In 1995  looking over all this history and talking with David Horowitz about what he remembered and we made a startling discovery using Arthur Spier’s Comprehensive Hebrew Calendar–a most useful book that has all the holydays and Torah readings between 1900-2100, correlated with the Gregorian calendar. The Torah reading that weekend, for Sabbath, January 1, 1944, was Vayiggash–Genesis 44:18-47:17, which begins the tearful but joyful tale of Joseph revealing himself to his brothers. The Torah portion begins with the phrase “Then Judah came near (vayiggash) to him,” and leads up to the scene of Joseph’s revelation of himself to his brothers.

When we told David this he was utterly astounded, as he had not remembered or realized it. That reading, Vayiggash, has indeed been a central one for UIWU and its purposes through all these years. The ancient Rabbis must have realized its implications as well since the Haftarah reading paired with it is Ezekiel 37:15-28 about the “two sticks,” Judah and Joseph, being joined as one, just following the famous vision of the valley of Dry Bones, and thus serving as its interpretation.

When we got our UIWU Torah scroll from the late Edna Dillon, of blessed memory, in August, 2003 and we first unrolled it here in Charlotte we were curious to see where it had last been read. It had been stored in a closet for at least 30 years and was touched by no one. You guessed it–the Torah was rolled to Genesis 44:18–Vayiggash! Edna said it was only used when David was able to visit the West Union, West Virginia group, so he must have read from that passage on his last visit with them–probably sometime in the early 1970s.

UIWU Founder David Horowitz at age 98

The initial plans for forming United Israel World Union were made in Waterville, N.Y. over the weekend of December 30 and 31, 1943 and January 1, 1944 Tevet 3,4,5 in upstate New York at the home of the Burlingames. The official founders’ meeting was held on February 5, 1944.  By-laws and a simple statement of faith were drawn up. The motto of the movement was “My House Shall Be Called A House of Prayer for All Peoples.” UIWU was officially and legally incorporated on April 17, 1944 under the laws of the State of New York. A Fifth Avenue headquarters office opened in New York on May 11, 1944. We now have the 60 year archive for UIWU stored at our new editorial headquarters offices in Charlotte, NC.

Over the past few months I have been going through those early files and have been endlessly fascinated at what I have found. We have original minutes of the first meeting, an initial handwritten membership list totaling 67, counting David, and many other historic documents, including David’s hand-drawn sketch of the stationary for the organization. I think one of the most exciting things I have found was a yellowed, typewritten, one-page outline, clearly the original, that listed out the main “creed” of UIWU under five headings.  We have reproduced it here for all of you to see.  The content is as amazing as it is simple and elegant.  Sixty years later, as I write this editorial, I am deeply moved by David’s biblical and prophetic vision.

I mention these details, not as an exercise in historical trivia, but as a vital and fascinating part of the story. Some years ago I decided to look up the dates of these meetings on the Jewish calendar. As most of our readers know, each week a specific portion from the Torah and the Prophets is read in synagogues all around the world. I was just curious as to what might have been the readings during some of these founding meetings.  I had noticed over the years that many important historical events, especially involving the affairs of the Jewish people, seemed to correlate with the themes and emphases of these weekly readings. I was amazed at what I found and want to share it with our readers.

On the very weekend of that initial founding meeting, held over New Year’s weekend (1943/44), the Torah reading is called “Vayiggash” and is taken from Gen 44:18-47:27. The Hebrew word “Vayiggash” literally means “And he drew near,” and is the opening phrase of the reading for that Sabbath. It is the moving account of how Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, drew near to his lost brother Joseph who had been sold into slavery as a teenager. In these very chapters Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers.

There is a hidden metaphorical meaning here that is quite profound.  Apparently the ancient Rabbis understood it, judging by the text from the Prophets that they paired with this particular Torah reading. The brother named Judah becomes the ancestor of the Jewish people. Joseph, in contrast, is the father of Ephraim and Manasseh, the largest and most representative of the “lost tribes” that were carried into captivity by the Assyrians in the 8th century B.C.E. and totally lost their identity.  In the Genesis story Joseph is completely forgotten. It is just as if he did not exist. His father Jacob gives him up for dead.

This is precisely what the Hebrew Prophets predict will happen to the northern tribes of Israel. They are to completely lose their identity as Hebrews or Israelites and after a few centuries are mixed among the nations of the world so that everyone assumes they are Gentiles. In effect, as Israelites, like Joseph of old, they are “given up for dead.” As the prophet Hosea puts it, they will become “not my people.” However, just as Joseph rose to great heights and finally made himself known to his brothers, the Prophets predict that the “lost tribes” will regain their identity as Israelites and join with their brother Judah (the Jewish people) in a spiritual renaissance that will bring redemption to the entire world. This is surely the most dominant theme of the Hebrew Prophets.[1]

The reading from the Prophets that is attached to this particular weekly Torah portion is Ezekiel 37:15-28. There the prophet Ezekiel is told to take in his hands “two sticks,” one for “Judah and his companions,” and the other for “Joseph and his companions.” Historians refer to these as the “two houses of Israel.” In other words, not all Israelites are Jews, but all Jews are Israelites.  The Jewish people mainly represent one tribe—that of Judah, with some additions. The “lost tribes” are primarily Joseph with some elements of the other tribes associated with him.

On that historic first weekend of January, 1944 it is surely significant that as David and his small band of dedicated associates gathered to actually “found” UIWU, Jews around the world were reading in their synagogues these meaningful passages from Genesis and Ezekiel that deal with Joseph and the return of the “lost tribes.” David has no idea of this correspondence at the time and when I pointed it out to him some years ago he was astounded at the association. Many times in history it seems that significant events occur in close thematic association with these Torah readings. I suppose one could conclude that these are matters of chance or strained interpretation, but in so many cases the correspondence is so striking and impressive that it seems to witness to an “unseen Hand” at work in history. This is particularly the case when it comes to key events in the history of the people of Israel. One cannot help but wonder if that weekend in January, 1944 was such a case. Zechariah warns us not to despise the “day of small things.” Often, as redemptive events unfold it is not so much the size or public notoriety that counts, as whether the ideas involved are those “whose time has come.” We believe the founding of UIWU with its unique principles 60 years ago represents one of those pioneering efforts whose full results are yet to be seen.

[1] See our Web site article “United Israel and the Coming Redemption: Four Major Themes,” which contains some of the major texts (www.unitedisrael.org).

It just so happens that on January 1st, 1943, the weekend that United Israel World Union was officially formed in upstate NY by David Horowitz, that the Torah reading was indeed Vayigash! David had no idea of this at the time, and never noticed it years later when it was pointed out to him around his 90th year.

There could have been no more appropriate date or reading, in that Horowitz at that time represented the ONLY significant person of the House of Judah who was determined to do something to “DRAW NEAR TO JOSEPH.” Is this not rather incredible!! Indeed this Joseph cycle of readings has proven very significant in our own time. Allenby took Jerusalem on December 9, 1917 (just “happened” to be on Kislev 24!), and the reading with Mikketz (Gen 41). The UN Partition vote was on November 29, 1947 and the reading was Vayeshev. In both cases, the nations that I would associate with Joseph come to the aid of Judah and his companions, saving their LIVES in a great time of trouble, and there is a kind of “uniting” of the two houses even then, but in a preliminary way.

It is obvious that the Rabbis who complied the Haphtorah readings from the Prophets saw more than an ordinary meaning in this phrase, in that they chose Ezekiel 37:15-28, the passage about the two “sticks,” one for Judah and the sons of Israel his companions, and the other for Joseph, and all the house of Israel and his companions. Those sticks are UNITED, thus the whole idea of UNITED ISRAEL which David Horowitz has pioneered for over 50 years now. One stick IS the stick of Joseph, but it is in the hand of Ephraim–and we learn why in next weeks Torah reading where the aged Jacob adopts the two sons of Joseph, but puts the younger Ephraim, BEFORE the older Manasseh, and gives Joseph the birthright, taken from Reuben, the firstborn son. You might have expected it to go to Judah, since Judah is clearly next in line since Simeon and Levi were eliminated for their cruelty (see Gen 49:5-7), as well as being one of the strongest and most prominent of the twelve tribes, but Jacob rather chose his beloved Rachel’s son Joseph. Joseph is also given the special plot of land in Shechem, where he was later buried, and the site of such contention now with the Palestinians (Gen 48:22; Josh 24:32). YHVH declares that these TWO sticks will become ONE in His Hand (Ezk 37:20) and the following verses explain how that will happen:

I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them ONE NATION in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and ONE King will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms.” This chapter of course opens with the vision of the Valley of Dry Bones.

So the children of Israel end up in TWO COMPANIES, as was already hinted at the previous Torah reading Vayishlach (Gen 32:10).

The whole Joseph story seems to echo this history of the Lost Tribes. Joseph is sold into slavery, as was ancient Israel, the Northern Kingdom. He is effectively given up for DEAD (thus the valley of Dry Bones), and forgotten by his brothers, here represented mostly by Judah, who remains in the Land and returns to the Land after the Babylonian disaster. He marries a GENTILE woman, an Egyptian, and eventually reaches a great position of power and prominence, the highest of the kings of the earth–and for all practical purposes completely loses his identity–but all this time YHVH was with him. He is the DREAMER, the one who did not fit in, the one rejected by his brothers. According to Genesis 49:22-26 the descendents of Joseph will achieve great blessings and incredible wealth, and Moses adds his own details to the prophecy in Deut 33:13-17–Joseph is to push to the ends of the earth, and have the favor of “the one who dwells in the Bush,” achieving great favor and prominence. We should expect then, at the time when Judah returns to the land (the prophets declare: I will save the house of Judah first), which we have seen the this past century, that Joseph will exist someone on the earth, looked upon as Gentile, but somehow oriented to the God of Israel and the Bible, but with incredible wealth and power. The key then would be that large portions of such “Gentile” populations would begin to feel an irresistible pull toward Judah and the Land of Israel, and be drawn home. There is a preliminary return, spoken of in Jeremiah 3 and 16, but also that massive return that will pale the Exodus in size…we seem to be living in such days, and have for the past 50 years, but especially I think we have seen the return of large pockets of Joseph to God, Israel, and Torah in the past 25 years. It can only increase not decrease, and it is one of the strangest phenomena on the earth today, as thousand of “Gentiles” seem suddenly interested in discovering their Hebraic “roots.”

There appear to be some incredible parallels between the Joseph story, the Lost Tribes saga, and the story Jesus tells in Luke 15, most often referred to as the Prodigal Son. One son stays “home,” the other becomes “lost” and forgotten among the Gentiles, but eventually returns home…

Both Houses of Israel, that is Judah and Ephraim (usually called Israel in the prophets, in contrast to Judah) are chastised and rebuked, but the language of Jeremiah 3:6-14 is most important and interesting. Judah is called treacherous while Israel is called faithless (lit. turned, slidden away), but v. 11 says that “Faithless Israel has proven herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.” That, no doubt, becomes the source of the jealous that Isaiah 11 speaks about, and it is echoed in the Prodigal son story. Judah is very reluctant to give up her privileged place of “faithfulness” to a backslidden Israel–but it is Judah’s attitude that has to change. In the end, though falling into great apostasy, Joseph is proven MORE RIGHTEOUS, and returns home. Also, based on the words of Jacob in Gen 49 it does appear that the Scepter departs from Judah and eventually goes to Joseph also–from him comes the Stone, the Rock of Israel–or Shiloh…This will surely be a surprise to all the world, both Jews and Christians, who are so focused on a Davidic Messiah figure.

The story in the Torah today is itself so very moving. What a scene, and yet there is such power in the grace and love that he ends up showing his brothers. It is easy to forget that the sons of Israel are a very diverse mix, born of four different women, and with very different temperaments and characteristics, as are outlined by father Jacob in next Sabbath’s reading.

A nice way of remembering David might be to revisit his remarkable biography which you can find at:

http://unitedisrael.org/United-Israel-Organization-Information/Founder-David-Horowitz.html

I can also attach it as a PDF file for those of you who might want it as a more permanent file on your own computer.

Shalom to all,

James Tabor on a rainy, cloudy, day in Charlotte…

Horowitzbio.pdf

Friday, April 24th

5:00pm  Registration and Welcome

7:00pm  Welcoming Shabbat: Candle Lighting and Kiddush

7:30pm  Celebrating 65 Years of UIWU: James Tabor

Sabbath, April 25th

9:00am  The Three Greatest Chapters of the Hebrew Bible: James Tabor

10:30am Our Incredible American Hebrew Heritage: Ralph Buntyn

Noon Break and Open Time

1:30pm  Amazing Treasures of the Mishnah: Joseph Good

3:30pm Open House at the UIWU Offices: Archive Display & Reception

7:00pm After Hours: Musical Program with David & Patty Tyler, their band, and our talented musical performers at the Hampton Inn nearby

Sunday, April 26th

9:00am  UIWU 66th Annual Business Meeting

Presidential Address by James Tabor: Presiding: Ralph Buntyn

10:00am The Three Greatest Chapters of the Hebrew Bible: Ross Nichols

Noon Break and Open Time

2:30pm  ‘Let Him Go Up’: Connecting to Israel in our Time: Hanoch Young with John and Carin Carlson

4:00pm A Surprise Announcement: James Tabor

We are extremely excited about our plans and program and we hope everyone will make every possible effort to attend this year. This is an event you will not want to miss. We will hold our meeting at the Doubletree Guest Suites in South Park, just as we did last year. This location in a prime area of the city, with shops and restaurants conveniently located within walking distance.  There is no registration fee to attend this meeting and all are welcome. We were also able to get an exceptionally reasonable rate for rooms, see details below.

Here are the program highlights:

This year marks the end of 65 years of UIWU history and as part of our celebration we will have a special Open House and Reception at our UIWU offices here in Charlotte with many of the priceless and historic archives on display for the first time. These are materials related to the life and career of David Horowitz, our founder, as well as the history of UIWU itself.

James Tabor will conduct an in-depth class titled “The Three Greatest Chapters of the Hebrew Bible”

Ross Nichols will conduct an in-depth class titled “The Three Greatest Chapters of the Hebrew Bible”

Ralph Buntyn will present an illustrated lecture on “Our Incredible American Hebrew Heritage”

Joseph Good will teach a class titled “Amazing Treasures from the Mishnah”

Hanoch Young will lead a session on “Let Him Go Up: Connecting to Israel in our Time,” that will include input from John Carlson and a stunning special media production by artist Carin Carlson

A musical program hosted by David and Patty Tyler, including an “sneak peek” at the forthcoming “Ephramite” CD that is being produced by musicians in our movement

A special “Surprise Announcement” by James Tabor

Our formal program begins Friday evening at 5pm and concludes at 5pm on Sunday, however, we encourage any who can to stay over Sunday night so we can continue to spend informal time together through the evening in the lovely hotel setting. We have also planned more break time and leisure time this year to allow for socializing and informal meetings and discussions.

For those flying in we will try to arrange airport pickups. Please let Timothy Thompson (twt@embarqmail.com) know your schedule and he will be in touch with you about arrangements.

Hotel Details: We have blocked off a limited number of rooms (one bedroom suites with kitchen) for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights at the special low rate of $99.00 per night. You can get single, double, triple, or quad all at the same low price. If you want Thursday night before, or Monday night after you can ask the booking person and perhaps be able to work out the same rate as well but the three nights are guaranteed. Call the Doubletree at 704-364-2400, ask for reservations, tell them you are with the group “United Israel.” Be sure you get this special rate. Our agent, if you have any problems, is Cameron Hall, but you don’t need to speak to her to make reservations.

The Doubletree Guest Suites is located at:

6300 Morrison Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28211

Web site:

Doubletree Guest Suites at Southpark