-----Original Message-----
From: Shomeir
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 11:31 PM
To: House of Israel Newsgroup
Subject: More thoughts about the House of Israel

Shalom Friends,

While there are many in the Orthodox Jewish community of Jerusalem who would marginalize the work of Yair Davidi and consider him to be outside of the “mainstream” of Jewish thought concerning the lost ten tribes of Israel and the need for a “path of return” for the exiles, no one would ever marginalize member of the Sanhedrin and Temple Institute director Rabbi Chaim Richman. In 1995, Rabbi Richman wrote these words:

... for it is widely held that the ten “lost” tribes (collectively known as ‘Ephraim’, and ‘Israel’ as opposed to ‘Judah’) who were exiled prior to the destruction of the First Temple were not really lost at all, but assimilated amongst the nations to such an extent that they totally lost their identity as Jews. There is overwhelming evidence throughout the Scriptures which substantiates this beyond any doubt, and it is particularly clear throughout the book of Hosea (“Ephraim, he has mingled himself amongst the peoples...” - 5:8). One of the major themes of every prophet of Israel is the fact that eventually, G-d will help these people to regain their identity, cleanse themselves from the twin sins of pride and idolatry, and reconcile with Judah, thus effectively re-uniting Ezekiel's “two sticks” and becoming one again with the Jewish people. “...and I will sift the House of Israel among all nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet not the least grain shall fall upon the earth” - Amos 9:9.

You can also find the following endorsement by Rabbi Richman on the back cover of the second edition of “Origins of Our Faith – The Hebrew Roots of Christianity” by Rick Richardson:

“I must say that I really have found much of what you are saying to be quite on target. Some material you have clarified has even been helpful to me in my correspondence with several Christians who have demonstrated animosity towards Judaism. I have used some of your insights to give them perspective.”

It is troubling for some in the Christian/Messianic community that a book about the origins of Christianity should be endorsed by several prominent and well known Orthodox Jews. One “two-house” Messianic leader even labels Mr. Richardson as an anti-missionary merely because one of his websites has links to anti-missionary sites. He also has a link to this critic’s site as well as to anti-anti-missionary sites.

There is a lot of discussion going on among the Orthodox about the final redemption and the return of the exiles. The redemption is getting closer and the lost of Israel must be awakened. I suspect that most of my list is in the 40 to 60 demographic. We are the Joshuas and Calebs of our time and we should be witnessing to the twenty-something crowd. They are the generation of the redemption.

Kol tov,
Shomeir