From Matityahu

Shalom Aleikhem to the whom ever reads this,
I come from a very assimilated Ashkenazic family. While at college I
came across Karaism and have since been gradually coming into full Torah
observance. My mother tries to support me but she just doesn't understand
certain aspects of YHVH's laws, and I know my dad thinks its silly. At first
it was alright because I had not changed my behavior that much, but know as
I live more by the law it has become more difficult, and not just at home
but with friends also. Not because they are intolerant of me but because I
find myself more and more put off by their pagan ways.
I have looked in my area for Karaite communities in hopes of being able
to be surrounded by other Karaim and speeding up my full observance, but my
search has failed. In the current environment it is hard to follow and add
to the laws that I am now practicing. I need support from others, because I
can't find it here. If there is something I'm overlooking or if you have any
suggestions please share with me.



Shalom Matityahu,

Our good wishes encouragement and prayers are with you.

You have, my brother, in my opinion, touched on the core of the greatest challenge that faces our people today. With out real community we are all, very much, fish out of water. We hear the worn out adage, ‘you build it, they will come’ so often these days. This is what we here at Qumran Bet have tried but sadly, we have found, we can’t do it alone. With my inheritance we purchased a nearly 50 acre farm then improved it with fencing, ponds, cattle and goats. It was our hope to raise, process, pantry and even supply clean foods to our scattered community. The hard physical work this entails is now beyond our ability. We sold the animals and are now about to gather the chickens and geese and transport them to the local public market. We did not find enough people who were intent enough on Torah obedience to invest their sweat commitment to this ignoble effort. We now stand without hope except in YHWH. My sweet YahChannah has suffered another stroke about three weeks ago. This is her third in the past four years and she is now on blood thinners that prevent her doing any work that might lead to injury. I am disabled and am not able to bend or lift or stay on my feet for more than a few minutes, so you can see the problem this presents to our ‘farming, herding, wood cutting, fence mending, butchering and canning that are the backbone of this Torah obedient community we have worked to establish.

This may or may not help you with your dilemma of finding supportive friends and ‘family’ to help you in your growing maturity toward full compliance, but know that although nothing good comes easy, bad has a much higher hidden cost.

If you wish to have intellectual fellowship there is an endless supply on the net but if you seek real, on the ground, community, let’s get acquainted and just maybe you could come and help us build it. We cannot offer anything but ‘blood, sweat and tears’.

With YHWH’s blessings they will be tears of victory.

May we learn to do His will ...Yeri..