Why This Gathering Place?

The main purpose of Shaar Israel, is to serve as a gathering and networking place for those whom the Almighty in our time has started to awaken from the Valley of Dry Bones.  (Ez. 37) This valley is the symbolic place of spiritual death for the “Northern” House of Israel, the so-called “lost Ten Tribes” of history.  Due to unrelenting idolatry and casting away the Torah and the Covenant of the Rock of Israel, 2700 years ago, she was cast out of the Land and from the common memory of mankind.  (Deut. 29:20-21, 32:26, I Kings 14:15-16, II Kings 17, Hos. 1:9, 13:1, 6).

We recognize that this awakening from spiritual death is nothing less than a Divinely-given gift and a Divinely-mediated process and like a resurrection, cannot be self-generated.  However, we can and are obligated to gather our scattered  initial numbers together as commanded by our father Jacob, and as commanded by the Almighty through His prophet Isaiah:

“And Jacob called unto his sons and said, Gather yourselves together that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together and hear, ye sons of Jacob and hearken unto Israel your father.”  — (Gen. 49:1-2)

“Assemble yourselves and come near together, ye that are escaped of the nations; they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.”  — (Isa. 45:20)

The overall  purpose of the gathering place, Shaar Israel, is to foster and deepen the concept of Israelite identity.  This is absolutely necessary because during the 2700 years in our spiritual graves we have been estranged from the ways of God’s Torah, its Covenant and from our brother Yehudah. We believe that rectifying these inter-linked estrangements is of paramount concern for all returnees. 

To reclaim these lost heritages of Israel, Shaar Israel calls all returnees, individuals and groups to engage in two main activities:

One is the prayerful study of the Divine Word and pertinent literature as well as revelations that He may send to our constituents. The latter is most needed and relevant because of the unprecedented phenomenon of the awakening of the Ten Tribes.  It has been shown, that dreams and revelations during prayer have brought us key information of importance to the movement.  

The second one is concomitant prayerful and Divinely guided concerted action through networking with members of Shaar Israel and its official association, the Fellowship of Gathering Israel.  The purpose of the association is to gather far-flung scattered Ephraimites into a cyber community for networking purposes and to foster the founding of local groups, fellowships, communities and congregations.  The  association is called a “union” because the commands by Jacob and by Isaiah call for “assembling ourselves together,” which imply forming unions.  The purpose of the Fellowship of Gathering Israel is to solidify members into effective groups whose aggregate membership can support cooperative projects with Judah.

Concerted action is also needed in intercession prayer for mercy for our peoples to which  the prophet Joel has called us in the past and is calling us for the prophesied impending calamitous times that is upon us:

“Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of her pavilion.

Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say: 'Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not Thy heritage to reproach, that the nations should make them a byword: wherefore should they say among the peoples: Where is their God?’”  — Joel 2:16-17

How you can become a member of The Fellowship of Gathering Israel and partake of its efforts:

Like the inexplicable inner knowing one has of the Divine calling to awaken to Israelite identity, likewise early returnees of the “Ten Tribes”  have an inner yearning to be active in some endeavor that expresses that identity in  a tangible and effective way.  If you have that knowing and yearning, you have the main prerequisites for a foundation for membership in this “work.” 

If you agree with no reservations with the three foundational articles of faith, you might be further identifying as a candidate for meaningful action.

If you espouse the principles of the Declaration of Principles of the Fellowship of Gathering Israel, you are on way to back up your faith with deeds.

Lastly, if you indicate your intent to walk earnestly through the gate (sha’ar  /שער ) of Israel and want work together with others forming local associations, fellowships, congregations or communities, then join the workforce of the  Fellowship of Gathering Israel.

By registering for updates on the mailing list, and joining the discussion forum for the above-stated reasons, it is understood by Shaar-Israel that you agree to the above caveats and you are ready to back up your beliefs and declarations with action.  Then you may be a useful part of the prophesied Remnant (Sh'ar / שאר) of Israel who will repent/return to the G-d of Israel in the last days.