Ten Tribes Studies (20 March, 2014, 18 Adar-2, 5774)
Contents:
1. Question on Converting to Judaism Via the Internet
2. New Article. Lubavitch Remarks.
Discussion of Three Chabad Articles about the Ten Tribes.
3. What is your reaction to non-Jews adopting Biblical Hebraic customs?
(a) In General Terms
(b) Particular Applications
(c) Time to Decide One Way or the Other
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1. Question on Converting to Judaism Via the Internet
Dear Yair Davidiy
I have been looking into studying and converting to Judaism, .. As a stating point I am looking at studying online.... I found a site called Punk Torah, Darshar Yeshiva, online study and online conversion to Judaism. With prices;
Torah Study at $4.99 per month
Intro to Judaism $19.99 per month
Darsham Ordination $99. Per month
... do you know if this is a good site, for online study of Judaism?
God Bless you
L.
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Brit-Am Reply:
Shalom,
We do not usually encourage conversion to Judaism but since you are already interested and making inquiries, and asked the question,
We looked the Site Up:
It says:
Conversion To Judaism Program
http://www.darshanyeshiva.org/conversion-about/
Students apply for the program on the application page. Once admitted to the program, students choose to pay either $750 ($125 per month in the Chai Program) or $594 ($99 per month in the Scholarship Program).... students attend a one day retreat in Atlanta where they engage in a learning session with three rabbis (one Reform, two post-denominational) called the bet din. Afterwards, students immerse in the mikvah at a Conservative synagogue, and are given an opportunity to hold a Torah for the first time. ...
This is misleading.
It expressly says it is according to Conservative rites or mixed Reform/Conservative. It is not Orthodox.
You may be able to learn something from them but their Conversion is not considered valid.
It would not be recognized in Israel.
I myself am Orthodox and agree with their position.
Even if theoretically I was not to agree with them the reality remains that if one converts then it should be in a way that is recognized in Israel and by the Jewish orthodox community.
We ourselves are not involved with this and do not want to be. Even if we did so want, we would not be qualified.
We are in contact with someone who may be able to provide at least a partial solution and if so shall post the details in a coming e-mail.
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2. New Article. Lubavitch Remarks.
Discussion of Three Chabad Articles about the Ten Tribes.
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/rabbi/chabad3.html
Comments by Brit-Am to be followed (later) by our own article.
Contents:
1. Introduction. Mark Williams
2. Article no.1, The Exile of the Ten Lost Tribes
(1) Description of Article.
(2) Rabbinical Chronology versus the Conventional One.
(3) Evaluation
(4)Â Readers Comments to Article 1.
(5) Brit-Am Remark to Readers Comments to Article 1.
3. Article no. 2 , Are the Ten Lost Tribes Ever Coming Back?
(1) Description of Article.
(2) Brit-Am Replies to Article:
(a) Will the Ten Tribes Return?
(b) Have the Ten Tribes Already Returned?
(3) Evaluation.
4. Article no. 3 . Where Are the Ten Lost Tribes?
(1) Description of Article.
(2) The 'Maharal of Prague,'Â
(3) The Article Concludes
(4) Evaluation.
(5) Brit-Am Replies to Article.
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3. What is your reaction to non-Jews adopting Biblical Hebraic customs?
(a) In General Terms
In general terms we see this widespread phenomenon as a part of an arousal on the part of the Lost Ten Tribes and assimilated Jews towards their ancestry.
We are nearing the Messianic Era when matters will become clear.
The said tendency is a foreshadowing of this. Sensitive souls are feeling that the time of their Israelite Ancestry being confirmed to them and to the world at large is approaching.
In general therefore we consider the phenomenon to be a positive and welcome one.
(b) Particular Applications
Many Christians who follow the Bible are wary of Rabbinical Explanations. They do not realize that the Rabbinical Practices are usually in conformity to the Hebrew text. Christians sometimes apply Biblical passages in ways that seem strange and even somewhat ludicrous to Jews who have learnt otherwise.
It is a free country and people can do as they see best.
(c) Time to Decide One Way or the Other
We claim that many in the West have Israelite Ancestry. If we are correct then the implications are (to our mind) extremely important.
If we are wrong then we should find something else to do with our time.
The question should be dealt with one way or the other.
If we are correct or even if there is only a reasonable probability that we are not the right track then we should be supported and encouraged.