Shalom friends,

What is the "redemption"? 

This is a hard one for many Christians to grasp because Christianity created its own definitions for redemption and salvation.  It was not through malice that this was done, but through ignorance.  The early "church fathers" (90CE to 325CE) to were highly educated men -- but educated in Greek philosophy, not in Torah. 

To understand the "redemption" we must go back and look at the first redemption of Israel.  The first Israelite "Prince of Egypt", Joseph, brought the Israelites into Egypt where they prospered and grew into a significant population.  After about four hundred years, most of the Israelites had forgotten the teachings of the fathers (Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob).  They had also become slaves to the Egyptians.  It was at this time that G-d decided to redeem Israel -- not because they were "deserving" or "righteous", but because of His promise to their father Abraham.  He decided that it was time to bring Israel back into a relationship with Himself.  It is like when a son is disinherited and his father wants to redeem him -- or bring him back into his good graces.  If Israel had not forgotten their G-d in all the abundance of Egypt they never would have become slaves to the Egyptians and would not have needed redemption.

G-d sent another "Prince of Egypt" to bring Israel out of Egypt.  G-d redeemed Israel -- that is, He gathered them to Himself.  Then He "saved" them from bondage in Egypt.  As a redeemed people, Israel was "sanctified" or "set apart" and given instructions (torah) on how to live as a redeemed and sanctified people.  You see, the Christians have it all wrong -- Jews do not observe the Torah in order to gain salvation.  They observe the Torah because they are a saved people.  Salvation came before the Torah not after the Torah.

Israel's record of living as a "sanctified people" was never a very good one.  G-d called them a stiff-necked people.  Finally, after the death of Solomon, the majority of Israel seceded from the kingdom and chose Jeroboam as their king and the golden calf as their god.  They became known as the "House of Israel."  Only three of the thirteen tribes remained with the King Rehoboam.  They became known as the "House of Judah" (later shortened to "Jews").

Eventually, the House of Israel would be removed from their land and moved to a far distant land (beyond the Sambatyon River according to the Talmud).  In the book of Hosea, G-d declared that the House of Israel was no longer His people (LoAmi = not My people).  He declared His divorce from Israel and disinherited them.  Only the House of Judah remained as the people of G-d.  While Judah retained its salvation, Israel lost its salvation.  This is why the House of Israel (a lost people) must be redeemed.  This is why G-d said that He would gather the House of Israel in the last days and join them with the House of Judah [Ezekiel 37:15-28].  He says that He will write His Torah on the hearts of the House of Israel [Jeremiah 31:31-34].  He does not say that He will write His Torah on the hearts of the House of Judah because it is Israel that needs to be redeemed, not Judah.  The prophets say that in the last days the Lost Ten Tribes will come to the Jews for instruction [Zechariah 8:23].  [Would you like to go to Israel and learn from Jewish rabbis during Sukkot?] 

G-d will reward Judah for its faithfulness throughout the millennia as it says in Zechariah 2:16(verse 12 in the Christian Bible): "The LORD will take Judah to Himself as His portion in the Holy Land, and He will choose Jerusalem once more." [Tanakh, Jewish Publication Society, 1985]

For centuries the church has tried to impose its own interpretation on scripture.  The Bible, however, is a book about Israel.  The prophecies about the House of Israel are largely ignored by Christianity because it totally messes up their theology.  They are also ignored by many "Messianic Jews" because many of these tend to be nothing more than "Christians with talits."   While Christians have a concept of "personal redemption," "national redemption" is something that is very foreign to them.  Ninety percent of the weekly haftarah readings are about the redemption of [the House of] Israel.

Please take note of this: THE CHURCH IS NOT ISRAEL though those with Israelite traits tend to be Christians.  THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS NOT ISRAEL though the U.S. in particular and the english-speaking countries in general have certainly inherited the blessings promised to Joseph.  Israel seems to be scattered throughout all the nations of the earth with larger concentrations in the developed nations.  Certainly, Torah loving people can be found among all the races.  The Japanese Makuya and some American Indian Tribes are among those who have been recognized by rabbinical authorities in Jerusalem as part of lost Israel.  Certainly all those who are being drawn back to the Torah are of the House of Israel.  No DNA test will give us the answer -- only the hearts being drawn back to G-d will give us the answer.

The redemption has begun with those who are seeking G-d's face and turning to His Torah [though imperfectly at first].  The numbers are few, but they will grow steadily as the coming of Mashiach approaches.

Kol tov,
Shomeir