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Ether 7–15

(1.) VOWS AND COVENANTS: "In Jewish law, ‘oaths’ and ‘vows’ serve as distinct terms, each representing a different class of ‘sworn statement.’ The oath, which in Hebrew is called shevuah, is . . . made during . . . judicial proceedings, while the vow, called in Hebrew neder, . . . refers to . . . sworn statements made outside the courtroom." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

(2.) "SWEARING IN:" "Jewish law never adopted this custom, preferring to accept testimony . . . as long as there were at least two witnesses who corroborated each other's testimony . . . Testimony given under oath was . . . considered to be a particularly weak form of evidence . . ." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

(3.) VOWS ARE BINDING: "If the vow is made voluntarily, without any compulsion from anyone else, it is fully binding, and only with great difficulty can it be declared void." "The rabbis tolerated vows only when they were taken in order to get rid of bad habits and encourage one to do good . . ." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

(4.) ARM OF FLESH OR THE LORD? Today, modern Judaism is based on keeping commandments rather than on the "spirit" or personal "faith." ". . . Moses Mendelssohn rejected belief as a requirement of Judaism and claimed that performance of the mitzvot is the sole criterion." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

(5.) RETURN TO JERUSALEM: In Judaism, one of the commandments is to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times a year, Passover, celebrating being delivered from Egypt, fifty days later, Shavuot, commemorating receiving the Law of Moses, Sukkot celebrating the journey through the wilderness. These were done in Old Jerusalem, and now in the newly rebuilt Jerusalem.

(6.) A HOLY CITY: "Because of its special holiness . . . there could be no permanent ownership of . . . no burial sites were allowed within the city walls." "Jerusalem has . . . had many names, reflective of the love and reverence of its admirers, including ‘God's City,’ ‘Faithful City,’ and ‘The Beautiful City.’" (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

(7.) THE LORD IN THE CAMP OF ZION: The tribe of Judah from Old Jerusalem provided the Kings and from Judah’s line came the King of Kings. In our present time, the leadership is with Joseph, who received the keys of Temple worship, building Houses of the Lord to bind us together and prepare us for His future return. He will return to New Jerusalem, Adam Ondi Ahman and in Old Jerusalem, made new with Jews waiting for their King of Kings.