Originally Published December , In Genesis et seq. And we see history repeating itself with the second son getting the bigger blessing. Joseph held out his sons to Jacob, and Jacob crossed his hands to bless Ephraim with his right. He then blessed them both. Shortly thereafter, Jacob called together all his sons and laid out his impressions of each and what was to befall them all.
Joseph received an extra portion of land which Jacob had won from the Amorites, and the tribe of Ephraim would be landed in what is now central Israel, between the west bank of the Jordan River and the coast of the Mediterranean.
There are times when Ephraim is referred to as a son of Jacob. Gold goes on to state, "Throughout the Bible we find cases of a child being born to one set of parents and raised by another, a de facto adoption.
Yet adoption de jure, adoption as a legal institution, is unknown to Jewish law. Only in modern Israel have rabbinic authorities been forced to establish procedures for the adoption of children" ibid. It was not until that adoption became legal in Israel, when rabbinic authorities had to establish procedures for the adoption of children.
Our own congregations are filled with adopted children, many originally from other lands, cultures, and races. Cross-cultural and cross-racial adoptions have been a part of our history from biblical times. As our Jewish community continues to welcome many Jews of different backgrounds into our congregations, we should remember that our ancestors provided positive role models for informal and formal adoption into Judaism.
Jews of all races, upbringings, and backgrounds continue to enrich our community, just as they have done for thousands of years. The American Jewish community is now more diverse than ever. Of America's 6. According to our study, diverse Jews are: 1 multicultural Jews by heritage; 2 children of interracial Jewish couples; 3 spouses and partners of Jews who have converted or are interested in Judaism; 4 religious seekers who choose Judaism; and 5 children of color who have been adopted by Jewish families.
You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt. Exodus This emphasis upon the treatment of aliens or foreigners-those who are new to a community or society-is not unusual within the Torah. Early Jewish tradition emphasizes the pain of the outsider and seeks solutions for it.
Commandments calling for sensitivity and justice for the ger are found in thirty-six different places within the Torah, more than the mention of any other mitzvah. Harvey J. Although we may not legally or formally adopt the children of a relative or friend, what are some of the ways that we provide for the children of others as we do for own?
Rabbi Marcus L. Burstein, D. Affiliate Hat ReformJudaism. Jacob Adopts Ephraim and Manasseh. As Gentiles who were born in sin and have lived our whole lives in rebellion against God, we have no part in the people of God.
We are not members of the family of God. However, God looked on us with compassion and adopted us into His family as His children. We are the workers who were hired at the eleventh hour, the prodigal son who had forsaken his family, the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the branches that have been grafted in.
We are Ephraim and Manasseh, who have been adopted into the family because the Father has shown us compassion, grace, and mercy. Perhaps that is why Jacob is listed in the great Hall of Faith in Hebrews He is not listed for trusting God in his travels, in his dealings with Laban, or in his wrestling with the angel, but in his blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh.
Sunday Worship 11 am Sunday Evening Service 6pm. Claiming Ephraim and Manasseh Genesis July 21, by: Gregg Hunter 0 comments Posted in: Genesis Twitter Facebook MySpace.
Delicous Stumble Digg.
0コメント