Genesis

בייה

Throughout history, leaders, countries, and citizens have been impacted by legal and illegal Immigration. Every generation has been concerned in one way or another about immigration, migrations, emigrations, relocations, drifters, wanderers, and rovers. Why? There are many reasons. Some are good reasons, and some are not.

(Genesis 47.1) Says, ‘Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brothers, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, have [immigrated] from the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.’

They had a family-owned home in a historic mining community in one of the mountains among cabins in an old prospecting and gold mining area. They were adjacent to a property that was mostly a solid rock plot with a tiny garden area. That property had been for sale for a long, long time, perhaps a century or more until an architectural engineer who immigrated from Argentina purchased it. Supposedly, he bought this enormously complex property to build a modern, flashy Hollywood-style house to display his vast architectural skills. After completing the property, he lived there briefly and then turned it into a vacation rental. According to some, he had a residential loan on a property he planned to use Commercially. Immediately, there was an uproar in the community. The house attracted what the community considered undesirables, i.e., drug and alcohol abusers, bachelor and wedding parties, fraternities, and sororities. Members of the community were generally private and somewhat isolated. They purchased in that community because of their gold, rock mining, and historic interests. People who rented that house were loud, noisy, and disruptive. The property owners were guilty of running a commercial business in a historic residential mining area. Eventually, it all got worked out. However, at the time, it was disruptive and unsettling.

Legal, Illegal, and poorly managed Immigration can disrupt, overwhelm, heavily burden, and destabilize a country, its cities and towns, its citizens, services, government, and schools. The balance of power could drastically change. Immigration can be a significant disruptive force, but It doesn’t have to be this way. Let’s make sure that we are all on the same page. The meaning of Immigration is loosely defined. Thousands of years ago, The Torah discussed the exact opposite. (Genesis 1.28) says, ‘And God blessed [Adam and Chavah], and God said to them, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.'”Replenish the earth sounds a little like ‘migrated’ after the Noach Flood. (Genesis 9.1) reiterates God’s will. ‘And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth.” What was the issue in (Genesis 11.4)? Sinful people were NOT spreading out and replenishing the earth. ‘And they said, Come, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.’ What happened? Lord Confused their language and speech so they could not understand each other, then scattered them abroad from there upon the face of all the earth, and they left off the city’s building.

Let’s try and define immigration. Merriam-Webster defines Immigration as traveling into a country for the purpose of permanent residence there. Joseph was kidnapped and trafficked into Egypt as an enslaved person. He became a permanent resident of Egypt. Years later, even though Joseph was the Viceroy of Egypt, he remained enslaved for 93 years until his death. Wikipedia states that ‘Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship in order to settle as permanent residents or naturalized citizens.’

Immigration is not the same for everyone. Pharaoh invited Joseph’s father, Jacob, to migrate to Egypt. (Genesis 45.16 – 21) reports that ‘And the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brothers have come, and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, Say to your brothers, Do this; load your beasts, and go to the land of Canaan; And take your father and your households, and come to me; and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land. Now you are commanded to take your wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives, and bring your father, and come. Also, give no thought to your goods, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours. And the people of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.’

(Genesis 46.5 – 7) explains the Immigration of Joseph’s relatives. ‘And Jacob rose up from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel carried Jacob, their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came to Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him; His sons, and his grandsons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him to Egypt.’Immigration is not the same for everyone.

Can one truly immigrate to a country without borders? Can people immigrate to a country without proper identification? Documentation is required. When Abraham traveled to Egypt to live temporarily, he was checked at the border by Pharaoh’s border agents. Remember back to (Genesis 12)? (Midrash Bereisheit 40.5) Says, ‘Abraham locked Sarah in a chest to protect her. When Abraham came to the customs house, the customs officer demanded, ‘Pay your custom dues.’

Abraham said, ‘I will pay.’

‘You carry fine garments in that chest,’ said the Customs Officer.

Abraham responded, ‘I will pay the dues for fine garments.’

‘You are carrying silks,’ he asserted. ‘

Abraham said, all right, I will pay the custom for fine silks.’

The Customs Officer said, ‘NO!’ You are carrying precious stones.’

‘I will pay the custom for precious stones, jewels, silver, and so forth. Each time, Abraham offered to pay the customs taxes.’ That was not good enough. The Chief Executive Officer over Customs demands! You are hiding the contents. You must open it so we can see what it contains.’ As soon as Abraham opened the chest, the Egyptians saw Sarah. They were dazzled by her beauty. Sarah was beautiful. (Genesis 12.16) says, ‘The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and praised her to Pharaoh, and the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s palace.’ And he treated Abram well for her sake; and [Pharaoh] gave [Abraham] sheep, oxen, male asses, menservants, maidservants, and female asses, and camels [to win Abraham’s favor].

Joseph had border agents at every gate entrance to Egypt conducting inspections. That is how they knew his half-brothers entered through different gates. Their actions were similar to spies. I am told that Israelis have strict inspections for anyone entering or exiting their country.

(Genesis 2.16 – 17) says. Lord our God וַיְצַו Vah Yih Tzav ‘commanded’ Ha Adam [when Adam and Chava shared the same body], saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it; for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die.’

‘Our sages in Sanhedrin 60 derive from this verse that God issued the Seven Universal Commandments for humankind at this time. Each of them is hinted at in the words of this verse.’ Chizkuni, Genesis 2:16:1.

Establish and Follow A System of Rulership / Justice

First, God is the Creator of everything. As the Creator of everything, God is Superior to what He Created. God is Superior to man, all creatures, the universe… everything. We understand this.

Man is introduced to God in (Genesis 1.28) with the words’ Elokim Said… to them.’ Then, a second time in (Genesis 1.29) with the words ‘Elokim Said…’ ‘Then in (Genesis 2.16), we read, ‘Lord our God וַיְצַו Vah Yih Tzav Commanded the man…’ So far, it is clear to us that until now, The Torah only records ‘God Said’ to the man. This is the first time ‘Lord our God Commanded the man.’ There is a big difference between ‘God Said’and ‘Lord our God Commanded!‘ The Word Commanded in (Genesis 2.16 is from the same root as Commandments,צָוָה meaning to command, give orders, appoint over. The Ten Commandments in (Exodus 20). have the same meaning as for The Word ‘Commanded/Law.’ The meaning of ‘מִצְוָה Mee Tzih Vaw meaning – Commandments/Laws.’ That is the beginning of required Observances and social Laws, i.e., Commandments. God is The Judge of the universe He Created. What is the point? When a government makes laws, They must follow them. Laws set a country on a course.

Laws established by our government on Immigration must be followed. Laws can be changed. That is what Joseph’s relatives faced (Exodus 2.8-11). As noted in this discussion Immigration Laws are founded in The Holy Scriptures, as stated above. From the indications is our discussion Lord was a supporter of immigration done the correct way – according to the laws of the land.

(Genesis 47.1) Says, ‘Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brothers, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, have [immigrated] from the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.’

We are experiencing extreme violations of our laws by our elected officials and civil servants. POLITICAL ABUSE OF POWER is rampant throughout our world.

The Lord God Established The Seven Laws and The Ten Commands to guide each of us. These Commands hold all creation accountable. He designated lands and made borders!!! He established a system of equal justice for all.

May each of us enjoy Sabbath and our Sukkah experience securely.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

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