Roots and Branches 312:

New Jewish Calendar? | Jeremiah in Ireland | Where the Ark?

Jackson Snyder

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Hello, Netzari! Blessed Hebraic New Year 6009!

This is Jackson Snyder with the Netzarim Virtual / Vero Yahad Hebraic Roots Group (NEvy.us). Next meeting April 3, 7PM and April 4, 2PM at Poinciana 441 vero Beach, FL. Directions are at www.YAHpop.us.) 

STARTING WITH THE NEW JERUSALEM SANHEDRIN

Regarding this NEW (biblical) YEAR and whether the NEW SANHEDRIN was going to set the year from 5769 to 6009 where it belongs - (the New Testament refers to the Sanhedrin as "the Council," Mark 15:43 et al.) - I contacted my associate Rab. Baruch Lev in Jerusalem. Here are the questions I asked:

Jack Snyder: R. Lev, there is a lot of scuttlebut that the new Sanhedrin is considering adding back the years deleted by R. Akiba on account of Kokhbah’s temporary messiahship. I thought if anyone knew if there were truth about this, it would be you. (Thus it would bring us to the liturgical year 6009 last Shabbat, putting us into the Millennium, according to Apostolic sources.)

Baruch Lev: First of all, the Sanhedrin is not recognized by any as authoritative other than themselves. So it wouldn’t make much difference. No one would accept their ruling. But in any event it is extremely unlikely they would even consider fiddling with the calendar in that way. Fixing the calendar was the last decision made by the real Sanhedrin in 358. 

(Note: what happened in 358 AD would be worth a Yahoo search.)

Baruch Lev: There is a principle that you can’t over turn a ruling of a previous court unless the current court is “greater in wisdom and in number,” and modesty prevents any modern court from claiming they are wiser than an earlier court.

Jack Snyder: So I’m still looking for the Siddur h’Doret, which supposedly is the decree of R. Akiba of the change of calendar in about 136 AD. Did you ever come across that or know where I could find it?

Baruch Lev:No idea, sorry. Not sure how they could claim to have something like that; the oldest extant siddur is that of Rav Amra Gaon, from the 9th century.

Jack Snyder: I also hear that Noachites may make Aliyah if they swear not to keep the Sabbath, not to utter the Name, and not to abstain from unclean foods. Any truth there?

Baruch Lev: Definitely an “urban legend.” The only people who can make aliyah are people who either have one Jewish grandparent (either side) or who had a recognized conversion to Judaism. The government could care less what kind of religious acts people who make aliyah do or don’t do. Gentiles can in theory immigrate to Israel, but it is rather difficult.

Jack Snyder: Finally, I learned that Lieberman (not Joe) is #2 in the (Israel) government now, and I had read in your journals that this man is dangerous. What’s the upshot?

Baruch Lev:Yes, Lieberman has been appointed Foreign Minister, roughly equivalent to Secretary of State. A real disaster in my opinion. The main is a racist and has greatly offended most of our neighbors. Not the sort of guy you want negotiating for you!

Thank you, R. Lev!

CAVE OF THE LETTERS | Bar Kokhba, Messiah

We had a short discussion about the letters of common citizens found along with Bar Kokhbah's military directives in caves near the Dead Sea. One of the greatest revelations from "The Cave of Letters" is the pack of documents belonging to woman named "Babatha." These letters give us an incredible look into the life of a woman from Bible times who owned property and fended for herself. The letters are worth our time, especially if we see biblical women as downtrodden chattel. Read the story of Babatha here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/scrolls/life.html

The so“Cave of Letters” was, as I mentioned, a stopping-over-place for Simeon bar Kokhba, the rebel leader of the last Jewish Revolt. Several of his directives were also found in this cave, and you can look them over here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/scrolls/about.html

WHEREABOUTS OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

The resting place of the Ark came up in conversation; and though there are many theories, the Scriptures tell us where it is; that is, if you regard ALL of the Scriptures. Here is the location of the Ark, found in the Canon of 70 that I mentioned in my last post. (This passage is in context with the deportation of the Judeans to Babylon.)

2 Maccabees 2:1. It is on record that the prophet Jeremiah ordered the deportees to take the fire, as we have described, 2. and how, having given them the Torah, the prophet warned the deportees never to forget Yahweh's precepts nor to let their thoughts be tempted by the sight of gold and silver statues or the finery adorning them. 3. Among other similar admonitions, he urged them not to let the Torah depart from their hearts. 4. The same document also describes how the prophet, warned by an oracle, gave orders for the tent and the ark to go with him, when he set out for the mountain that Moses had climbed to survey Elohim's heritage. 5. On his arrival, Jeremiah found a cave-dwelling, into which he put the tent, the ark, and the altar of incense, afterwards blocking up the entrance. 6. Some of his companions went back later to mark out the path but were unable to find it. 7. When Jeremiah learned this, he reproached them, ‘The place is to remain unknown,’ he said, ‘until Elohim gathers his people together again and shows them his mercy.’