Income Offerings and Contributions
Contents:
1. Introduction.
2. Abraham the First Hebrew Paid Tithes!
3. Jacob Tithed and this was linked to Israelite Redemption.
4. Tithing in Our Time.
5. The Enemy Gives to Enemies. Let us Learn from them!
6. Tithing is Needed. The Prophecy of Malachi concerning Tithing and the End Times.
7. Conclusion.
Tithing in Biblical Terms involved both separating one-tenth from income as well as agricultural offerings. Concerning the latter, i.e. produce from the fields, etc, this is discussed in a separate article, "Sabbatical Years."
Tithing means to give a tenth of available income. It is referred to in the Bible concerning Abraham (Genesis 14:18-20) and Jacob (Genesis 28:22). It is usually treated as an aspect of the commandment to give charity (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). It is an obligation under Torah Law to give something to the needy or to a worthy cause.
Deuteronomy (ESV) 7:
7 If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.
Giving a tenth is one way of fulfilling the commandment to give Charity and so it was done from the beginning. Nevertheless, strictly speaking, majority opinion inclines to the view that Tithing in itself is not a formal injunction but rather a strongly recommended practice that brings a blessing.
The etymology of "tithe" is Old English teotha, a tenth.
In Hebrew it is "ma-aser" from the word root "eser" - ten.
The Talmud (Taanit 9b) quotes a saying, "Aser bishvil she-tit-asher" i.e. "Give tithes in order that you may become rich." The word for tithe in Hebrew, "aser," is similar to the word for become rich, "asher." It uses the same letters.
Strictly speaking this saying may be referring to the commandment to tithe produce of the field:
Deuteronomy (ESV) 14:
22 You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year.
An early source ("Tosafot") commenting on the Talmud says that this promise to become rich through tithing applies to tithing from all income in general. Some other sources fail to concur, though others do. Nevertheless, they agree that there is a special virtue in tithing income, as discussed below.
Brit-Am makes frequent appeals. We also should be deemed worthy to receive tithes or at least a portion of them. We believe in what we are doing. It reflects the truth. It fulfills a need. It is something that needs doing. It is what we can do. We have something to contribute to this field and therefore should be enabled to do what we can for the sake of all concerned.
It also costs money. We have subsistence and operational costs as well as those who are dependent on us.
We believe that they who help us will be blessed.
We also believe in tithing in general.
And that they who wished to tithe could do so to us.
====
2. Abraham the First Hebrew Paid Tithes!
Abraham was the forefather of the Hebrew Nation.
In Genesis 14:20 Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek who served as a priest of God on behalf of the Gentiles of his time
Genesis 14:
18 And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High.
19 He blessed him and said,
Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
maker of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!
And Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.
According to some opinions (e.g. Saadia Gaon, 882-942 CE) Non-Israelites should tithe as Abraham did!
In principle, Jews should give to Jews and Gentiles to Gentiles.
There are exceptions however such as when the Gentiles are major beneficiaries of what they are giving to.
Brit-Am serves both Jews and Gentile descendants of the Ten Tribes of Israel. Those who benefit the most from Brit-Am at present are non-Jews though the message also has importance for the Jewish People, or should have.
========
3. Jacob Tithed and this was linked to Israelite Redemption
Abraham begat Isaac who begat Jacob.
Jacob was renamed Israel and begat 12 sons who fathered the 12 Tribes of Israel.
Jacob received a promise of Blessings and the Firstborn Rights from his father Isaac. His brother Esau thought he had been cheated by jacob. He intended to kill him. Jacob had to flee. He went to stay with his uncle Laban. In the House of Laban Jacob received his wives and begat 11 of his children. (Benjamin was born later). He then returned to the Land of Canaan which had been promised to him. The story of Jacob happened as told BUT still serves as a simile of the fate of his descendants. Jacob is a Prototype for his offspring. When Jacob first went out of the Land on his way to Laban he had had a vision of angels ascending and descending. This represented the rise and fall of other nations.
As a result of this Jacob promised to give a tithe to the Almighty.
Genesis 28:
20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, 'If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house; and of all that you give me I will surely give one-tenth to you'.
See our Commentary to these verses: The Departure of Jacob.
The expression:
I WILL SURELY GIVE ONE TENTH in Hebrew is "eser a-esrena", literally "a tenth shall I tithe". In the Hebrew it could also be understood to say, as the Sages have noted, "a tenth [and a] tenth will I tithe" meaning I will give two tenths.
Nevertheless,
Those authorities who say that tithing is an obligation in our time say that one tenth is sufficient. Two-tenths is optional. It is also said that no more than two-tenths should be given unless there are special circumstances.
Let us look at what Jacob did say:
Jacob said that if God will look after me and protect me and give me my basic needs so that I return to the House of my father, then God will be my God.
The pillar will be the Place of the House of God, i.e. the Temple. One tenth [or two tenths] of all that I earn shall I tithe.
One could say that tithing is hereby connected with supplying basic needs, personal safe-keeping, and the future Redemption of the Israelite Nation.
====
====
4. Tithing in Our Time
Rabbi Elazar Malamed in an article (Revivim, BeSheva, 9th January, 2014, and also in his Halachaic work, Hilcot tsadakah, ch.6, "Maaser Kesafim") on the subject quotes from the Talmud (Tanit 9;a) and the Shulchan Aruch Legal Code (YD, 249a) where it says that an optimal way to fulfill the commandment to give charity (Deuteronomy 15:7-8) is to give (if he is able to) one tenth of all income to worthy purposes. It is debated as to whether this law is directly from the Torah or a recomendation of the Sages based on the Torah. It also says that, according to most opinions, if one is too poor to give tithes then there is no need to do so but something should be given.
In practice nearly all Religious Jews probably give much more than a tenth to charity, etc, but there are some (despite, or in explanation of, the above sources) who might debate as to exactly how the Law of Tithing is to be applied in our day.
====
====
5. The Enemy Gives to Enemies. Let us Learn from them!
The State of Israel exists through miracles. Every day miracles happen. Like ravening wolves all the pagan nations of the world are ready to attack Israel. Even Israelite Nations (such as Finland, Sweden, Norway, etc) give enormous sums of money to the Arab enemies of Israel and to fifth-column elements within Israel.
The EU also gives money to certain Reform Jewish pro-Palestinian organizations and others that act as a front. This money goes to fund pro-Arab and pro-Libertarian promiscuous agendas. Its aim is to undermine the Jewish existence. The EU also gives money to Human Right activists who want to undermine the State of Israel. This has been explained in Arutz-7 articles and speeches by MKs Yisrael Eichler, Ofir Akunis, and others in the Israeli Knesset. Web-Sites of the relevant organizational fronts publicly boast of what they do, and even why, and give some details concerning it. Anything that could hurt Israel seems worthy of support to these agencies!
In the same way as the other side gives money to undermine Biblical Values and the Israelite Heritage so should we give in the opposite direction!
Brit-Am is one of the positive forces working for the Bible and Hebrew Truth concerning Israelite Ancestry. Our teachings are based on Scripture, Rabbinical Sources, Historical Research. and Related Studies.
6. Tithing is Needed. The Prophecy of Malachi concerning Tithing and the End Times.
The Prophet Malachi prophesied concerning the End Times.
See:
Malachi Explained
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/malachi/malachi.html
Malachi speaks of future troubles and wars with Edom (Malachi 1:3,4); The Almighty will send HIS "Messenger" (3:1) meaning the Messiah son of Joseph future head of the Ten Tribes. We need to do justice and help the unfortunate (3:5). By not giving tithes we have robbed God (3:8-9). We are called upon to test the Almighty and begin to tithe and we will see great returns from it (3:10). Through giving tithes our prosperity will recover and grow (3:11-12). The Pathway to Repentance involves giving tithes.
The future appearance of Elijah may require a recognition by Lost Israelites of their Hebrew Ancestry (4:6). If we do not recognize our Israelite Ancestry we may be in danger! (4:6).
Tithing is an an important component in Returning to the Almighty. It needs to be practiced by the Lost Israelites in the End Times.
The giving of tithes mentioned by Malachi from the context and reality that exists now and will do so in the future means TITHING OF INCOME!
Brit-Am helps prove who and where the Lost Ten Tribes are today. It endeavors to bring this message to them.
Brit-Am is supported through sales of its publications and the offerings of they who support it.
We need more people to help us in this. Brit-Am provides a Biblically Required Service of benefit to many. Our research is of value and reliable. We are needed and fulfill a need of Biblical Requirement.
God does not change, in what is good - neither should we.
Malachi 3:
6 For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished.
7 Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?'
8 Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, 'How are we robbing you?' In your tithes and offerings!
9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you!
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.
Details as to how to contribute to Brit-Am, the Lost Ten Tribes Movement, are available at:
http://hebrewnations.com/contributions/offerings.html
http://www.britam.org/contribute-Brit-Am.html
God bless you
Yair Davidiy
====
====
7. Conclusion
Abraham gave tithes.
There are opinions that all peoples of the earth should tithe.
Jacob who represents all Israel also tithed. The promise made by Jacob to tithe implied a linkage between tithing and Final Redemption. The Prophet Malachi also links the Repentance of Israel in the End Times to Tithing.
In Biblical Times numerous gifts along with two tithes were given to the Temple Service, the Priests and Levites, and to the Poor. Tithing is connected with the learning and teaching of Scripture and with the spreading of needed knowledge to ALL Israel. This is what Brit-Am endeavors to do.
Tithing can bring a blessing and is to the advantage of those who tithe.
This also applies to Gentiles.
Jews and Gentiles who benefit from Brit-Am or even simply agree that we are a source of good to others should help financially.
Details as to how to contribute to Brit-Am, the Lost Ten Tribes Movement, are available at:
http://hebrewnations.com/contributions/offerings.html
http://www.britam.org/contribute-Brit-Am.html
God bless you
Yair Davidiy