Heroines of Chanukah

Heroines of Chanukah
Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

Most people know about the Maccabeean victory over the Greco-Syrians and the
miracle of the oil and the Menorah in the Temple. We all seem to know about the
Heroes of Chanukah; but many people do not know about the Heroines of Chanukah
found in the four books of the Maccabees and the Apocryphal book of Judith. The
story of two women named Hannah and one named Judith. Ironically Judith is the
feminine name for Judah, which is the name of the Hero of Chanukah "Judah
Maccabee" AKA: the Hammer!

Let us begin with the first Hannah whom we shall call Hannah the Mother.
Antiochus Epiphanies attempted to force this woman to renounce her Jewish faith
and her G-d by enduring being an eye witness of each of her seven sons being
tortured and killed. Each dying a brutally painful death with the utmost dignity
and bravery, refusing to renounce their faith in Judaism and the G-d of Israel.
The account of martyrdom rivals that of the modern day Foxes book of martyrs and
such fortitude in the face of certain death gave the Jewish people the strength
to fight and die as martyrs if necessary during the tyranny of the evil
Antiochus Epiphanies.

The second Hannah, whom we will call, Hannah the Bride, was a woman of shock and
awe. She was to marry Elazar, which was Judah Maccabees brother and wore nothing
but her birthday suit to the wedding; obviously offending and shocking everyone!
The shocked and blushing Jewish community said, "What are you doing!?" Hannah
replied, "I'm making a point! If your shocked and offended to see me naked, you
should be shocked even more by Antiochus' and his antics to decimate our people!
Do I embarrass you by my nudity? You should be more embarrassed by Antiochus'
attempt to strip our people bare of their faith and traditions!" Hannah's point
was made and taken and it inspired Israel to take up arms against Antiochus and
his army. As a result they won their first encounter and engagement against the
Greco-Syrians.

Judith on the other hand was a widow. A gorgeous widow! Like the Hadassah
(Esther) of her day. One day she and her handmaid went to Holophernes,
Antiochus' general who cut off the city of Bethulia's water supply and acted
like they defected to the Greco-Syrians side stating that they believed G-d was
going to give Israel over into their hands because of Israel's gross sin and
disobedience against the Torah. Her good looks and smooth talk won Holophernes
over and she and her handmaid was permitted to stay in the Greco-Syrian camp and
to come and go as please in order to pray and to obtain kosher food for
themselves.

Holophernes was smitten with Judith's beauty and impressed by her wisdom that he
invited her to his tent for dinner. This was Judith's chance to make her move.
She fed Holophernes salty cheese which made him thirsty and so Judith got
Holophernes drunk on wine until he passed out. Once she knew he was out like a
light she cut off his head with his own sword and carried it out in the bag that
she normally carried her kosher food in so as not to raise suspicions. By the
time the Greco-Syrian army discovered the body of their headless general Judith
and her handmaid was presenting the head of General Holophernes to the elders of
Bethulia. The Greco-Syrian army retreated and Bethulia was saved. Judith's
bravery and cunning renewed the fighting spirit of the Jewish People to continue
their conflict against the evil Antiochus Epiphanies.

The Biblical Basis for Celebrating Chanukah

The Biblical Basis for Celebrating Chanukah
By Yehudah ben Shomeyr

Chanukah, to the misconception of almost everyone, like the Feasts of the L-RD
in Leviticus 23, Chanukah is for every Believer in Yeshua the Messiah.

Chanukah has a long history, longer than many people may think. The majority of
the people believe Chanukah was established and instituted between the 500 year
gap of the writing of the Tanak (O.T.) and the Renewed Covenant (N.T.), during
the time of the Levitical family of the Maccabees, when they took back the
Temple from the Greco-Syrian invaders and rededicated it and got it back up and
running again. People think that since it has no connection to canonical
Scripture, it has no relevance or place in their lives. They think it's purely
a "Jewish thing", when in reality King Solomon instituted it, the Maccabees
re-instituted it and made it what it is today, and Yeshua the Messiah
celebrated it, and will re-institute it again when the 3rd Temple is built!

Chanukah is NOT the "Jewish Christmas"; it has NOTHING to do with Tammuz, Santa
Clause, or the birth of Jesus. The only commonalities between Christmas and
Chanukah is that we exchange and give gifts, which is more of a modern
institution in reactions to Christmas, and it steamed from the fact that Jews
gave (Tzedekah) charity on Biblical and Jewish holidays. Also sometimes
greenery is hung, not because of the reasons people do it for Christmas, but
because the Maccabees used Chanukah to also celebrate a late Sukkot (Feast of
Tabernacles) which is a type of harvest festival in which greenery was hung as
decoration.

In I Kings 8 and II Chronicles 7, it speaks of King Solomon fulfilling the life
long dream of his father David and himself, of having built the Holy Temple of
YHVH. It says the he "Chanukah-ed" it, dedicated it, and had a 7 day festival
and ended it on the 8th day, hence 8 days of Chanukah, just as we have today.

In Ezra 6:16-17 it tells of the Babylonian exiles who have returned to Jerusalem
and have built and Chanukah-ed the 2nd Temple. Verse 16 says that "The children
of the captivity kept the "Chanukah" of this house of G-D with joy."

In I Maccabees 4:52-59 and II Maccabees 10:1-8 it recounts the reason we
celebrate Chanukah today. After Yehudah Maccabee recaptures the 2nd Temple and
began to cleanse it and restore the service of it, they were about to light the
Holy Menorah when they discovered they only had enough oil for it to stay lit
for one day. It took 7 days to produce more, but they lit it anyway and a
miracle occurred, the Menorah stayed lit a whole 7 days until more was made!

Apparently the dates for celebrating Chanukah have changed through out the ages.
A new date for each time the Temple was built and dedicated, or cleansed and
rededicated. But to this day we keep the days set forth by the Maccabees in I
Maccabees 4:59 and II Maccabees 10:8 because that was the last rededication
until the Messiah returns to build the 3rd Holy Temple. Chanukah today
commemorates the rededication of the Temple, the defeat of the Greco-Syrian
invaders, affirms our Jewishness, and commemorates the miracle of the oil.

Because of II Maccabees 10:8 commanding the Jewish people to keep the 25th day
of the month of Kislev and the 7 days that follow, we see Yeshua in John
10:22-23 keeping Chanukah! If Messiah celebrated Chanukah, that's good enough
for me! I want to do it to, I want to be as much like my Messiah as I possibly
can, I want to do what He did, and experience what He experienced.

So what does Chanukah mean for Believers in Messiah Yeshua?

As mentioned before, the Temple is important to the Messiah, and He kept the
Festival of Chanukah there. But on a Spiritual level WE are the Temples of G-D
(I Cor. 3:16; 6:15-20; II Cor. 6:15-18; Eph. 2:18-22) and ever so often the
invaders of Self and Sin desecrate that sacred place and we need to wage all out
war, kick out the invaders, cleanse and rededicate ourselves back to G-D and His
Torah. This is exactly what we do at Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (Lev.
23:26-32), so I like to think of Chanukah as Yom Kippur part shatayim (two)!

Jews! Stand up and be counted. Rededicate your self to G-D and His Torah.
Christians! Toss out that Christmas tree (Jer. 10:3-4), and grab a Menorah!
The only "birthday" the Messiah celebrated at this time of the year wasn't His
own, but the Temples! How could we not do likewise!?
Happy Chanukah!

Once I received some junk snail mail by the Messianic evangelical missions group
"Chosen People Ministries" and the first words to greet my eyes in bold blue
letters was "Merry Messiahmas!" I laughed at the idiocy and was angered by the
ignorance and or blatant syncretism. As if simply replacing the Greek word
"Christ" for the Hebrew word "Messiah" makes the pagan holiday now okay for Jews
to celebrate! Breaking it down it's, "The mass of the Christ" which the
Catholics instituted, that's the Roman pagan roots, but taking it further back
to its original roots in Babylon it's, "Christ-Tammuz", meaning, "The anointed
one Tammuz", which was Nimrod's son, whom he had with his mother, who was
eventually gored to death by a wild bore, in which people get that bore back for
killing their god-man by eating the good ol' Easter ham, and whom women mourn
during Lent (Ezk. 8:14 ).

December 25th was never, and will never be the birthday of Yeshua the Messiah.

1. December 25th is a solar date and We Jews go by the lunar calendar, the two
do not coincide.
2. No one knows for sure the exact date the Messiah was born. However, we do
know He was born around Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. We were never
commanded to celebrate His birth, but if you want to, please do it at the right
time of the year!
3. December 25th is the birth date of the pagan gods Tammuz, Mithra, and
Saturnalias.

Christmas was instituted by the Emperor Constantine and the Catholic Church to
try to make pagans feel comfortable and be more receptive to "Christianity".
All they did was take a pagan holiday and slap a new name on it inside and out.
"Merry Messiahmas" is no different than what the Fox networks primetime twenty
something soap, "The O.C." did by having the family on the show (who was at
least part Jewish) combine Christmas and Channukah together and call it
"Chrismukah". Or that cell phone commercial that blends all the holidays
together and says, "Happy Christmaramahkwanzikkah (Christmas, Ramadan, Kwanza,
and Chanukah)!" It is the Bable mentality that says, "We are all one, it's all
the same anyway, so let's all love each other and get along!" Celebrating
Christmas would be like being married, but celebrating your wife's birthday on
your X-girlfriends birthday! Why? After all we are the "bride" of Messiah and
He is our "Husband", and that would be celebrating his birth on the day of a
pagan god, our former lover! Or it's also like if I, a Jew, would take the
Swastika and assign a new meaning to it, let's say it is the cross of Messiah
humbly bent, reaching out to all four corners of the earth! Doesn't fly does
it! Pretty sick, perverted and insensitive of me huh? Well, how do you feel
the Messiah himself thinks about Christmas?

Christians! You claim you're of the Messiah, if you are, then come out of
Babylon and toss that tree (Jer. 10:3-4)!
Jews! Stop the hellenization and assimilation, come out of Rome and Greece and
be Jews!

I'm not saying grab a torch and pitchfork and hunt participants of Christmas
down. The majority of people simply don't know of understand the pagan roots of
Christmas. To them it's just the time of the year to be nice to everyone. So
if some one not knowing smiles and says to you, "Merry Christmas!" or even,
"Merry Messiahmas!" A kind, neutral, non committal response would be, "Happy
Holidays!" That way you're being kind, returning the sentiment without
celebrating or endorsing a pagan day of a pagan god. After all, it is the
"Holiday Season", and not only Christmas but. Kwanza, Chanukah, and sometimes
Ramadan fall around this time of year. If and when the opportunity presents
itself, in a loving, matter-of-fact way, expose the truth concerning the pagan
roots of Christmas, the real time of the year Yeshua was born, and the truth
about Chanukah and how it relates to the Believer.

In Yochannon (Jn.) 10:22 we read that Yeshua was at the Temple at the
"feast of the dedication", this is the feast known as Chanukah.
Chanukah is the Jewish holiday which celebrates the rededication of
the Temple after it had been polluted by Antiochus Epiphanies.
This festival celebrates the victory of the Jewish rebels known as the
"Maccabees" over the Greco-Syrians who had outlawed Torah observance
and were attempting to force all Jews to embrace Greek Paganism and
Greek customs.

"The exploits of the Maccabees are to be found in the four Books of
the Maccabees. The Books of the Maccabees did not make it into the
Jewish canon. They were not preserved in the Masoretic text, but were
included in an appendix to both the Aramaic Peshitta Tanak and the Greek
Septuagint Tanak. First and Second Maccabees were also included in the Latin
Vulgate and were canonized by Rome, but have not been accepted as canon by most
protestant groups, though some of these still include the books of the Maccabees
in an appendix called "apocrypha". In fact the original 1611 edition of the KJV
included 1st and 2nd Maccabees in a separate section labeled "Apocrypha".

What is truly fascinating is that the four books of the Maccabees
are each written on each of the four levels of understanding. In
Judaism there are four levels of understanding recognized in the Scriptures:
The Pashat (the simple literal meaning)

The Remez (the hinted, implied meaning)

The Drash (the allagorical, homiletical meaning)

The Sod (the hidden, secret, mystical meaning)

The first letter from each of these Hebrew words spells the Hebrew
word PRDS (PaRDeS) meaning "paradise". I have noted in the past that the four
Gospels are written on each
of these four levels:

Mark gives the Pashat, the plain simple meaning.

Luke gives the Remez, digging into the details Mark did not get into.

Matthew gives the Drash, telling the story of Yeshua as a commentary
to a number of passages from the Tanak.

John gives the Sod, telling the mystical account of Yeshua as the
incarnate light and the incarnate "word".

Now the same is true of the Books of the Maccabees:

1st Maccabees gives the plain simple account.

2nd Maccabees digs into the details.

3rd Maccabees tells a related story of another persecution under

Ptolomey to illustrate the same point.

4th Maccabees is a treaty making the case that the Torah is divine

reason, and as such is supreme." – James Scott Trimm

OPERATION JEREMIAH 6:16

OPERATION JEREMIAH 6:16

NOVEMBER MISSIONS TRIP TO NIGERIA

RABBI YEHUDAH BEN SHOMEYR

THE CALL TO RETURN TO NIGERIA AND THE THEME OF THE MISSION

2011 I ate, slept and breathed Nigeria. The majority of my energies were focused on preparing for my November trip to Nigeria. I first went to Nigeria in August of 2010. I was invited by a Nigerian Igbo Rabbi, Rabbi Ukahson, where I met the Igbo tribe and spoke among their many Torah obedient Messianic congregations, teaching Torah. I also meet their king and one of their paramount rulers as well investigating the tribal claim of being a portion of the lost tribe of Gad through his sons Eri, Areli and Arodi. Since then I have done much research and wrote a book about my findings, called, “Finding Gad: The Quest for the Lost Tribe of Gad,” which can be found at: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/raybash.

In February of 2011 I was invited by Rabbi Gavriel Ogugua, an Igbo man living and ministering in Florida, who had me and the Igbo King, Eze Chukwuemeka-Eri (who I met in Aug. 2010) to speak at the “All Israel Conference” in Palm Beach. It was there the King invited me to return to Nigeria at the end of November for the Ovalla Festival, a celebration commemorating Gad’s son Eri and his companions crossing the Niger River into Aguleri as well as celebrating the Yam Harvest.  I agreed and then alerted Rabbi Ukahson of this development who suggested I come at the start of November and minister among the Igbos and the various congregations and end my trip at the Kings Palace. The theme of this trip would be dealing with the Torah Life as it applies to the Igbo believer. HaShem gave me the core verse and message on which this mission would hang.

Jer. 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

I exposed the Christian Missionary conspiracy to withhold vital information that they discovered regarding their Hebraic roots as well as their misinterpretations of the Igbo culture, paganising it and stripping it from them through conversion to modern westernized Christianity. I encouraged them to express their Torah obedience through their Igbo culture which is actually more authentically Hebraic than even the Orthodox Jews of the west.

I was disturbed by the fact that many Igbo Torah obedient believers were trying to look like western Jews. I emphasised that they were Hebrews from Gad and not Jews from Judah and although it is touching to see the younger brother Gad emulate and imitate their big brother Judah, there comes a time when the little brother Gad must become their own man. They must be the Igbo-Hebrew Gadites, the Father has made them and called them to be and not a poor carbon copy of Judah.

I am in the process of writing a second book revealing the Hebraism within the ancient Igbo culture and customs which I hope to publish by the end of 2012.

ARRIVAL IN LAGOS

Upon arrival I was  met by Rabbi Ukahson’s talmid, Roger (Abraham). But due to the late arrival of my flight into Lagos I missed my flight on to Port Harcourt and had to spend the night in Lagos where I met with a Torah obedient Congolese believer, Agustin Kipupu, who I called Godion, who petitioned for Messianic resources to be translated into French.

PORT HARCOURT

Arriving in Port Harcourt the next day I was delighted and heartbroken upon seeing my host, Dr. Rabbi Mikael Melek-King Ukahson, who looked to me as an angel with broken wings. In February of 2011 R. Ukahson had a traffic accident in Ghana that left his back injured. The Rabbi moved slowly, shuffling with pain haggering every one of his steps as he moved with the aid of a crutch. Yet despite all of this he had a smile on his face and beamed with eternal optimism and faith.

I began my mission at R. Ukahson’s synagogue, “Beit Ha Torah Natsarim Synagogue and Center for Spiritual Formation Yeshivah,” at the Torah Life Leadership Conference.

I spoke on Abraham our leader and how we are to be like Abraham in our leadership roles among our community and congregation.

The next day I spoke on what Christians call the “Five Fold Ministry” and how it is really a job description of a Rabbi and how each of us as leaders operate within various degrees and capacities of the Five Fold Ministry.  For example, I personally operate in a greater capacity as an Apostolic Rabbi more so than a Pastoral Rabbi.

Upon the morrow the topic I covered was the Torah Family Dynamic as it applies to leaders and afterwards we had a very profitable question and answer session.

The day after that I addressed the leaders regarding the unity of believers, teamwork and how to choose talmidim (disciples/students). After that day’s session I went with Brother David Otubo, a congregational leader in Port Harcourt, to see his sister who was suffering from pain in her neck and left arm. I anointed her with oil and prayed for her and it was reported the next day that she was already feeling better. During that particular excursion I had the privilege of meeting  and praying for a former Chief Judge of Port Harcourt who had a wealth of information regarding Igbo history and culture.

On the final day of the leadership conference I spoke on resolving conflict within the ministry and congregation. We closed out the leadership conference in port Harcourt by handing out the HalleluYah Scriptures (www.halleluyahscriptures.com), the Aramaic-English New Testament (www.aent.org), Hebrew English New Testaments (www.hopeofisrael.net) and various works from Nazarene Israel (www.nazareneisrael.org) to the leaders as well as certificates of attendance and completion. Thanks to these ministries for donating these priceless materials.

ABA STATE

It was Sabbath and we went to K’hilat Yehoshua HaMoshiach – HalleluYah Ministries congregation led by a man named Okeyah, whom I called, “Uncle Sunshine” because of the smile he always had upon his face and the joy he seemed to always carry with him. Their choir had prepared songs for us as well as worship with indigenous Igbo Instruments. The people were pleasantly surprised when that I was able to dance in the traditional Igbo way. I was asked to pray for the men and women of the congregation who seemed to suffer from infertility and I also called forth the little boys and girls and blessed then with the traditional Hebraic blessing said over them on the Sabbath day.  I spoke on Parahsah (Torah Portion) Vayira and emphasised how Abraham Avinu served Hashem despite the pain of his three day old circumcision and how Lot was righteous and tried to be an agent of change in a wicked city.

After I delivered the message the leades of the congregation honored Rabbi Ukahson and myself by dressing us in garments worn by Igbo elders and then there was a traditional meal of foofoo, pepper soup and palm wine. Again the people were amazed that I ate the spicy food as they did, with my hands and without tearing up due to the spice of the soup.

I continued to be amazed at R. Ukahson’s resolve to travel and minister alongside me despite the horrendously rocky roadway system which was painful for him due to the injury to his back. He did so without one word of complaint.

BACK IN PORT HARCOURT

At the start of the new week Brother Otubo picked me up from my hotel and presented me with and Igbo Bible so I can better learn the Igbo language. We made our way to the synagogue we held the Torah Life Leadership Conference and held a like conference for the laity. I spoke about the basics of living a Torah Life; Sabbath Observance, the 613 Mitzvot and other aspects of the life of a Torah Obedient Messianic/Natsari believer.

R.I.C.O.N & NNEWI

We took the Torah Life Conference to Nnewi where R.I.C.O.N. (Redeemed Israel Community of Nigeria), a conglomerate of Torah obedient Messianic and Matsari congregations and synagogues meet and worked together. RICON rented out a community hall that actually looked much like a traditional synagogue with a balcony. I spoke on Jer. 6:16 and the restoration of the Igbo culture, therefore restoring them as a portion of the lost tribe of Gad. I highlighted the aspects of their Hebraic culture and customs that parallel that of Judaism, which has always been a part of the Igbo culture since ancient times. I encouraged RICON to work toward the restoration of the Igbo culture and be the unique tribe of Gad that HaShem has created and destined them to be.

On the Sabbath I spoke on how the blessing of Laban upon Rebecca became a curse of barrenness to her because it was an insincere blessing. That night I spoke on the Havadallah service and its roots which can be found even in the Brit Chadasha (New Testament).

Last year in Nnewi I spoke at Moreh Orizu’s, small one room synagogue and seen that they had begun construction on a much needed larger synagogue next door. This past November, over a year later I was able to see the great progress they have made on the construction of the structure.

Before the conclusion of the Nnewi Torah Life Conference RICON presented me with a gourd laced with cowrie shells, their version of a maraca, as well as a lion carved out of wood; this in acknowledgement of my chieftain title name, “Odum Biara Ana Igbo-Nwanne Di Uto (The LION who came to Igboland is a Sweet Brother).”

It was in Nnewi that Rabbi Ukahson began to move about even more slowly than before and had to rest for longer periods of time due to his back injury. We had made plans to go to Ghana and this situation threw all of that into question. Would R. Ukahson be able to make the journey?

We rented a van to take us from Nnewi back to Port Harcourt. It was at that bus station waiting for our van that I witnessed more of the resilient nature and honorable character of R. Ukahson. A driver slapped the woman behind the ticket counter and upon witnessing this shocking event, with not forethought and without regard to his self the Rabbi stood up and confronted the man. Many of us were compelling R. Ukahson to sit down, concerned that the man may turn upon and beat R. Ukahson. He would have none of it. In boldness, despite his pain and injury he confronted the man and made him apologies to the woman he hit. I discovered that R. Ukahson was more of a lion than I and even an injured lion will not back down from a fight.

OWERRI

Due to the Rabbis weakened body and declining health we had to cancel our trip to Ghana. At the time we were very disappointed and wondered why. But in retrospect we discovered were forbidden to go, just as with Rav Sha’ul was not permitted to go to Asia (Acts 16:6). We discovered one group in Ghana were speaking falsely in the name of another ministry, trying to solicit funds under false pretense. We also discovered that another group we planned on ministering to, two of the leaders were trying to subvert the other and were secretly at each other’s throats. So if we went, we would have landed in the middle of and dragged into drama and conflict and no ministry would have taken place anyhow.  Instead of going to Ghana, R. Ukahosn took me to a school he supported and sometimes taught at; Cornerstone Theological Seminary in Owerri.  It was there that I spoke to the students about the applicableness of the 613 Commandments to believers in Yeshua today. Afterwards the Dean wishes for me to return in March to lecture and speak at their commencement ceremonies.

ONITSHA

Our next stop was Onitsha to speak at Dr. Daniel Orah’s Beit Shalom Natsari Synagogue. On the way we had to stop multiple times to allow R. Ukahson to rest due to the pain he was under. Upon reaching the synagogue in Onitsha where I spoke on the Torah Portion about Jacob and Esau. The next night I spoke on how Isaac was told by HaShem not to go to Egypt, but stay in Gerar, the land of the Philistines and to sow and reap despite a famine. As a result, Isaac reaped and prospered. I related it to how many Nigerians see America or the West as an Egypt to escape the “famine” in Nigeria (Philistia) and how HaShem wants them to sow and reap here despite what they perceive as a famine.

We made our way to the Kings Palace. I presented the King with a copy of the HalleluYah Scriptures, my book, “Finding Gad” and a DVD of me speaking at the World Igbo Congress in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on the connection between the lost tribe of Gad and the Igbo people. I did this because in August of 2010 when I first meet the Eze (King) and he confirmed my title as an honorary chief within their tribe, he also appointed me as his ambassador to proclaim the Hebraic origins of the Igbo people. I presented the Eze with the DVD to show him that I am fulfilling the office of ambassador which he bestowed upon me. I also met Prince Chinedu and Prince Chukwuemeka whom I had been communicating with this past year on facebook. The Eze had his people prepare supper for us and then we went to our hotel to rest for the next day.  Prince Chinedu is working to come to Canada to study.

AGULERI: THE PALACE OF OBU-GAD

The first day of the Ovalla Festival at the Palace, which commemorates Gad’s sons Eri, Areli and Arodi crossing the Niger River and settling in Aguleri as well as celebrating the Yam Harvest. I was one of the key speakers at the Festival and I spoke on Jer. 6:16 and about the restoration of the Hebraic Igbo culture. Also to speak was Prof. Alaezi who wrote “Ibo Exodus,” a work I referenced in research and in writing my own book about the Igbos.

After the lectures I, Prof. Alaezi and many others were confirmed as chief within the Igbo tribe. Thus my honorary chieftain title was made official.

I was called forth by the Eze, dressed in my Igbo garments. I sat on a low stool before the Eze who held a Torah scroll in his hand. I grasped the other end of the Torah as the Eze prayed for me, blessed me and made my honorary chieftain title, official. I was given and confirmed the title, “Odum Biara Ana Igbo-Nwanne Di Uto (The Lion that Came to Igboland is a Sweet Brother).”

After my confirmation I was asked to dance before the elders and everyone laughed with joy and amazement that I a white westerner could dance rhythmically as an Igbo man. According to tradition they threw money at me as I danced, much as Jews throw money and candy at a bar/bat mitzvah.

The next day I was picked up before sunrise at my hotel by a van full of Igbo chiefs. We drove as far as we could to the Niger River until the path became impossible to traverse by auto and had to continue on foot. By this time the sun was peeking over the horizon. By this time we had caught up to the Eze and the rest of the community that had walked to the River the whole way on foot.

When I finally reached the hill beyond which the Niger River flowed and crested that hill and saw the River with my own eyes I could not help buut weep. I felt the Presence of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) so strong that I knew this was a Holy Place, I knew this had to be the place which Gad’s sons crossed the Niger. I discovered after the fact that during the dry season when the water level drops in that particular area a 12 stone memorial can be seen at that spot said to be the place Eri, Aroli, and Areli crossed the Niger. This is consistent with other Israeli crossings found in Scripture, specifically that of the Red Sea and the Jordan as found in the Tanak.

After the Eze retold the story of Eri’s coming to Aguleri, prayed and blessed the people on the banks, the people came one by one to be mikvahed (baptised) by the Eze. I too came and the Eze blessed me as he poured water over my head.

Once we returned to the palace I was escorted to the Eze’s throne room and sat to the left of the King as a myriad of Igwe’s (paramount rulers/lesser kings) under Eze Chukwuemeka-Eri, came into the throne room to congratulate and pay homage to the Eze and the Ovalla Festival. I met probably 40 or more Igwe’s. I greeted each in the Igwe way among chiefs and rulers and exchanged business cards with them. They were very impressed and appreciative of my knowledge and practice of the Igbo language and culture. In many ways I was dressed and acting more Igbo than the Igbo, and they took note and admired this. By the end of the day they began to call me, “Onye Ocha Igbo,” meaning, “The White Igbo.”

While in the palace a news crew came in and interviewed me about my address to the people the day before, my chieftaincy title and my relationship with Eze Chukwuemeka-Eri.

After meeting the many Igwes under the Eze we all went downstairs and out to the palace grounds where all of sat in places of honor under canopies. I was humbly shocked to be seated beside the Eze under his canopy while groups from the community came to present gifts of money and yams to the Eze. The Eze had me bless and pray over certain groups who came, one being a student group and another being physically handicapped. The leader of this group that was physically challenged obviously instilled within them a sense of pride, self-worth and self-esteem as well as they were all dressed very fine with smiles on their face despite some of them were on crutches, in wheelchairs or even crawling on their hands, dragging their legs behind them.

I always left the palace with a full stomach as the King made sure his guests were fed.

The following morning we were to leave Aguleri and we stopped by the palace to bid farewell to the King and he had breakfast prepared for us.

Again R. Ukahson’s dedication and stamina never ceased to amaze me. He was unable to attend the second day of the Ovalla because on top of his back injury he had a bout with malaria and was bedridden in his hotel room with the chills.  

In the morning we left Aguleri. R. Ukahson seemed to have gained some of his strength back. After leaving the Eze palace we drove to Nike, Enugu.

ENUGU

It was in Nike Enugu where I met an Igwe that wasn’t there at the Eze’s Ovalla. His name is Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu. We arrived at his Palace and were escorted into his throne room and I was sat in a special throne only for honored guests. I was surrounded by his cabinet chiefs. The Igwe soon arrived and I was asked to address him and his cabinet regarding the Hebrew-Igbo connection. He served us lunch, after which he invited me to his Ovalla in December. I had to graciously decline but agreed to try and make it to his 2012 Ovalla.

We left Enugu and returned to Port Harcourt where upon the next day I was to go to Lagos to catch my flight home.

CONCLUSIONS

2010 my mission to Nigeria was like unto Joshua and the spies who were sent on a recon mission in Canaan. My return to Nigeria 2011 was like ploughing fields and planting seeds, laying foundations. Next year I hope to reap and build upon the foundations laid. Next year I plan to continue holding conferences and distributing Judaica items and spiritual educational materials but also to conduct DNA tests among the Igbo to place scientific evidence alongside the archeological, Biblical, linguistic, historical, and cultural evidence that has already been compiled connection the Igbo to Gad as well as possibly further archeological inquires.

THANKS:  Thanks to all who gave in whatever capacity which made this trip possible as well as a success, Baruch HaShem!

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The trips I make to Nigeria, much of the money (half or more), for these trips come out of my own pocket. The rest is provided by donors such as you, the reader. Each trip cost approximately $3000.00 (plane ticket, visas, in route food and travel expenses, shipping expenses of materials sent ahead of me to be distributed to the Nigerian believers as well as miscellaneous and unforeseen expenses). This cost relatively isn’t much because my host(s) when I arrive usually fit the bill for most of my food, lodging and travel expenses. So your donations of any denomination is very much needed and appreciated. No gift is too small, every little bit helps. One can donate through the paypal button on my website (www.adint-ministries.com) or make check or money order to:

Kris Shoemaker

PO Box 763

Ft. Fairfield, ME. 04742

HOW YOU CAN HELP THE IGBO

Sacred Name Bibles (ISR Scriptures, HRV, Complete Jewish Bible, Aramaic-English New Testament), All four volumes by Michael Brown’s, “Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus,”Tefillin, Tzitzit, Kippot, Tallit Gadolim, Tallit Katans, Mezuzot, Messianic and or Natsari books, Messianic prayer siddurim, Artscroll Siddurim, Messianic music and worship CD’s, Messianic and or Natsari Teaching DVD’s etc.

Though we are not specifically asking for funds, if you have no Judaica to give and wish to be a part of this important project please use the paypal donation button on the Home Page and we will gladly buy hem the Judaic items and resources they need.

Once we have sufficient amount of goods we will ship them to our contact who will distribute them among the various congregations.

Please let us know if you can think of other ways you or your congregation can help.

Please send all Donations to:

A.D. International

PO BOX 822

Fayetteville, NY. 13066

I sincerely hope and pray that you decide to be a part of this prophetic and monumental task of restoring the lost Tribe of Gad to Israel, Messiah and to the world.

Thank you, your generous and sacrificial donation will help make these Messianic Igbo believers remain strong in the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3) and combat the anti-messianic propaganda of the Orthodox Jewish anti-missionaries and reclaim their rightful place as sons and daughters of Gad.

Shalom,

Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr (Kris Shoemaker)

Rabbi's Rules

Rabbi's Rules.

5 personal rules I live by as a Rabbi. 

1. I only speak on what I know, that I know, that I know. 

2. If I don't know, I will say, "I don't know." 

3. If I am ever wrong I readily admit it and make appropriate corrections. 

4. I never make promises or commitments unless I know I can keep them. 

5. I expose falsehood by teaching Truth and not attacking the falsehood.