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From:         Stephen Zimmerman
Subject:      Joseph's Tomb and the Two Houses of Israel
To:            heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org


           JOSEPH'S TOMB AND
THE RESTORATION OF BOTH HOUSES OF ISRAEL


Forwarded by Yair Davidy (britam@netvision.net.il):

The article below concerns the Rabbinical concept of Messiah Son of Joseph. In our magazine BRIT-AM (no.3) there was a short article showing that the Messiah Son of Joseph was seen by some to be the future leader of the Lost Ten Tribes when they return. At all events the Messiah Son of Joseph was often viewed as connected to the Lost Ten Tribes and in one sense as
representative of them.

[Think of that in terms of Y'shua!!]

Our sages also warned us not to take prophecies about the future too seriously since nobody will really understand them until after they happen.

The  article was sent us by Matthew Harris.

* * * *

The Destruction of Joseph's Tomb: A Kabbalistic View - aish.com

http://aish.com/issues/philosophy/The_Destruction_of_Josephs_Tomb_A_Kabbalistic_View.asp

by Rabbi Pinchas Winston

Shechem -- the city where Joseph was sold into slavery, which he later inherited and where he was buried -- is the place where redemption will begin with acts of violence and destruction.

How fitting it is that a rioting Arab mob destroyed Joseph's Tomb after all these millennia.

I am devastated by the loss of such a holy site, but I am also awed by the timing of the event. Because this is Joseph's millennium.

According to the Talmud, there are six millennia to world history as we know it (Sanhedrin 97a); in the Kabbalistic understanding there is a correspondence between each millennium and the functioning of the world according to different spiritual forces.

Just like there is a concept of physical DNA, so too, is there a concept of cosmic DNA, spiritual realities called <sefirot> which possess the potential for all that history can and will ever produce.  They act as spiritual transformers, spiritual filters for the awesome and sublime light of God, resulting in the manifestation of different traits that form the basis of all creation and mankind.

Just like there is a concept of physical DNA, so, too, is there a concept of cosmic DNA.

All together, there are ten such <sefirot>, filters or traits, which represent the spiritual "chain of command" between God and the world in which we live. Six of them have governed history since creation, and each one is associated with a specific Torah personality who exemplified this trait, as follows:

<Chesed>, "kindness": 0 to 1000, Abraham

<Gevurah>, "power/strength": 1001 to 2000, Isaac

<Tiferet>, "beauty/harmony": 2001 to 3000, Jacob

<Netzach>, "dominance/victory": 3001 to 4000, Moses

<Hod>, "glory": 4001 to 5000, Aaron

<Yesod>, "foundation": 5001 to 6000, Joseph

We are now in the year 5761 (from creation), therefore we are also in the sixth millennium, the one that is spiritually "powered" by the sefirah called <yesod> -- the one that corresponds to Joseph.

TWO MESSIAHS

The Talmud points out (Succah 52a), there are meant to be two Messiahs --redeemers of Israel. The first one, according to tradition, will descend from the line of Joseph [ed.: or have something in common with Joseph] , and die in battle, while paving the way for the final Messiah, who will descend from the line of David.

[Remember John the Baptist's question: "Are you the one who is TO COME, or should we look for ANOTHER?"]

The Torah tells us that, just before Jacob died, he gave Joseph an extra piece of Israel -- the city of Shechem (Genesis 48:22). It was in Shechem that Joseph's brothers sold him down into slavery, and, it was to Shechem that the bones of Joseph were brought from Egypt hundreds of years later for their final burial.

It was here in Shechem -- called Nablus by the Arabs -- that the yeshivah stood, until two weeks ago, when it was viciously destroyed.   Regarding the territory of Joseph, the Zohar, the chief work of the Kabbalah, has this to say:

In the time of the resurrection of the dead, many camps will arise in Land of the Galil, because that is where the Messiah is going to be first revealed, since it is part of Joseph's territory. It will be the first place to be destroyed. It will begin there ahead of all other places, and then spread to the nations. (Zohar, Vayakhel 220a)

[Gallil=Galilee; the Messiah was first revealed there indeed!]

The original primordial light of creation, the Talmud says, shone for thirty-six hours before God hid it.

There are many phrases that have the same gematria or numerical value and they all point in the direction of one answer: the original primordial light of creation, which, the Talmud (Brochos 8:5) says shone for thirty-six hours before God hid it for the righteous people of history. This light is redemption; when it shines, evil is banished.

This is why Moses was born with it, and exemplified it, and was even compared to it. He was also born in the Hebrew year 2368, thirty-six years after Egyptian servitude officially began following the death of the last of Joseph's brothers, Levi.

This light is called <Ohr HaTikun> -- the "Light of Rectification." It shone for Adam on day six of creation; it shone again at Mount Sinai when the Torah was given; and, with the help of God, it is going to shine again, soon -- permanently -- for the generation of Messiah.

As we mentioned earlier, Ten <Sefirot> represent a "chain of command" between God and the world as we know it. Each of those Ten <Sefirot> are also meant to have a sub-set of Ten Sefirot of their own, but, during times of exile, we only have six. Six times six, of course, is thirty-six, and, it represents our potential to fulfill the purpose of creation.

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 97a) says that, when falsehood rules the minds of men, this is actually one of the signs that Messiah is not too far away.  Judging by the reporting of the Israeli-Arab conflict by many prominent newspapers, we have entered that era.

Yes, Shechem is a place set aside for punishment. However, that is only up until the time for redemption, and, when that time comes, then, the hidden light of creation will be unleashed, a light clearly associated with Joseph, and it will cause great miracles. Miracles that will clearly reveal the hand of God in history, and cause God's name to be unified, with or without our efforts.

So, how fitting it is at this late stage of history, while the Jewish people seem to be grappling for ground on so many fronts, that Joseph's Tomb was decimated. I hope it is a good sign, for they know not upon which holy ground they tread, nor what powers of redemption they have unleashed.

Perhaps the spirit of Messiah Ben Joseph?

A year of miracles and peaceful redemption for all the Jewish [Israelite] people!

**************************************************************

From: Yair Davidi (britam@netvision.net.il)
To: heb_roots_chr@heboots.org
Subject: Messiah ben Joseph and the Two House of Israel


                   BRIT-AM DISCUSSES
MESSIAH BEN JOSEPH AND THE TWO HOUSES OF ISRAEL


  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

*********************************************************

Question:

>
>From: "Malcolm Osborne" <malc@ecmod.freeserve.co.uk>
>Subject: Re: Nitzavim-Vayelech s. 5
>Dear Yair
>
>Sorry that this response is delayed, but I am rather late in getting through the correspondence.  refer to your posting Nitzavim-Vayelech s.5. [22/09/00].
>
>You stated that a Messiah would come from Ephraim.  Can I ask where you get that from?  As an Englishman it would be interesting, but I would appreciate some backing from the Tenach >on this.
>
>I would agree that Joshua [an Ephraimite], was a type of the Messiah as was Joseph himself.  However that is not the same as being Messiah.
>
>Within my Torah, [Copyright 1985 by the Jewish Publication Society], I read this from Genesis 49:10 -
>
>The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from beneath his feet; So that tribute shall come to him And the homage of peoples be his.
>
>I understand this to be a Messianic prophecy/ statement.  If it is?, it would appear that [the end-time] Messiah comes from the House of Judah according to this promise, rather than  from >Ephraim.  What do you say?
>
>
>Regards,
>Malcolm Osborne
>

Yair Davidy replies:

Answer: There is only one Messiah in the accepted sense and that is someone from the House of David from amongst the Jews. The word "Messiah" is derived from the Hebrew "Mashiach" meaning "Anointed One", i.e. appointed leader. In this latter sense a tradition exists that the Lost Ten Tribes will have their own leader in the End Times. This leader will play a role in the reconciliation that will be completed by the future Messiah son of David.

The article below is adapted from an article in the first issue of Tribesman (which magazine preceded BRIT-AM). It clarifies somewhat what the traditional position indicates:

THE FUTURE RE-UNION

The Prophet Ezekiel tells how he was told to take two sticks and to write on one, "For Judah and for the children of Israel his companions" and to write on the other, "For Joseph, the stick of
Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions". The Prophet was then commanded to join the sticks together "and they shall become one in thine hand" (Ezekiel 37:16-17). When the Prophet would be asked what was the meaning of his action he was told to say in the name of God:

"...Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in Mine hand (Ezekiel 37:19).

After the re-unification it is explained how they will all be re-ingathered and have one king "and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at
all" (Ezekiel 37:22). Later God says that He will "Place them and multiply them and place my sanctuary in the midst of them...I will be their God and they shall be my people" (Ezekiel 37;26-27).

Rabbi Chaim Richman in a private conversation with Yair Davidy pointed out that according to the above verses (as explained by a great authority) the Lost Ten Tribes have first to be re-united with Judah and after that comes the Messiah and then the Temple. 

The physical action of the Prophet was required firstly and then God effected the parallel result. Our own actions in trying to prepare physical re-union are parallel to those of Ezekiel and are
pre-requisites for God to ensure that such re-union does take place.

RE-UNION AND THE MESSIAH SON OF JOSEPH AND MESSIAH SON OF DAVID ACCORDING TO A FAMOUS COMMENTATOR:

"Joseph" will be politically Pre-Dominant!

The Jewish traditional Rabbinically orientated Commentator  known as the MALBIM (Meir Leib  ben Yechiel Michael [Weiser] 1809 1879) explained the above chapter of Ezekiel in a manner worth noting:

{Ezekiel 37:15} "He was commanded to take one stick and to write upon it, these words,  ~For Judah and for the house of Israel, his companions~, which represented Judah  and those [others] joined unto him from  the Children of Israel, such as the Tribe of Benjamin, and the Sons of Levi, and the rest of the people who attached themselves to Judah.

"~And he took another stick, and he wrote upon it, these words: ~For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions~, representing Joseph who was the source of the tribe and from him developed the Kingdom of Ephraim which began with Jeroboam, and therefore is termed , ~The stick of Ephraim.

~And all the house of Israel~, for unto him were joined all of Israel which  belong to the Ten Tribes.....Our Sacred Sages had a tradition that in the beginning (of the End Times) would arise a Messiah [i.e. Anointed Saviour] from the house of Joseph who will reign over the Ten Tribes  and he will wage wars and all of Israel will be gathered together under his banner. [This will continue] until later  on, a descendant of David will appear  and he will reign over them....  "A transformation will take place  and the Ten Tribes and the stick of Joseph will draw themselves closer  unto the stick of Judah, and this too, will be through the agency of a Prophet  and by miracles".

The MALBIM connects the Prophecy in Ezekiel 37 with that in the Book of Micah chapter 5 which in the historical sections of the work "The Tribes" by Yair Davidy (pp.29-34) was  seen to describe the union of King Josiah ben Amon with the Scythian rulers of the Middle East.

These Scythians were actually the sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons of Israelites exiled to Assyria and elsewhere in the Assyrian Empire. Nevertheless, even in "The Tribes" in the historical analytical description of chapter five of The Book of Micah, it was there emphasized that the major gist is to be seen as intended  for  the Messianic period. Even so, this chapter five of Micah may be considered to incidentally describe the temporary Judaean Israelite(-Scythian) re-union that once took place as being a kind of partial forerunner or prototypical model. The MALBIM in his commentary on this chapter of Micah intended to also throw additional light on Chapter 37 in Ezekiel which he saw as concerned with the same theme. A quotation from his Commentary on this subject is therefore pertinent to our study:

MALBIM on Micah 5:1: ".....It has already been clarified in Ezekiel 37, that in the End Time, the Ten Tribes will be the first to arouse themselves and over them will reign  the Messiah [i.e. Anointed Saviour] Descendant of Joseph and they will accomplish great things.   "The Tribe of Judah who are scattered  amongst the nations [and are] weakly and few will attach themselves [unto the Ten Tribes] and will be of secondary importance  in the kingdom of the Anointed Descendant of Joseph. [This will continue] until later there will arise  the Anointed Descendant of David in the Might of The LORD, and then all of them will accept upon themselves  the Kingship of the House of David. Then wars will cease  for the Gentiles will request  [guidance from ]
him [i.e. from the Messiah].....

".....He [the Prophet] wants to say that, As long as the general ingathering will not be complete  and all of the Exiled of Judah are still not gathered together in the Land of Israel:  Then, all that
time, the House of Israel [meaning  the Ten Tribes and the Anointed Descendant of Joseph who belongs to them] will be the principal party. They will be the warriors and the rulers. The House of Judah will be secondary [in importance] unto them. This was explained in Ezekiel[37;19] `Behold,I will take the stick of Joseph..and I will put on him the stick of Judah' *2.

There will be a future re-union of Judah and Joseph. The MALBIM was not consciously aware that JOSEPH is to be identified with the "Anglo-Saxon" related peoples, i.e. the British, North Americans, and "colonial" cousins. Nevertheless, his description of the relationship between Judah and Joseph finds some parallels in recent times with that between the Jews and "Anglo-Saxon" nations. 


For a subscription of four issues of BRIT-AM contact:

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.

http://www.geocities.com/hiberi/tribesman.html
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