Ten Tribes Studies (2 January, 2013, Tevet 20, 5773)
Contents:
1. Bill Rasmussen: Beta Israel, Bnei Menashe and other groups.
2. Impressions of the Bnei Manashe from a Neighbor.
3. Answer to Complaint about Rabbinical Attitude and State of Israel Official Policies.
1. Bill Rasmussen: Beta Israel, Bnei Menashe and other groupsÂ
Brit Am 1985-from Bill Rasmussen in Minnesota
Shalom Yair, I was reading the comments about the B'nei Menashe and wanted to share my thoughts. The people of the Manipur and Mizoram areas bordering India and Burma have created quite a stir in Israel. The question is, are they really descendants of Manasseh or are they what one would call strangers and sojourners seeking refuge in Israel?
I well remember when the Beta Israel-Ethiopian Falashes, were brought to Israel under the auspices of being from the Tribe of Dan with support by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Sephardic Chief Rabbi. At the time, I thought it was a sham as they did not have the characteristics of the Tribe of Dan. Nevertheless, Operations Moses, Joshua and Solomon brought over 20,000 of the Falashes to Israel.
Later, I started hearing about Rabbi Avichayil. There was a film shown on the A&E channel around 1999 made by Simcha Jacobovici called "The Quest for Lost Tribes". When I first watched the film, I was ecstatic that media coverage was being given to the 10 northern tribes. However, there were some very spurious designations of the Ten Tribes extant in the world today. For example, the Pashtuns of Afghanistan are seen as being Bani Israel. There was also discussion of Pathans in Afghanist and and Pakistan. Others like the B'nei Menashe of India were also examined. After looking at the research of Rabbi Avichayil, I would call it hopelessly romantic at best and terrible research at its worst.
Sadly, Michael Freund of Shavei Israel is perpetuating this myth and others as well. Freund has been instrumental in bringing the B'nei Menashe to Israel. He has garnered support from both political and religious people in Israel and outside Israel. He seems to be working closely with Rabbi Avichayil and they have other projects in the works, such as the Lemba in South Africa, to bring them and other people from around the world back to Israel. Interestingly, none of the people to make aliyah are from Europe or North America.
In one respect, I find it refreshing and flattering to think of obscure people in the 4 corners of the world who identify with Israel to the point of actually believing that they are Jews. That they want to emigrate to Israel and live there as Jews is commendable. Many are willing to serve in the IDF, which is a very noble gesture on their part.
On the other hand, by allowing them in as legitimate descendants of the Lost Tribes, it undermines the real research that has been done by Brit Am to identify, awaken and teach the descendants of the major repositories of the Lost Tribes in the world. Yes, there may be individuals or small enclaves of people spread out to the four corners of the earth who are legitimate descendants of the Lost Tribes. But, the majority as demonstrated by Yair are either in Europe or North America.
In the end, groups like the Beta Israel, Bnei Menashe and other groups similar to them should be treated as strangers and sojourners who wish to come to Israel. In time, at some future date, they should be allowed in to reside in Israel if they have demonstrated a love for Israel and Torah. But, that time has not yet come. There is still much to do. There are the 10 tribes to repatriate first, then the strangers and sojourners. And, we must treat them as the Torah says, notably in Leviticus 19:10, 33-34 where we are not to vex them but to treat them as one born among us because we too were strangers in Egypt.
Shalom v'b'richot, Bill Rasmussen
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2. Impressions of the Bnei Manashe from a Neighbor.
The extract below has been added to our article:
Hoax. Bnei Menashe in Burma- a Christian Pentecostal Myth
The following short paragraphs are derived from an account of A. who lives in what may be considered a Bnei Manashe neighborhood on one of the West Bank religious settlements:
# They include good and bad elements, the same as anybody else. On the whole, as a neighbor I get along with them. Some have problems with alcoholism. In our neighborhood this has caused the death of a few. A few are very religious, coming to pray every morning in the synagogue. Their degree of religiosity reflects the general community.  Here the community in general is religious and an intense religious atmosphere exists, so the Bnei Manashe consequently are often also observant. In other areas (such as Afula) where Bnei Manashe are to be found  and the surroundings are more secular they are probably influenced in the same direction. They work, buy cars, and in general are interested in getting along. I would say that physically and psychologically in spirit they are stronger than some other groups e.g. a portion of the Ethiopians. The boys serve in the army. There are problems with some due to the hardships of adjusting.Â
# On the one hand they identify with the Jews and with Israel. They want to be accepted. On the other hand they look different, are different, and stay together as different. I have been as good as told that they do not all necessarily really believe they are descended from Manasseh. The notion of Israelite descent is used to help them socially and psychologically. It gives them a stronger stand in their own eyes and in that of others when dealing with Israeli society and their situation.
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3. Answer to Complaint about Rabbinical Attitude and State of Israel Official Policies.
Michelle Bowie wrote:
Re Brit-Am Now no. 1985: Ten Tribes Studies.
#1. Answer to Query Concerning "Bnei Manasheh" and Acquiring Joe-Status.
Shalom Yair,
In response to NO GROUP can be accepted as Israel unless conversion to Orthodox Judaism?
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I think it safe to say that ONLY the ALIMIGHTY Himself can accept or deny who belongs to Israel, who Israel is at all.
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ONLY HE knows for certain who is and who is not Israel and He tells us that loudly throughout the scriptures.
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Only through a turning of the heart, a calling out from HIM, a hearing of His Voice to Obey His Torah can seal anyone with being Israel. It is not for man or any man made organization to decide.
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True Israel are those called out to keep His Torah and not just by the "letter" of the book, but also by the heart.
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Blessings, mb
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Brit-Am Reply:
I am once again being misquoted and misrepresented. This seems to be a deliberate aim amongst certain elements. I was describing the situation in the present-day State of Israel, as it is. The Rabbinical Authorities will not recognize as Jewish any group that is not Jewish. To be Jewish once must be born to a Jewish mother or convert through an  Orthodox Conversion. This is axiomatic.
Why should one expect the Rabbinate to say people are Jewish when they are not and do not want to be?
What kind of expectation is this?
If one is not Jewish it is more difficult (and sometimes impossible) to come to Israel under the Law of Return. The authorities on the whole will not encourage non-Jewish groups to come here though for a time during the recent Russian immigration large-scale exceptions were made. [There are also anti-Jewish, anti-religious, mostly left-wing, elements within Israeli society who might be happy to dilute the Jewish component, but that is another matter.]
There is a difference between being descended from Israelites and being Jewish. All Jews are Israelites but not all Israelites are Jewish.
[I notice that no Ephraimites appear eager at the moment about settling in Jordan, Lebanon, or Syria even though these areas are also part of the Promised Land. No Ephraimites have, so far, sent us letters complaining that the Government of Assad is not letting them set up house in Damascus. Why is that?]
We said:
Quote,
# 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. # Unquote.
The Rabbinate is not saying who is and who is not an Israelite. They are saying, according to Jewish Law, who is Jewish!Â
We emphasize spreading awareness of Israelite Ancestry amongst those who are so descended. We come to tell people that they are of Israelite origin and to prove it. We want the people spoken of to internalize the message, possibly help spread it to others, and to enhance their Biblical consciousness.
We emphasize the Tribal Distinctions amongst Israelites. At present Judah is doing the work in the Land of Israel. Judah has also borne the burden of persecution because Judah did not deny his ancestry or otherwise loose it.
See:
The Two House Doctrine and Ephraimites
Coming Back to Israel
Those who are REALLY SERIOUS about returning to Israel and enabling other Israelites to do so will support Brit-Am/Hebrew Nations.
Brit-Am/Hebrew Nations is the answer or at the least a serious beginning.
Lack of support for Brit-Am/Hebrew Nations amongst those who claim they are of Israelite Descent shows weakness in belief, and an impaired disposition towards the truth that we promote.
We agree that learning the Bible and praying can become a powerful weapon in helping forward both personal and general Redemption.
The Jews of Judah and of the State of Israel and the Gentiles of Israelite descent in Western Nations on the whole do not know they are Israelites or who the Israelites are. We are working to change this. This is the first step.
Why do we get the feeling that many Christians and so-called Ephraimites are not really interested in helping us succeed in this?