United Israel

Today, October 27th, marks five years since David Horowitz, founder of United Israel World Union, passed on from this life. If anyone wants a copy of his autobiography, Thirty-three Candles, we have some available if you contact our Charlotte, NC offices. I think David would be totally amazed and thoroughly pleased at the ways in which the organization he founded, with its simple but Biblically grounded purposes, is alive and well, HQ in the lovely offices in Charlotte and increasingly visible on the Web, including the publication of nicely formatted and edited issues of the United Israel Bulletin on-line, now in its 65th year of publication. Archived on this site is a full obituary or tribute I published five years ago with some nice historic photos, A Life Remembered.

Naomi Farrell, our representative at the United Nations, has written a special memorial piece to appear in the Jewish Press this week. She has just received her credentials to represent us through World Union Press, for another year as an accredited correspondent. David founded WUP in 1946 and it was one of the first news syndicates accredited by the United Nations.

Two more Translation Samples of the Transparent English Bible, produced by the Original Bible Project, are now available for download:

LekLeka

VaYera

A new translation of the Torah produced by the Original Bible Project is being serially released through the new Jewish Year during 2007-2008. These releases of the Transparent English Bible will follow the weekly Torah Portions (Parasha/Parashot), week by week. So far, the first two portions of Genesis are out: Bereshit and Noach. You can find them at the Original Bible Project Web site. There is also a Translation Guide that can be downloaded to explain some of the features of this unique translation. You can browse the Web site for further information as to what makes this translation different from others and why it fills a gap in terms of English translations of the Bible:

Bereshit

Noach

One essential of the redemptive vision of the Hebrew Prophets is that all the tribes of Israel, not just those identified as Judah or the Jewish people, will return en mass to the Land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the borders of which are clearly laid out: “In that day YHVH made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto your seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates (Genesis 15:18). Beginning with the Christian apostle Paul, and echoed in other New Testament texts, such as the book of Hebrews, there is an attempt to interpret the “Land” promises as “heavenly.” Israel becomes the Church and the Land becomes a promise of Heaven. Even the city of Jerusalem is projected into “heaven.” Nothing could be more foreign to a simple reading of the texts of the Hebrew Bible where the language is unequivocal and crystal clear. Notice the following texts, clear without any commentary or interpretation:

Jeremiah 32:41 I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.

THE VISION: Isaiah 2:2 It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of YHVH
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,
3 and many peoples shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of YHVH,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go the Torah, and the word of YHVH from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.

The Plan: Jeremiah 30:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from YHVH: 2 “Thus says YHVH, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. 3 For behold, days are coming, declares YHVH, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says YHVH, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.”

Jeremiah 3:14 Return, O faithless children,
declares YHVH;
for I am your master;
I will take you, one from a city and two from a family,
and I will bring you to Zion 15 “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding [in Zion?]. 16 And when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, declares YHVH, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of YHVH.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. 17 At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of YHVH, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of YHVH in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. 18 In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers for a heritage.

Jeremiah 16:14 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares YHVH, when it shall no longer be said, ‘As YHVH lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ 15 but ‘As YHVH lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers. 16 “Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares YHVH, and they shall catch them. And afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks. 17 For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes.

Jeremiah 23:3 Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares YHVH. 5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares YHVH, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘YHVH is our righteousness.’ 7 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares YHVH, when they shall no longer say, ‘As YHVH lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ 8 but ‘As YHVH lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.”

Jeremiah 31: 8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together;
a great company, they shall return here.
9 With weeping they shall come,
and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back,
I will make them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path in which they shall not stumble,
for I am a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my firstborn. 10 “Hear the word of YHVH, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’

31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares YHVH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares YHVH. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares YHVH: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know YHVH,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares YHVH. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

The command to live in booths for seven days is declared to be so that future generations know that God made the ancient Israelites live in booths when He brought them out of the land of Egypt (Leviticus 23:39-44).

This past week, Roots of Faith hosted its first annual Succoth Conference.

Several UIWU members were also in attendance. We had people from Texas, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia as well as the locals of course. Many of us camped out for a full week under the stars. The weekend was packed with exciting and informative lectures and tours.

I am so pleased and thankful for the wonderful time with all who were able to attend the week’s events. This is to be an annual event here in the Felicianas. The speakers were fantastic, the food was very good and the music was stirring! In the coming days I hope to post some reports on my blog about the conference. If you have something that you would like to share about the conference, please send it to me in an email and I will post it. A short note that captures in a few words what the time meant to you will be fine.

This is my favorite time of year now. I have camped out under the stars for the past two Festivals of Succoth. Many of you have done this for years. I would encourage any of you that have not kept this feast, to do so and to consider joining us in Saint Francisville for the Festival next year. Plans will be posted on my site soon so that you can begin to plan early.

Yesterday, from inside my home I watched the rain pouring down. Give God the glory for this miracle! It literally rained up until the day before we went into the campsite, the heavens held back the rain for seven days and then the rain fell once again the day after we had cleared the campsite! Rain is a significant part of this ancient festival. In fact, in the future, those who do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the LORD during the Feast of Succoth (Tabernacles) will not get rain in their land! (Zechariah 14:16-19)

Start thinking now about joining us next year for the Annual Succoth Conference here in the Felicianas. We experienced such an incredible level of harmony this weekend - Jew, Christians and Gentile God Fearers together, united around the one thing that we all share - a love for the Bible! We learned a great deal from the conference this year in terms of organization. Next year we will be even better and you can play a part in that as well. You can send me comments (rndavar@aol.com) - constructive feedback on what we can do to make this Conference better. I look forward to reading them and promise to consider your points when planning our next gathering.

My good friend Tammy Michael was the “official” camp / festival photographer. She informs me that she took over 500 pictures. Some of these are up on the Roots of Faith website. The group at the camp site also took turns reading from the Torah (Genesis - Deuteronomy) and completed the entire Torah! This event was based upon a literal interpretation of Deuteronomy 31:10. I want to do this again and next time I want to be more organized with it so that everyone will be able to participate. It was quite a blessing.

Several members of Roots of Faith put together a CD with original music that was a smash hit! I have been getting compliments and requests about this CD. You can contact John Carlson for more information about how you can obtain a copy of this excellent CD (carlson_john@bellsouth.net). We also hope to put an entry on the blog about the music and the artists featured on this CD, titled - Hac! V’Shema / Shut Up! and Listen. There is a story behind the title as well:)

Thanks for all the help in making this Feast of Tabernacles a time of refreshing and revival. Don’t forget to check out the photos on my site.

Shalom, and may your names be inscribed in the Book of Life

Ross Nichols

Quite a few UIWU folk gathered in the town of St. Francisville, Louisana over this past week of Sukkoth, or the feast of Tabernacles. The gathering was sponsored by Roots of Faith, an educational ministry created and led by Ross Nichols. Part of their work is the restoration of the historic Jewish synagogue in their town, Temple Sinai, built in 1903. Sabbath and festival services are held there and this past Sabbath, the Torah scroll was chanted in Hebrew for the first time in over 80 years. Dennis Jones, who serves as Vice President of UIWU, did the reading and Genesis 1, the same text read at the dedication of the Synagogue in 1903, was text chosen. You can read more of the story of this restorative effort, carried on in cooperation with the Historic Society of St. Francisville, in the lastest issue of the United Israel Bulletin.

The entire weekend was packed with inspiring activities and occasions. Joe Good of Hatikva Ministries joined the group and instructed them in the traditions of waving the four species (Lev 23:40), which many did for the first time. Representatives of the St. Francisville Historical Society spoke to the group about the history of the Jewish community and the synagogue in St. Francisville. There was a also a tour of the lovely but abandoned school that is next door to the synagogue property, donated by Julius Freyhan, a prominent Jewish citizen of the parish in the early 1900s.

The folks at Roots of Faith have posted a lovely collage of professional quality photographs of the events this past week, including the rededication of the synagogue. We have already decided that our 2008 Sukkoth celebration will also be held in St. Francisville. We hope many of our readers will have time to make plans so they can join us.