Ten Tribes Studies (1 January, 2013, Tevet 19, 5773)
Contents:
1. Answer to Query Concerning "Bnei Manasheh" and Acquiring Joe-Status.
2. New Article. Hoax. Bnei Menashe in Burma- a Christian Pentecostal Myth
3. Victor Walker: Another Suggestion. Need for Statement from the Chief Rabbinate
4. Interesting Pictures of Tribal Stones. Breastplate of the High Priest
5. Joseph. The Israelite Destiny of America
1. Answer to Query Concerning "Bnei Manasheh" and Acquiring Joe-Status.
Victor Walker wrote:
Shalom Yair,
Can you direct me to a good source for information about the Israel Chief
Rabbinate and current Orthodox positions on the Ten Tribes being
identified within western nations? I've recently seen that a group from
India was accepted as members of the lost tribe of Dan and allowed to
return to Israel
(http://news.yahoo.com/indian-jews-lost-tribe-move-israel-121503473.html).
It seems that there should be some clear statement somewhere about what
kind of genetic or other "proofs" will be necessary to claim Joe-status;
and once certified a Joe, then what?
Thanks,
Vic Walker
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Brit-Am Reply:
You mean the so-called Bnei Menasseh. This is something of a hoax.
We have now written an article on it (see item #3 below).
The Wikipedia article on the subject (see item 2 below) clearly shows the non-Biblical origins of this myth.
Anyway NO GROUP is being accepted into Israel without converting to Orthodox Judaism.
The Israel Chief Rabbinate cannot and will not do anything not in accordance with Jewish Law.
There is no such thing as a "certified Joe".
Anyone who seems to say otherwise is either being misunderstood or is deliberately misleading.
Selected groups from amongst the so-called Bnei Menashe get a speeded-up easier conversion program and help in accommodation, etc.
If a group of Gentiles from the USA would take the same approach as the Bnei Menashe does they would get the same, or possible (after a while) a much better, deal.
Hebrew Nations/Brit-Am is not involved in such approaches.
We emphasize spreading the message of Israelite Ancestry, Mutual Heritage, and increasing Biblical Consciousness.
This, of course, could in the future lead to settlement in Israel for some but it is not a concern of ours at present.
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2. New Article.
Hoax. Bnei Menashe in Burma- a Christian Pentecostal Myth
Extracts:
 The Bnei Manashe are probably non-Israelites of East Asian origin. They now live in the border regions straddling India and Burma. After conversion to Christianity one of them had a vision saying they were descended from Israelites. Over the years new proofs for this have been found but these are of questionable validity. Most of them DO NOT believe they descend from Israel. Some do. Some of those who claim to descend from Israel in effect want to come to live in Israel. Belief in Israelite descent IS AN EXCUSE!....
The Bnei Manashe have been encouraged by the organization Amishav (Hebrew for "My People Return"), founded by Rabbi Eliyahu Avichail and more recently by
Michael Freund, founder of Shavei Israel. Both groups received large amounts of money from Jewish and Christian bodies. Both Avichail and Freund are strongly prejudiced against the idea that descendants of Israelites may be found amongst Western Peoples.
In the past, Israel Feld expressed the opinion that the beni Manashe were in effect preparing the way for the REAL descendants of the Ten Tribes to be accepted.
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3. Victor Walker: Another Suggestion. Need for Statement from the Chief Rabbinate
Re item #1 above.
Thanks for your reply. I had read a few Internet articles and they were all pretty skimpy on information, although they did state the conversion requirement. I wonder if it might be beneficial for the Chief Rabbinate to state that they support the current identification research but that conversion will always be a requirement, because such an official statement would draw attention to the effort and stimulate involvement, and also discourage folks from packing their bags and "moving home" unprepared. There is of course Biblical precedent for "The Joes" not returning to Israel but continuing their mission in the Diaspora; Joseph, for all that He suffered and did for his family, never got to return during life. Moses also served from afar.
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4. Interesting Pictures of Tribal Stones. Breastplate of the High Priest
Extract:
The High Priest in the Temple Service wore a breastplate with 12 gems on it. Each stone represented one of the Tribes. In 2012 the State of Israel issued a new series of stamps depicting this breastplate and the stones. The stamps in question are shown below.
See Also:
Israeli Stamps. Tribal Symbols
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5. Joseph. The Israelite Destiny of America
The Blessings in the Bible given to the Children of Israel were epitomized most strongly in the Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Ephraim dominates Britain and her daughters, Manasseh is pre-eminent in the USA. "Joseph - The Israelite Destiny of America" proves it!
New evidence is produced showing how the Tribal names of peoples who settled in Britain and later in America were those of the Ancient Israelite Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph.
The Hebrew meaning of the name Ephraim connotes a system of aristocracy such as that prevailing in Britain. The meaning of Manasseh in Hebrew is Responsible Representation such as that practiced in the USA.
[Nevertheless, a portion of Ephraim is in America and some of Manasseh remains in Britain.]
Rabbinical Tradition from an early date or based on very early sources described the Tribes of Joseph in the End Times. The descriptions can only fit Britain and North America.
An historical-sociological case study of entire areas in the USA is analyzed in the light of Biblical Commentary and tradition. This enables us to trace different clans of Manasseh to specific areas of the USA.
People who migrated to America from Germany on the whole were not really Germanic but rather Hebrews who had kept themselves apart the rest of the population. This is proven by contemporary reports and other sources. The Prophet Isaiah foresaw the British Empire ruling over India and Egypt. Isaiah also predicted that Africans would be brought as slaves to North America.
The Messiah son of David and the Messiah son of Joseph are both figures in Jewish Tradition. The Messiah son of Joseph is a future heoic figure who will head the Ten Tribes and lead them back. By analysing traditions concerning the Messiah son of Joseph we see that the USA has already began to fulfil the role predicted about him and the Ten Tribes. These traditions show that a substantial portion of the Ten Tribes will be in North America in the Era leading up to the Messianic Age.
"Joseph. The Israelite Destiny of America" quotes from Rabbinical Authorities concerning the Messiah son of Joseph. Relevant extracts are discussed and their pertinence to Israelite Identification in our time demonstrated.
"Joseph. The Israelite Destiny of America" is still the ONLY work that adequately deals with this subject!
Biblical and Rabbinicial sources indicate that:
The Israelites of North America will be redeemed before all the other Lost Tribes are.
"Joseph" breaks new ground and is of great interest and importance.
"Joseph - The Israelite Destiny of America" is now selling for ONLY $15!
"Joseph" places an emphasis on the Israelite origins of the American people.