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-----Original Message----- Shalom friends, Readers are always asking me, “How does one know if he is of Israel or not?” There is no DNA test that will verify whether or not you are descended from Yaacov (Israel). There are no genealogical records (except for royalty) that go back that far. How can one know for sure? The answer to this question is quite simple. You CAN know for sure, and here is how: Hashem said that He would write His laws on the hearts of the House of Israel (Jeremiah 31:31-34). If you feel compelled to keep Hashem’s instruction (Torah) then you are of Israel. The desire to live by His laws is evidence that He is writing His laws on your heart. Some will ask how one can be of Israel when his/her brother or sister is not of Israel. This, of course, cannot be – it is only that the brother or sister has not yet been gathered in by Hashem – but the Holy One, blessed be He, is faithful to His children and each will be gathered when it is his/her time to be gathered – until all of Israel has eventually been given the opportunity to be a part of the Kingdom of Hashem and to possess the land which He promised to our fathers: from the River of Egypt (the Nile) to the River Euphrates. We each have free will and Hashem does not force anyone to His will – we must choose to follow Him. Only then can we be gathered to Him.
Kol tov,
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