Ten Tribes Studies (24 November, 2013, 21 Kislev, 5774)
Contents:
1. Avraham ben Gad: In Praise of John Hulley
2. Suzanne: Pleased with The Tribes.
3. Zebulun - Holland. A STUDY OF TEN PROPHETIC CLUES by Bert Otten
4. Rabbi Meir Yaakov Soloveichik: God's Providence and the United States.
A Thanksgiving Reader on Judaism and the American Idea. Extracts
(a) Who is He?
(b) Extracts
(c) George Washington, Letter to Congregation Mickveh Israel, Savannah, Georgia
5. Query on the importance of Physical Ancestry from Israel.
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1. Avraham ben Gad: In Praise of John Hulley
Hi Yair,
... A brilliant man, John Hulley, wrote a book by the title of Comets, Jews & Christians. It's an odd book that by John's own admission combines too many themes even though he combined them quite well.
The book has a lot of statistical data on the scientific successes of the Jews. Two examples:
(1) "The average Jew is 5 times more likely to win a Nobel prize in science than the average Protestant... who is 10 times more likely to do so than the average Catholic."
(2) "Jewish performance is highest in Protestant countries, lower in Catholic countries, and much lower in countries dominated by other religions."
A major theme in Hulley's book is that the Jewish success in winning a disproportionate number of Nobel prizes is attributable to their association with the Protestant countries, and rather minimal without the Protestant association. It was in conjunction with Protestant nations that the Jews enjoyed the most intellectual freedom.
Hulley also believes (like myself) that it is in the Protestant nations that the so-called Ten Lost Tribes can be found in the highest concentrations. That belief doesn't diminish all the extraordinary Jewish accomplishments. But it does show that Jewish success has not been in isolation, and that (in the big picture) all the tribes of Israel have together been a blessing to the world.
Abraham (Rudy) Rempel
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Brit-Am Reply:
We also recommend the book by John Hulley, "Comets, Jews and Christians: Scientists and Bible-believers Confront the Greatest Threat to Survival".
http://www.centuryone.com/9170-0.html
It contains valuable information and useful insights.
Nevertheless, we also have criticisms of, and reservations about, what he says.
For one he uses the receipt of Nobel Prizes as his main criterion of scientific acheivements.
He then compares how many NPs each country received, when they received them, and how may were due to Jews.
This could be misleading. Not all advancements receive Nobel Prizes.
Even using Nobel Prizes as a basis of measurement does not entirely hold up.
JH reached his conclusions some time ago.
JH saw the relative reduced original scientific achievement in the State of Israel as due to lack of a supportive [Protestant] environment.
This was BEFORE the recent spate of Nobel prize winnings by Israelis (in Israel and/or overseas) and the publicizing of Israeli scientific findings etc.
In other words Jewish advancements might not be so dependent on a Protestant environment as JH thought.
Even so the book is worth reading.
Incidentally, John Hulley was probably our first serious supporter.
In addition to financially contributing to our efforts he also supplied us with information and feedback of value.
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2. Suzanne: Pleased with The Tribes.
Dear Yair,
Thank you for having the book "TRIBES" sent to me. .. Well the book arrived 2 days ago; and, like all your books, it is filled with so much excellent information from the research you and others have done for many years. The book is fascinating! I am enjoying and learning from "TRIBES"!
Again, thank you!
Suzanne Utts
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3. Zebulun - Holland by Bert Otten
A STUDY OF TEN PROPHETIC CLUES
http://www.britam.org/bert.html
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/tribes/netherlands/zebhol.html
Newer, improved version submitted by the author.
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4. Rabbi Meir Yaakov Soloveichik: God's Providence and the United States.
A Thanksgiving Reader on Judaism and the American Idea. Extracts
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(a) Who is He?
Rabbi Meir Yaakov Soloveichik (born 1977)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meir_Soloveichik
is an American Orthodox rabbi and writer. He is the son of Rabbi Eliyahu Soloveichik, grandson of the late Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik and the great nephew of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, the late leader of American Jewry who identified with what became known as Modern Orthodoxy.
It has been reported that he was considered a candidate to replace Jonathan Sacks as the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, but this report has not been confirmed.
In May 2013, he became Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel, a Sephardic synagogue, and the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States.
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(b) Extracts
Below are Extracts from a paper recently released
God's Providence and the United States.
A Thanksgiving Reader on Judaism and the American Idea
by Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik
Director, Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University
Rabbi, Congregation Shearith Israel
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/800522/rabbi-meir-y-soloveichik/god-s-providence-and-the-united-states-a-thanksgiving-reader-on-judaism-and-the-american-idea/
Extracts:
... Commenting on this story and others like it, the theologian Michael Novak notes that the sharp
denominational divisions among colonial Americans were precisely what made the text of the
Hebrew Bible into the central language of the American - metaphysic; the background to the
American vision of history and the destiny of humanity.- It was the biblically informed sense of a
providential mission, derived from a comparison to the people of Israel, that would enable
Americans to overcome their differences and bind their individual selves to a common destiny.
Immediately following the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, two of the most
famous Founding Fathers suggested that Israelite images of salvation serve as the seal of the
nascent nation. Benjamin Franklin advocated that America be forever symbolized by a picture of
"Moses lifting up his wand, and dividing the red sea." Jefferson, in contrast, suggested a seal
depicting Israel in the desert, guided by a heavenly cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by
night. After the remarkable military victories against the British, the comparisons between
American and ancient Israel only increased. Ariel Abbot, president of Harvard during the
revolution, made the case before the legislature of New Hampshire for the adoption of the
Constitution by comparing the colonies to the 12 tribes of Israel, and Washington to Moses,
concluding that "we cannot but acknowledge that God hath graciously patronized our cause, and
taken us under his special care, as he did his ancient covenant people."26....
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(c) George Washington, Letter to Congregation Mickveh:
Israel, Savannah, Georgia
Gentlemen: I thank you with great sincerity for your congratulations on my appointment to the
office which I have the honor to hold by the unanimous choice of my fellow citizens, and
especially the expressions you are pleased to use in testifying the confidence that is reposed in
me by your congregation.
I rejoice that a spirit of liberality and philanthropy is much more prevalent than it formerly was
among the enlightened nations of the earth, and that your brethren will benefit thereby in
proportion as it shall become still more extensive; happily the people of the United States have
in many instances exhibited examples worthy of imitation, the salutary influence of which will
doubtless extend much farther if gratefully enjoying those blessings of peace which (under the
favor of heaven) have been attained by fortitude in war, they shall conduct themselves with
reverence to the Deity and charity toward their fellow-creatures.
May the same wonder-working Deity, who long since delivered the Hebrews from their
Egyptian oppressors, planted them in a promised land, whose providential agency has lately
been conspicuous in establishing these United States as an independent nation, still continue to
water them with the dews of heaven and make the inhabitants of every denomination participate
in the temporal and spiritual blessings of that people.
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5. Query on the importance of Physical Ancestry from Israel.
Re The Khazars Were Hebrews!.avi ![[]](http://s.ytimg.com/yts/img/pixel-vfl3z5WfW.gif){kind=tracking}
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9e3M443plc
I'm confused? why does it matter who is a descendent of the "real tribe of Judah (Jews)" if once you convert it doesn't matter.. you're considered the same, and have a right to the same promises and live by the same covenant? Ricky Williamz
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Yair Replies:
One can convert to Judaism and become a Jew. If so, you will have volunteered to undertake tasks you would not otherwise have been obliged to. In return you may well be rewarded. Biblical Prophecies are directed to those of physical descent. This involves both blessings and obligations, cf. "You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities" Amos 3:2.