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Are Jews Israelites?This letter was printed in the May 12th issue of The Vindicator and May 12th issue of The Cauldron. I am writing in response to article in The Vindicator, Volume 27, Issue 8 ("a student publication of Cleveland State University") entitled "Who Stole The Soul?". If "an Israelite is anyone whose genetic lineage is traceable in a strictly biological sense to Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel" then I, as well as the approximately 14 million other Jews in this world are Israelites. Indeed, with the help of G-d, is has been we who have been named Jews that carry the banner of Judaism, Israelite and Hebrew culture throughout history. No other people throughout history has claimed to be Jewish, until now it seems. Where does the word "Jew" come from? It comes from the Hebrew word Yehuda (Judea) which was the ancient Kingdom of Jews in the Land of Israel. After the conquest of the southern Kingdom of Judea and the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Romans in 70 a.c.e., the majority of Jews left Israel and dispersed throughout the world. Since then there have been Jewish communities in all countries including Europe, Ethiopia, India, China, and surrounding Middle Eastern countries. Jews took on the complexion of whoever was living in that area. In hotter climates we developed darker skin and in colder climates we developed lighter skins. If you go to Israel today you will see Jews of all different colors and features. The author of the article say "it's amazing how many of them can only trace their lineage but so far." That's not true at all. Jews can trace their roots back to the beginning. Just ask some of the Jews here at Cleveland State. What about the Kohanim, the line of priests that started with Moses's brother Aaron? Can any nonJews claim this descendence? I have never heard of any non-Jews who do. Yet when Jews read from the Torah every Shabbat (Sabbath) they are called upon to read by whether they are a Kohain, Levi or Yisrael. If you go to any synagogue in the world you will see this. How is it that Jews could intermarry and forcibly convert people thus creating "fake European Jews" as this article claims? Anyone who has ever converted to Judaism will tell you how difficult it is to become Jewish. Authentic Judaism has not only never sought converts but even discourages people from converting. How could Jews forcibly convert people or even intermarry with people when we were locked up in ghettos and faced with Inquisitions, pogroms, blood libels and other such hate? And intermarriage? Torah true Judaism doesn't allow intermarriage with non-Jews. Judaism is a race, religion, ethnicity and a way of life. The author of the article says that "many historians can agree that not all of the tribes of Israel were held in Egyptian bondage". But that's not true according to the Bible. The author goes on to ask "why are Jews around the world currently celebrating Passover?" That's because we are the same people who were enslaved in Egypt. How many other groups have been celebrating Passover and eating matza (unleavened bread) for the past thousands of years? With what documentation does the author question the authenticity of the Jewish Nation? The "facts" and quotes in the article don't even add up. What is this book called "The History of Edom" that is quoted so often? I have been unable to find it on Cleveland State's computers, the Cleveland Public Library or on Ohio Link. The one English interpretation of the Bible quote listed is contradictory because it was distorted as were the rest of the Bible references. The Bible references used cannot prove that the Jews of today are not the Jews of history. Jews are not European. Jews are not Caucasian. Jews are not White. Jews are Jewish and no other identities are necessary or even desirable. Our religion is Judaism, our language is Hebrew, and our country is Israel. Why is it that no other group except the Jews maintained a movement to reestablish a State of Israel in the ancient Jewish homeland, despite thousands of years of persecution, unless today's Jews and the Biblical Israelites are one and the same? The miracle of the Return to Israel and Israel's overwhelming victories over enemy armies, despite being out- numbered and out-gunned is proof that the Covenant G-d made with the Jewish people has been fulfilled.
Binyamin (Benjamin) Bresky
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