Brit-Am Hebrew Sources (17 August 2016, 13 Av, 5776)
Contents:
1. Two Messiahs versus Two Enemies, Esau and Ishmael.
2. "Netivot Shalom" on Joseph, Unity, and the Ten Tribes, Part 2.
3. The 16th of Av (19th August, 2016) and Tribal Re-Unification!
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1. Two Messiahs versus Two Enemies, Esau and Ishmael.
There are two destined messiahs, Messiah son of David, and Messiah son of Yoseph.
Against these two stand two major opponents representing the Powers of Obfuscation:
Esau and Ishmael.
Esau blurs the Light of Knowledge by promoting the attitude of scientific objectivity, etc. This clouds true knowledge and prevents one from really knowing the Almighty.
Ishmael conceals the light of faith, and gives rise to skepticism and false beliefs.
Counter to the two above we have the Messiah son of Yoseph and the Messiah son of David.
The Messiah son of Yoseph will illuminate the Light of Knowledge in the World giving true understanding ("Binah").
The Messiah son of David will enlighten the Lumination of Belief in the World ("Malcut").
Great Saintly leaders ("Tsadikim") encompass both aspects.
Source: Adapted from:
Weekly Bratslav Torah Sheet, "Amudi Or" no.132, p.4. 7-8 Av Torah 16.
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2. "Netivot Shalom" on Joseph, Unity, and the Ten Tribes, Part 2.
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"Netivot Shalom:" The Need for Unity Between Israel and Jacob
p.143
re
Numbers 24:
2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3 He took up his discourse and said....
5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,
Your dwellings, O Israel!
The Forces of Impurity and Adversity have power only over the individual... Whosoever links themselves to the Generality of Israel, and is not isolated in his own domain, is not ruled over by the negative powers....
He saw "Israel camping tribe by tribe," all of Israel were united with one heart as one person impervious to the powers of darkness.
When Israel and Jacob are one, "He [i.e. God] has not observed iniquity in Jacob; Nor has He seen oppression in Israel" (Numbers 23:21).
p.144
Numbers 24:
2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3 He took up his discourse and said....
5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,
Your dwellings, O Israel!
This expression is in the singular. ...hinting at the needed Unity in Israel. This is the counsel God gives us to counter the curses in the spiritual and material worlds.
p. 160
When Israel is untied and joined together and bounded as one family, then is God called "Our Father."
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Faith and Holiness. Zion is Joseph?
p.170
In the Times just before the Messiah, the Forces of Darkness will be especially virulent against Faith and Holiness.
To counter this redemption will come via the the Messiah son of David and the Messiah son of Yoseph.
The Messiah son of David represents Royaty ("Malcut') and Belief.
The Messiah son of Yoseph represents Holiness.
We are waiting for God to rule in Zion.
[cf. Psalm 110:
2 The LORD will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, 'Rule in the midst of Your enemies.']
"Zion" in Gematriah is Yoseph.
We pray that this matter of Holiness will reach its full correction in Joseph.
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3. The 16th of Av (19th August, 2016) and Tribal Re-Unification!
Midrash (Petichtah Eicah Rabah, 33):
On this day King Joshua son of Elah [the last king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel before the Ten Tribes were exiled] abolished the Armed Checkpoints that Jeroboam had set up to prevent the Israelites going up to Jerusalem.
On this day the tribe of Benjamin had been allowed to re-enter the community and the different tribes were permitted to marry with each other.