Preparing for the Messiah son of Joseph?
Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler (1892-1953) (See RABBIS QUOTED) is known for a 5-volumed work discussing the Biblical and Rabbinical World View.
Below are shorts extracts and notes especially pertinent to Brit-Am.
Main Headings:
The Two Halves of the Israelite Nation (Judah and Israel) should ideally complement each other
Saul represents empathy for others.
David represents Royalty, Judah - Intellect, recognizing the truth.
Ephraim - emotion, a yearning heart, emotional arousal, invigoration.
Future redemption: Messiah son of Joseph appears first. Then comes Elijah, then Messiah son of David.
Elijah is linked to the revelation of Israelite Identity.
Extracts from "Ephraim. The Gentile Children of Israel,' by Yair Davidiy, chapters 11, 12.
DIFFERENT TRIBAL TYPES OF LEADERSHIP AND THEIR ROLE IN THE REDEMPTION PROCESS.
Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler (1892-1953) demonstrates that the two halves of the Israelite Nation (represented by the separated Kingships of Judah under David and Ephraim) have their own unique qualities and purpose that ideally should complement each other:
Saul
"The first king was Saul, whose soul came from a very high source... He was from the Tribe of "Benjamin," i.e. The name "Benyamin" means "Son of the Right Side representing complete empathy.
[Saul was given the task (1-Samuel ch.15) of wiping out the Amalekites, which he failed to complete] "If only he had succeeded in wiping out the Remembrance of Amalek ...he would have merited to rectify the world and to complete the purpose of creation... [he failed however, the opportunity was lost, and] From then on...there was a need for the Kingdom of David.
David
"The Kingdom of David.... represents the perfection in definition of Royalty. This implies the giving of aid from an external source to enable complete submission to the will of God. David was from the Tribe of Judah. The Maharal (ca. 1600, "Netsach Yisrael", ch. 37) said that Judah represents the quality of Intelligence: The responsibility of a King towards his subjects is like the task of the Intellect towards the human body: Though, admittedly, [the intellect is] an external force, through the intellect a person is enabled to recognize the truth in his inner heart.
The Kingdom of Ephraim
"Once again [in Israelite history] there occurred a degeneration. The wisdom of Solomon occasioned erroneous conclusions. Consequently there was need for additional support in the form of a king from the Tribe of Ephraim. Ephraim comes from Joseph. By definition, Ephraim represents the emotions of a yearning heart. The task of the Kingdom of Ephraim should have been to invigorate the Kingdom of David and enable it to achieve its true purpose.
[Rabbi Desler continues to explain that the task of emotional arousal, which is that of Ephraim, may be initiated by external causes, with the feeling later being internalized. Ephraim too did not succeed in fulfilling the task designated for him].
"However, the negative power of adversity [In Hebrew: The "Satan"] succeeded in dividing the two Kingdoms [of Judah and Ephraim], and once again emotional capabilities were lessened. The Kingdom of Israel [i.e. of Ephraim] departed entirely from its true purpose and was destroyed. The mission of Judah and Benjamin [i.e. The Kingdom of David] was annulled. They degenerated and the Holy Temple was destroyed. - Until the Time of Rectification.
The Order of Redemption.
"Such is the order of the Future redemption: In the beginning there will appear the (first) Messiah, Son of Joseph, who personifies the aspect of arousal and emotion as explained above...
"And after all this there will appear the (second) Messiah, Son of David, who embodies the application of Intelligence coming from above. A prior condition [for the appearance of the Messiah Son of David] will be the appearance [of somebody or some phenomenon representing the feature] of Elijah:
Eijah and Israelite Redemption.
"BEHOLD, I WILL SEND YOU ELIJAH THE PROPHET BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD.
"AND HE SHALL TURN THE HEART OF THE FATHERS TO THE CHILDREN, AND THE HEART OF THE CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERS, LEST I COME AND SMITE THE EARTH WITH A CURSE." ( Malachi 4:5-6).
"A definition of the aspect of Elijah is the complete clarification of the truth [as Elijah said:] "How long halt ye between two opinions?" (1-Kings 18:21).2
Darrell Conder pointed out that the above verse (Malachi 4:5) could be understood to imply (in addition to other meanings) that the task of Elijah is to arouse Israelites concerning their Israelite Tribal Identity,
i.e. HEART OF THE CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERS meaning to their forefathers Israelite Identity.
The opinion of Rabbi Dessler is that,
A definition of the aspect of Elijah is the complete clarification of the truth [as Elijah said:] "How long halt ye between two opinions?" (1-Kings 18:21)
In other words through clarifying the truth about Israelite Identity and spreading the knowledge from research concerning Israelite Identity one is fulfilling the task of Elijah.