2) Christian British Israelism
Yair Davidy / Brit-Am / Orthodox Jews DO believe in:
#1) The Restoration of BOTH houses of Israel in the future (the
Messianic redemption or the Ingathering of the Exiles) (Ezekiel
37:15-28) when the house of Israel (The Ten Lost Tribes) join
themselves to / with the house of Judah in the end of days.
Recently, I ordered from Brit-Am and read the first three issues of
the MAGAZINE BRIT-AM. The articles and the information in the magazine
was OUTSTANDING.
It is VITAL in these days in which we live to understand that the
belief in the restoration of both houses of Israel / Messianic
Redemption / Ingathering of the Exiles and the reuniting of Ephraim
(Ten Lost Tribes) with Judah and Ephraim returning to Torah is a
fundamental and foundational belief of Orthodox Judaism. It is one of
the 13 articles of Jewish faith and a prayer for the Messianic
Redemption / Restoration of both houses of Israel is prayed THREE
times a day by Orthodox Jews.
I would HIGHLY recommend that our newsgroup members subscribe to the
Brit-Am magazine to gain a greater understanding of Orthodox Jewish
belief regarding this issue. In a recent edition of the magazine,
Brit-Am stated that they have come to the conclusion that the primary
religion of the Ten Lost Tribes today is Christianity.
Brit-Am declares that this information is VITAL to your
understanding of the Bible and Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l
agrees. Please consider obtaining the first 3 issues of the Brit-Am
magazine and subscribing to future editions.
Yours for the restoration of both houses of Israel,
Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l
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From: yair davidi (britam@netvision.net.il)
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: The name Brit-Am
ORIGIN OF BRIT-AM
Ashton Lemonius asks:
Shalom Yair,
Please reply. What is the source of the name Britain/Britannia?
Once and for all, is it from the Hebrew word "Brit" (Covenant) or "Barat
Anach" (Islands of Tin)? We hope to hear from you soon? Shalom, Ashton. P.S.
The website update is very effective. Keep on doing the great work Yahweh
has entrusted to you. Please pray and ensure that all your moves are within
HIS will. May GOD thus bles you abundantly.
The Question was :
What is the source of the name Britain/Britannia? Once and for all, is it
from the Hebrew word "Brit" (Covenant) or "Barat Anach" (Islands of
Tin)?
Answer:
"Barat Anach" (Islands of Tin) as a Phoeneician name for Britain was
proposed either by Sammes or by Bochart. They both wrote in the 1600s.
No known earlier evidence to my knowledge.
It may be true.
The way names worked in ancient times was that:
1. an original name was given with a set meaning.
2. Along came other peoples and took the original name to mean something
entirely different but which sounded similar in their own tongue. Sometimes
they slightly changed the name to fit the new interpretation.
3. There are cases where this is believed to have happened several times
over.
Thus a name can have several meanings and interpretations all of which may
be valid.
The name Brit-Am is Hebrew for "Covenant of the people". It is found in
Isaiah 42:6 and Isaiah 49:8.
In both cases it is connected to the Lost Ten Tribes.
In ancient Hebrew the "n" and "m" (especially at the end of the word)
in
some dialects interchanged so Brit-Am could be considered a Biblical
hint to Britain. In some medieval English documents Britain is written
as Brittamia.
We adopted Brit-Am as the name of our organisation and BRIT-AM as the name
of our magazine.
We tried other names and variations but this is the one that stuck.
My friend Cecil Davis suggested that Brit-Am could also be understood to
hint at Britain and America.
The ancient British called themselves Iberi or Hiberi meaning Hebrews.
The name Albion was also used which we believe to be a form of Lebanon.
The British were also known as Brettani or Britones.
The names Brit-on and Brit-ish in my opinion really were originally intended
to connote "People of the Covenant".
At all events, in Hebrew: "ish" means "man" or (in Medieval Hebrew in
some
cases)"member of" and Brit means "covenant":
so Brit-ish really can be understood to mean "man of the covenant".
Even if one does not accept any of the above the use of the name Brit-Am in
connectin to the Lost Ten Tribes is significant.
All of the above is not intended to serve as proof of anything BUT once we
have other evidence pointing in the same direction we are entitled
to view the above as an affirming point.
****************************************************************
From: yair davidi (britam@netvision.net.il)
To: britam@netvision.net.il
Subject: MACHIR = AMERICA
Adapted from the book by Yair David "The Tribes"
MACHIR AND AMERICA
An interesting fact is that THE NAME MACHIR IS RECALLED IN THAT OF
AMERICA!
The Phoenicians are believed to have visited AMERICA and named it
"The
Great North Country"32 and the Hebrew prophets predicted that in
the end time the Lost Ten Tribes would return from the "North Country"
(e.g. Isaiah 31:8) and they certainly were well acquainted with the
Phoenicians. The Vikings attempted to settle in North America and
named it "MARKLAND" which is believed to mean "Land of Darkness"33.
Even so, Maruk (a permutation of Machir) and Mark (in "Markland") are
not dissimilar. After the Vikings, the existence of America was
realised by people in Britain including fishermen from the port of
Bristol. Richard Ameryk, a Bristol merchant 1470's is now claimed to
have maybe given America its name34. Ameryk was of Welsh ancestry and
his family name originally was "Ap-Meryk", possibly denoting "Son of
Machir".
The more commonly accepted explanation is that the name
"America"
comes from that of the Explorer, Amerigo Vespucci (1451-1512) also
called "America" and (after 1507) "America" is said to have been named
in his honor. At all events, the name Amerigo or "America" is similar
to Medieval appellations (Aimerico, etc.35) for a Jewish Prince of
southern France whose proper Hebrew name (from which the Latinised
appellations were derived) was MACHIR36.
The name in Hebrew was also given as "HaMachiri". The Hebrew version
is difficult for untrained westerners to pronounce (or even remember)
and so was rendered in Medieval Latin as "Americo" or "Amerigo"
and this name was later given to Amerigo Vespucci who gave his name to
the land of America.
It follows that the name AMERICA may well be understood to mean "Land
of Machir", son of Menasseh. The very name "Menasseh" in Hebrew
(according to the Commentary of Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch) can
mean delegated responsible representation and this is a fundamental
aspect of the North American character. The USA was created when its
early settlers declared "no taxation without representation" and
fought against Britain for their Independence.
America was named after Machir, and Benyamin Turkia pointed out that
"Machir" in Hebrew can mean "selling" and the principles of Captialism
and Free Enterprise have also become part of the American character.
Reference:
ZUCKERMAN, Arthur J. "A Jewish Princedom in Feudal France, 768 900".
New York 1972. p.375 Al Makhiri (Ha Makhiri came to be known as
"AYMERI", as "Maghario," (p.180) or "Magharius", as
"Aymeri, p.121
n.16., and as "Aimerico", and "Aimericus". Zuckerman p.131 n.38,
It should be noted that in Rabbinical commentaries on the Bible and in
Jewish tradition the meaning and origin of names is very important and
this principle is supported by the Bible itself.
Great emphasis is given to the meaning of names, e.g. the names of
Abraham, Sarah, and Israel.
Yair Davidy
*************************************************************
From: yair davidi (britam@netvision.net.il)
To: britam@netvision.net.il
Subject: The name Menassheh
Extract from the book by Yair Davidy "Ephraim":
NAMES LINKED WITH THE SONS OF
JOSEPH.
The nickname "Yank" applied to someone from the U.S.A. is derivable
from a possible pronounciation of the Hebrew name Yaacov or Jacob rendered
as "Yankel" in Yiddish10.
THE NAME "MENASSEH" IN HEBREW ENCAPSULATES THE MEANING OF NORTH
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY!
The Patriarch Joseph son of Israel had two sons, Ephraim and Menasseh,
whose names testified to aspects of their national destiny:
"And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine
came, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On bare unto him.
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God has
caused me to forget [Hebrew: `Nashani'] all my troubles and my
father's family (Genesis 41:50-51).
The Hebrew word translated above as "forget" is
derived from a root,
"NOSHE", connoting "movement from its proper place": One forgets
when
something "slips one's mind", as if to say that whatever has been
forgotten has moved from its proper place in the brain's retrieval
system. Similarly,
"And Jacob was left alone and there wrestled a man with him..
And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the
hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint
as he wrestled with him........ Therefore the children of Israel eat
not of the displaced nerve*s [Hebrew: "Gid HaNosheh")...(Genesis 32:24,25,32).
The sciatic nerve is called "Gid HaNoSHeh" meaning "the sinew
that
was displaced" (Genesis 32:33) when Jacob wrestled with the angel, and
consequently (though victorious) limped away..By the same principle a
creditor in Hebrew is called a "Nosheh" since what is rightfully his
he has moved out of his domain and placed in charge of another and may
demand an accounting of his own. Women collectively are called in the
Plural "NoSHim" [and not "Ishoth" as they should logically be] since
communally their collective rights are delegated elsewhere, i.e. in
their husbands upon whom they have a claim to be represented by them.
It follows that any name derived from this root "NoSHeH" has several
possible connotations including "forget", "move, or slip",
"credit or
oblige an accounting" (i.e. hold responsible), or be responsible to
and "represent". It seems that the name Menasseh (derived from the
root "NaSHeH") may be understood to mean "responsible representation"
which is the type of Democratic Government the U.S.A. sometimes seems
to base its whole being upon.
A linguistic analysis (freely translated) of the name "Manasseh" by
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888) extracted from his Commentary
on the Book of Genesis serves as background to the above interpretation:
[Genesis 41:51:`.."Forget" is not the only meaning of "Nosheh".
"Nosheh" also means: to be the bearer of a claim, to be a creditor.
[Genesis 32:33:]`"Nosheh" ...to have body or property in another's
trust. Thus the "NoSHeH" (Creditor) has passed to another person part
of his property and as a result he demands something from him.....a
woman in the singular [Hebrew: "Ishah"] ...complements (her husband)
and stands by his side as an equal. In the plural [i.e. in the plural
name for women, "NoSHim"], however, is revealed the communal status of
woman, who surrenders some of her rights to the man and these rights
are represented by him. Only in the mass, in the life of the general
whole group, do women reveal themselves as weak and lacking
resourcefulness. - Women, however, are "Noshim" (i.e. "creditors")
with a claim [to be represented] on the husband who owes it to them'
(S.R. Hirsch on Genesis 32;33)*t.
The relevant verse regarding the name MENASSEH, Genesis 41:51, says:
"And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God has
caused me to forget [Hebrew: `Nashani'] all my troubles and my
father's family (Genesis 41:50-51).
S.R. Hirsch on the above states that "nashani" does not mean "forget"
in case of the name "Menasseh" (Genesis 41:51 continued) but rather
delegated representation:
`The correct interpretation therefore of "Nashani" [from which the
name "Menasseh is derived] is that God has made my tragedy and my
[loss of] family credit claims. From that which till now appeared to
be tragedy and torment God has made a tool to form my happiness. I am
greatly obligated to my tragedy and [loss of] family'.
In the light of the above observations and the Commentary of Rabbi
S.R. Hirsch, the verse (Genesis 41:51-52) may be re-formulated and
understood as saying:
"And he called the name of the firstborn Menasseh: for of all my
troubles and [loss of] my father's family, God has made representative
agents [Hebrew: "nashani"=] acting on my behalf and to whom I am
obliged"*u.
he name MENASSEH is therefore derivable from the root "Nosheh" as
demonstrated in the above verse. A Creditor is a "nosheh" because he
has a claim on somebody else; women are "noshim" ["nosh-im" = plural
of "noshe"!] because as a group they have a claim on their husbands to
represent their interests. Joseph named his firstborn "Menasseh"
because (through God's agency) he "owed" his success to his personal
troubles and loss which had become both his creditors and agents on
his behalf. "MENASSEH" according to the above study actually means:
"RESPONSIBLE REPRESENTATION OBLIGATING THE REPRESENTED"!
The U.S.A. was founded and dominated by descendants of Menasseh.
Before the foundation of the U.S.A. North America was settled by migrants
mainly from the British Isles. Friction developed between the British
Government and the settlers who adopted the slogan: "No Taxation
Without Representation". In other words they demanded the application
of those very principles embodied in the name "Menasseh" according to
the above explanation!!
When these demands were not met, Revolution resulted and all
those
("Loyalists") who were not prepared to fight against the "mother
country" were driven out and moved to Canada. The Americans were
prepared to kill or be killed and to engage in fratricidal strife all
for the sake of an ideal which in Hebrew could be termed "MENASSEH"!
After the War of Independence 13 colonies (representiing 13 Tribes of
Israel?) formed the U.S.A. It was proposed and seriously considered to
adopt Hebrew as the national language and the Mosaic Code as
obligatory Constitutional Law. A picture of the Israelites crossing
the Red Sea was suggested as the National emblem*v. The Constitution
of the United States of America laid the basis for Responsible
Representative Government. Foreign observers are constantly surprised
by the importance attached by Americans to their Constitution. Whether
something is right or wrong or whether or not it is "Constitutional"
appear to be synonymous considerations to the American mind, as if the
principle embodied in the name "Menasseh" is part of their very
personal being!! Much of the U.S.A.'s foreign policy often seems
dedicated ideally to encouraging forms of representative responsible
government (resembling that of the U.S.A.) being adopted by others.
Other countries are Democratic but only the U.S.A. makes Republican
Democracy an expression of itself. Only the U.S.A. is Menasseh!*w The
American Civil War was brought on by several factors including the issue of slavery but the immediate cause was over the Constitutional
right claimed by some States to secede from the UNION. Regardless of
which side was or was not in the right, the victorious "Yankee"
northern "Union" side believed it was fighting for the principle
enunciated by Abraham Lincoln of: "Government of the people, by the
people, and for the people"11. Another aspect of the name "Menasseh"
according to the explanation of S.R.Hirsch was that through
representation (in this case before God) Joseph had been enabled to
turn his failure and deprived status into the basis of his later
success: The American belief in equality of opportunity reflects this
same principle.
*************************************************************
From: yair davidi (britam@netvision.net.il)
To: britam@netvision.net.il
Subject: BRIT-AM no.3
BRIT-AM no.3
Contents:
- Editorial;
Rabbi says Judaizing tendencies are due to ancestral origins;
Christian Supporters of Israel Show Interest in Brit-Am; Meeting With Fellow
Identity Travellers; Conference Discussed; Visitors From California;
Questions: How did you get started in this? Do you encounter any
opposition? If so, from whom? Jews? Gentiles? What do you think the
future holds for our nations according to the Bible? What do you think
the course of action should be for those who adhere to BRIT-AM
conclusions? New Research: Bible Commentaries; Biblical Archaeology;
Human Genetics: 40-60% of West European ancestors from the ancient
Near East? Ancient Anglo-Saxons, Celts p.3
JOHN HULLEY: WHAT TO DO NOW? PROPHETIC PROFILES OF THE LOST TEN
TRIBES IN THE LATTER DAYS CONSIDERED.
What Action Should the Lost Ten Tribes Take? According to Prophecy
the Lost Ten Tribes were to: 1) lose their faith and thus their identity
as Israelites. 2) later restore their relationship with God and
recover their identity; 3) grow vastly in numbers; 4) join the House
of Judah (the Jews) in reconquering the land of Israel; 5) settle in
Israel 6) solve their differences with the Jews, uniting with them; 7)
and together become a nation of priests, above other nations, a
blessing to all the families of the earth, probably in the messianic
era. In addition the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are to: 8) grow
exceptionally in numbers, 9) benefit from the best of the earth's
resources, 10) have the military status of a world power. AGENDA:
Completing the Reformation; Defending Israel; Settling in the land;
Strengthening the political effectiveness of Ephraim; A CONFERENCE p.7
qGenetics: Scientists May Be Able to Trace Individual Families! New
Scientific Information that may ultimately be useful to trace
Israelite ancestry in general, trace membership of each tribe, and
individual belonging to clans within the tribe.
Clinton and Starr: Manasseh versus Ephraim? by Philo-Israel II
Differences Between Different Portions of the USA are explainable by
different Israelite Tribal Origins! Menasseh versus Ephraim?
LETTERS:
Scary Situation For Our Brother Judah; From The Tribe Of Issachar;
Confederates Were Scotch-Irish. Should They Leave the USA? Blessing;
Great Interest; God's work; Meaning of Family Name; Visions of Israel;
Why Do You Wear a Beanie? Interested in Migrations; Appreciation;
Welsh Physical Appearance; Descendant of Ezra the Scribe; Need For
Open Minds; Norwegian Interest; Message from Sweden; People in Office
Interested p.19
Bible Study: The LOST TEN TRIBES in Prophecy: by Yair Davidy: The Early Hebrews: Tensions Existed From The First; The Division of
Israel; The Exile; in The West; in the north; Isles of the Sea;
Tarshish; Colonialism; "A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES"; "BRITTANIA";
Australia; SINIM; Kedar =America; p.24
#Curiosities:
CASTAWAYS: LOST WHITE TRIBES. Scattered Groups of White Castaways.
ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION? Historical and Conceptual Background of Idea
p.35. TRADITION IS BEST, HAGUE TELLS ISRAEL: Tory leader backs brother
nation p.37.
The Messiah Son of Joseph and the Lost Ten Tribes in Jewish Sources
and Especially in Those Attributed to Elyahu of Vilna: Future Leader
of the Lost Ten Tribes; Our Prayers Are Needed; Comes From the North;
Defeats Esau; Paralleled by Mount Zion; Expands Borders of Israel,
Wars Against Amalek; Unrecognized by Judah and His Brothers; Ingathers
the Exiles; Purifies the Land of Israel; Joshua ben Nun Was a
Forerunner; Aroused by Elijah; Causes Non-Israelite Nations to Repent;
Turns Defeat Into Victory; An Aspect of MBJ exists in Each Generation;
The Heavenly Ladder; The Two Sticks Must be Joined Through Our
Initiative! Rebuilds Jerusalem, Settles the Wilderness; Ransoming
Captives; Reveals Secrets of the Torah; Horns of a Unicorn; Dan
Assists; We Must Do Our Utmost p.37
For a subscription of
four issues of BRIT-AM write to:
Yair Davidy
POB 595
Jerusalem 91004
Israel.
BRIT-AM is a magazine that
carries a unique message and
contains information vital
to you and the future.
The 2nd edition of "The Tribes" is now available.
This work contains information of great interest
that you need to know.
By purchasing the book you will also be assisting
us to further this message.
"The Tribes" can be ordered at
http://www.webstore.watchmanofzion.com.
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