Ten from the Nations: Torah Awaking Among Non-Jews

I recently attended a book launch about the growing interest of Christians who are Zionists, learn Torah and keep the commandments and want to help Jews and Israel and who have asked forgiveness for the past sins of Christianity. Rivkah Lambert Adler’s book is a leap of faith in that it features 34 essays from current and former Christians who have embraced Israel and the Torah (without the need to convert) and articles by Jews who interact and support these initiatives.

Rivkah, in her introduction, said she does not agree with all the views expressed and these views can make Jews feel awkward.

On a personal level, I am sceptical of this, although I have met Christians through business who do espouse these views. I also thought, “Why do we need this? Don’t we have enough challenges with Jews who have no connection to Torah or Israel?”

We live in world where even our basic right to choose Jerusalem as our Capital is challenged.

We have the labels of BDS, Occupiers, lies and hate about Israel, Muslim threat of extermination of Israel, Jews against Israel and the world against Israel.

Why all the focus on little Israel?  Even If was not a believing Jew, then the fact that the world is so fixated would give me reason for hope. Maybe the words of the Prophets are true.

So, on the other side we have the labels of Geula (redemption), Torah for the Nations, Christian Zionists, Rebuilding the Temple, the most righteous army in the world, light to the Nations – Peace.

So which narrative is true?

We Jews are very insular. History has taught us to be careful of the goyim. So who can blame us? The world is not exactly nice to Israel even today. It is like 1939 all over again, except this time we have our State.

So here is the thing. Is the rebirth of the Jewish State the start of the Final Redemption? Surely, there are miracles and the prophecies coming true today. There are prophecies that the non-Jews will join us in the process. They believe they are part of this process?

But what about the Jews on the far Left and the Haredi who do believe this is Reshit Geula – start of the Redemption Process?? I won’t comment on the Far Left, But I will comment on the Haredim.

In the Daf Yomi Sanhedrin 94, it talks about how King Hiskiya was meant to be the Messiah, but he did not give thanks or praise to Hashem for the miracles that occurred. And this is my fear – maybe this is the Geula – so how come so many Jews are blind to this? Surely, all the Jews should be saying Hallel on Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim. Heaven forbid, like King Hizkiya – they could delay the Redemption. How strange is that the goyim recognise the miracles of Israel and want to be part of this wonderful dream?

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach once said: “If only the world knew that the Temple would bring peace to the world, they would do everything in their power in the help make this dream happen.”

This is the spirit of the revolution taking place and the sentiments expressed in this book.

The book is split into two sections – Voices from the Nations and Voices from the Jewish People.

The essays in the book and the people of the Nations appear to be genuine in their love of the Torah and Israel. Many have charities and programs to help Israel. They are not looking to convert the Jews.

Many of them believe they are from the Lost 10 Tribes and they themselves called themselves Ephraimites, Noahide etc.

They keep many of the Jewish commandments, like kashrut, Shabbat and the holidays and they visit Israel regularly. Many of them started to question their own Christianity and inconsistencies in the Old Testament and New Testament vs the Torah.

What is interesting is that they are not looking to convert to Judaism, but they keep the commandments as goyim. Many do not rule out the role of Jesus in their beliefs. We Jews may see that as contradiction.

I think we need to back a quite a few centuries to understand the dynamics. At a certain point, the laws of conversion were tightened up, and Judaism shunned accepting mass groups of converts. The Prophets wrote about non-Jews returning to Hashem at the end of days.

To understand this deeper, we need to look at the term Ger- a righteous non-Jew. Technically, a Ger is one who rejects not only idolatry, but a partnership with God (i.e. Jesus).

The book highlights the growing trend amongst Christians who want to become Gerim, but not necessarily convert. It is these Gerim that see today’s world events unfolding and want to be a part of the Redemption!!

—

For further information, Ten from The Nations: Torah Awaking Among Non-Jews is available on Amazon and at Book Depository or at Pomeranz Books in Jerusalem.