Status as Jews
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Ken
Mar 29, 2012, 12:30:58 PM3/29/12
to Parshanut HaTorah (פַּרְשָׁנוּת הַתּוֹרָה)
A question I pose to the Karaite Jewish Community:
If a person makes a covenant to the God of Avraham, Yitzak, and
Ya'akov with a circumcision, an immersion in a natural pool of water,
and the keeping of the mitzvot of the Torah, are they now of B'nai
Yisrael? Are they now Jewish? And if not, where in Torah would it say
otherwise? I do not recall anywhere in all of Tanakh that says "and
the community approved their covenant with the Almighty" and nowhere
in the book of Ruth does it mention a beit din or any council that
approved her conversion.
I know many who want inclusion in the Jewish community, but have not
undergone a ritual conversion. Still, they do everything necessary
according to the Tanakh to be counted by the Most High as one of His
children, B'nai Yisrael.
From a Karaite perspective, are these people Jews?
In addition to this question, how many of you fit this description?
If a person makes a covenant to the God of Avraham, Yitzak, and
Ya'akov with a circumcision, an immersion in a natural pool of water,
and the keeping of the mitzvot of the Torah, are they now of B'nai
Yisrael? Are they now Jewish? And if not, where in Torah would it say
otherwise? I do not recall anywhere in all of Tanakh that says "and
the community approved their covenant with the Almighty" and nowhere
in the book of Ruth does it mention a beit din or any council that
approved her conversion.
I know many who want inclusion in the Jewish community, but have not
undergone a ritual conversion. Still, they do everything necessary
according to the Tanakh to be counted by the Most High as one of His
children, B'nai Yisrael.
From a Karaite perspective, are these people Jews?
In addition to this question, how many of you fit this description?
יעקב/James Walker
Mar 29, 2012, 12:58:22 PM3/29/12
to parshanut...@googlegroups.com
Such a person has a covenant with God, which is most important. Yithro, remained a Midyanite after doing the same thing, though, because he chose not to join the nation of Yisra'el.
This person, can be called a God-fearing gentile (there were thousands in the Second Temple era, and Paul poached some of them to form a new religion, when he visited Greek Synagogues, for example)
Being identified as an Israelite, with a Tribe, possibility of `Aliyah, and inheritance among members of that tribe (or the nation as a whole) - and for your children to be automatically seen as Israelite from birth... all of that is determined by Israelite leadership, because that is equivalent to becoming a naturalized citizen of any nation, ancient or modern.
What KJU does is background check you, make sure you're serious about serving God and leading your family accordingly, they educate you, teach you the principles of righteous living and worship, and after about 14 months of study and virtual community living (via skype, paltalk, and visiting Karaite communities in person), and a concluding essay, you will have an official ceremony with representatives of the Israeli Karaite leadership and from then on, you will have documentation and official backing from Universal Karaite Judaism (the name of the movement in Israel) for anyone who wants proof of your Israelite identity. Your children that are born to you in the future will from birth be "benei Yisrael lekal davar' (Israelites in every sense of the word). If they want to apply for Jewish schools, or loan programs, or trips to Israel 20 years later... you will have the documentation to prove who they are. If in the future, you want to make Aliyah to Israel in your retirement years, based on the right of return, the Jewish Agency will expect proof of your Israelite identity, and the UKJ will have your back. If you have made `Aliyah, and need accommodations as a Karaite solider in Tsahal for the calendar differences... they will have your back, and so on.
As you see, all of those "potential perks" are on a human level - thus, like a person who lives in America but can't legally enjoy the full benefits and social programs of citizenship without undoing naturalization, so too, (if you so desire) such a person would also need to find the Jewish entity that teaches God's word and has legal authority to recognize you as an Israelite.
If you don't plan on making Aliyah, or being at all involved with Jewish programs, then you don't have to be. You can be one who is "Nilwah leYHWH" (joined to YHWH, see Isaiah 56), and enjoy the spiritual benefits of walking with God.
The latter is the most important, and is a requirement as a human being :)
Mikhah 6:8 "O mankind, He has declared to you what is good. And what does YHWH require of you, but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? "
Hopefully this helps clarify the difference.
-Ya`aqov Walker
KJU 2008
This person, can be called a God-fearing gentile (there were thousands in the Second Temple era, and Paul poached some of them to form a new religion, when he visited Greek Synagogues, for example)
Being identified as an Israelite, with a Tribe, possibility of `Aliyah, and inheritance among members of that tribe (or the nation as a whole) - and for your children to be automatically seen as Israelite from birth... all of that is determined by Israelite leadership, because that is equivalent to becoming a naturalized citizen of any nation, ancient or modern.
What KJU does is background check you, make sure you're serious about serving God and leading your family accordingly, they educate you, teach you the principles of righteous living and worship, and after about 14 months of study and virtual community living (via skype, paltalk, and visiting Karaite communities in person), and a concluding essay, you will have an official ceremony with representatives of the Israeli Karaite leadership and from then on, you will have documentation and official backing from Universal Karaite Judaism (the name of the movement in Israel) for anyone who wants proof of your Israelite identity. Your children that are born to you in the future will from birth be "benei Yisrael lekal davar' (Israelites in every sense of the word). If they want to apply for Jewish schools, or loan programs, or trips to Israel 20 years later... you will have the documentation to prove who they are. If in the future, you want to make Aliyah to Israel in your retirement years, based on the right of return, the Jewish Agency will expect proof of your Israelite identity, and the UKJ will have your back. If you have made `Aliyah, and need accommodations as a Karaite solider in Tsahal for the calendar differences... they will have your back, and so on.
As you see, all of those "potential perks" are on a human level - thus, like a person who lives in America but can't legally enjoy the full benefits and social programs of citizenship without undoing naturalization, so too, (if you so desire) such a person would also need to find the Jewish entity that teaches God's word and has legal authority to recognize you as an Israelite.
If you don't plan on making Aliyah, or being at all involved with Jewish programs, then you don't have to be. You can be one who is "Nilwah leYHWH" (joined to YHWH, see Isaiah 56), and enjoy the spiritual benefits of walking with God.
The latter is the most important, and is a requirement as a human being :)
Mikhah 6:8 "O mankind, He has declared to you what is good. And what does YHWH require of you, but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? "
Hopefully this helps clarify the difference.
-Ya`aqov Walker
KJU 2008
2012/3/29 Ken <kenja...@gmail.com>
יעקב/James Walker
Mar 29, 2012, 1:00:15 PM3/29/12
to parshanut...@googlegroups.com
Without undergoing* naturalization.
Zvi
Apr 2, 2012, 1:15:46 AM4/2/12
to Parshanut HaTorah (פַּרְשָׁנוּת הַתּוֹרָה)
יעקב/James Walker
Apr 2, 2012, 7:58:22 AM4/2/12
to parshanut...@googlegroups.com
Todah achi
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