Is America Esav? The 51st State Idea, the Lost Tribes, and the Torah’s Warning From History

By Sanhedrin Advisor Rabbi Avi Feld, Yerushalayim

Concept by Mr. David Dehas, Tikkun Olam Movement

Structure and publication by Sanhedrin Advisor Rabbi Yosef Edery

Academic Oversight by Mr. Shawn Lei

Introduction: A Question That Refuses to Die

Every few years, someone—online, in a yeshiva, in political circles—asks a question that sounds almost humorous at first:

“Is the United States really Esav? Should Israel become the 51st state?”

Sixty years ago, people laughed at this idea. Ronald Reagan famously called Israel “America’s aircraft carrier in the Middle East”—a metaphor, not an annexation plan. Mark Twain wrote:

“East is East and West is West,

and never the twain shall meet.”

The “51st state idea” was always symbolic, never literal.

But behind the joke hides a serious set of questions:

Where did the “Lost Tribes” go?

Why are so many converts today coming from Western Christian nations?

Is America spiritually Esav—or perhaps Ephraim?

Is there Torah support for political union—or Torah warnings against it?

And what does Jewish history teach us when Israel embraces powerful nations?

These questions matter not politically, but spiritually—because for a Jew, every decision must be evaluated through Torah, history, and daas (holy wisdom).

This article explores all of it—textually, historically, and with the drama of a story still unfolding.

PART I – THE ROOT QUESTION: IS AMERICA “ESAV”?

1. Torah Definition of Esav

Esav is not simply a nation.

Esav is a spiritual archetype.

When Rivkah went to seek understanding about the turmoil in her womb:

“וַיִּתְרֹצְצוּ הַבָּנִים בְּקִרְבָּהּ”

“And the children struggled within her.” (Genesis 25:22)

Chazal say it was a cosmic conflict—good vs. predatory power.

Esav becomes defined as:

• רֹצֵחַ – a killer

• צַיִד – hunter of men

• אָדוֹם – blood, aggression

• עָשׂוּי – fully formed, not growing

• אִישׁ שָׂדֶה – man of the field/world

Yaakov is:

• יֹשֵׁב אֹהָלִים – the dweller of tents (Torah)

• נְבוֹן וַחֲכָם – humble, developing, becoming

• שָׁלֵו – peace-seeking

• לֹא רוֹדֵף דָּם – not a hunter of men

And Hashem states clearly:

“וְרַב יַעֲבֹד צָעִיר”

"The elder shall serve the younger." (Genesis 25:23)

Meaning:

Esav reaches righteousness only when submitting to the moral authority of Yaakov, never the reverse.

2. Does America Fit Esav’s Profile?

On the surface, America seems Esav-like:

• hunter culture

• military power

• independence

• dominance

• individualism

• “red” states

• “eagle” symbol (parallel to Obadiah)

But this is only skin-deep.

Chazal identify Esav as Edom, Rome, the Roman Church—not the Anglo world.

And the Torah tells us something astonishing:

The Lost Tribes migrated westward

into Western Europe, the Isles, and the New World (see Ovadiah, Rashi, and Sanhedrin 110b references via Brit-Am research).

Meaning:

America is not Esav—it is overwhelmingly Ephraim/Menashe, with a minority Esav influence.

That explains:

• Why 90% of righteous converts today come from America, Canada, UK, Australia, NZ.

• Why millions of Americans feel spiritually “Jewish adjacent”.

• Why the Torah world finds more sympathy in America than anywhere else.

If America were pure Esav, it would:

• persecute Jews

• destroy Torah

• block aliyah

But instead:

• it protects Jewish life

• supports Israel

• lets Torah flourish

• sends funds to yeshivas

• produces converts who love Hashem

This is Ephraim waking up, not Esav dominating.

PART II – THE LOST TRIBES AND TODAY’S “TORAH PULL”

1. Where Did the Tribes Go?

Chazal, the Zohar, and classical commentators all say the tribes spread to the west.

Rashi on Ovadiah famously states:

“גָּלוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל… אֲשֶׁר בְּצָרְפַת”

“The exile of Israel… which is in France” (Ovadiah 1:20)

He identifies:

• France → Reuven

• England → Ephraim

• Scotland → Menashe

• Isles → Tribal remnants

That matches astonishing real-world facts:

• conversion booms in Anglo nations

• massive Hebrew Roots movement

• fascination with Torah and Israel

• millions saying “I feel I’m from Israel”

This is not random—it’s prophecy.

2. The 9-Month Analogy: Waking Up After 2,700 Years

The prophets describe the return of the tribes as a pregnancy (Isaiah 66).

Things move in stages:

1. Binary stage – black/white identity confusion

2. Embryo – vague spiritual movement

3. Fetus – full Torah curiosity

4. Birth pains – modern crises

5. Birth – geulah awareness

And then comes daas—holy clarity:

• knowing your mission

• knowing your spiritual family

• knowing that Hashem is One

• knowing Torah is the blueprint

• knowing Israel is central

Today’s seekers are in stage 4–5.

The baby is crowning.

PART III – THE DANGER OF CALLING A FRIEND “ESAV”

Torah warns sharply against mislabeling righteous nations.

In Ovadiah, Hashem condemns Edom for arrogance, violence, and betrayal:

“זְדוֹן לִבְּךָ הִשִּׁיאֶךָ”

“The arrogance of your heart has deceived you.” (Ovadiah 1:3)

“הַגּוֹיִם אֵלֶּה מִתְיַחֲסִים לְעֵשָׂו” (Jeremiah 49)

But these traits simply do not describe the modern United States.

The nations who rescued Judah from the Ottomans?

Who defeated Nazi Germany?

Who protect Jewish life?

Who let yeshivot flourish?

Who support Israel militarily?

That is not Esav.

That is Ephraim helping Judah return home (Isaiah 11:13).

To brand righteous supporters as “Esav” is not only inaccurate; it borders on disrespect to the Divine plan.

PART IV – THE HISTORICAL WARNING: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN JEWS JOIN EMPIRES

Not once—not a single time in all of history—did assimilation into a powerful gentile empire end well.

1. Persian Empire (51st state mentality) – Dispersed and disappeared.

Assimilation → extinction.

2. Hellenistic Greeks (Sadducees) – Betrayed Israel, vanished.

Elite Jews embraced Greek ideology → wiped out spiritually.

3. Rome (Herodians, Tzedukim) – Fought their own people alongside Rome.

Their end?

Assimilation, disappearance, and catastrophe for the nation.

4. Christian Europe – those who “became like the majority”

Baptized → assimilated → forgotten.

5. Muslims – those who trusted Islamic rule

Converted or killed. Rarely survived as Jews.

The pattern is absolute:

When Jews submit to Esavian structures, they vanish.

When Esavian nations submit to Yaakov’s moral authority, they thrive.

PART V – THE 51ST STATE IDEA THROUGH TORAH EYES

Torah Position: Absolutely Not.

Judah is the:

“מְחֹקֵק” – lawgiver

“שֵׁבֶט” – sovereign tribe (Genesis 49)

And the Navi proclaims:

“כִּי מִצִּיּוֹן תֵּצֵא תוֹרָה

וּדְבַר ה' מִירוּשָׁלָ͏ִם”

“For from Zion will go forth Torah,

and the word of Hashem from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3)

Not from:

• Washington

• the Pentagon

• Congress

• the United Nations

Israel cannot be subordinate to any earthly power.

Not Rome, not Persia, not Greece, not Britain, not America.

To become the “51st state” is spiritually suicidal.

It is to forget our soul.

PART VI – THE REAL DRAMA: YAAKOV’S NEW ERA

For 2,000 years, Yaakov retreated.

He compromised.

He survived pogroms.

He bowed, again and again.

But now?

History has flipped.

Israel is strong.

Israel fights and wins.

Israel leads technology, medicine, agriculture, law, and Torah learning.

This is the wrestling match with Esav’s angel (Genesis 32) reaching its conclusion.

The angel struck Yaakov.

Yaakov refused to let go.

Yaakov demanded a blessing.

Yaakov prevailed.

Yaakov became Yisrael—one who wrestles with G-d and wins.

**We are no longer in the “Yaakov bowing” chapter.

We are in the “Yisrael standing tall” chapter.**

Daas teaches:

We can love America.

We can partner with America.

But we cannot become America.

PART VII – PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FOR TODAY

1. If You Are Jewish and Living in America

Know this:

• You are in a land filled with sparks of Ephraim.

• Many of your neighbors may be literal tribal cousins.

• America is a blessing—but not your home.

• Your soul’s destiny is tied to Israel.

• Do not assimilate.

• Do not spiritually submit.

• Do not let “51st state thinking” erase your mission.

Your role is to elevate—not dissolve.

2. If You Are American but Not Jewish

Know this:

• You may be from the Lost Tribes.

• Your fascination with Israel is not random.

• Your love for Torah may be inherited memory.

• Your path may lead toward conversion or righteous Noahide life.

• Your support for Israel is part of prophecy.

You are not Esav—you may be Ephraim returning home.

3. If You Feel a Mysterious Pull Toward Torah

Know this:

• This is not coincidence.

• The prophets foresaw this awakening.

• The clarity (daas) is coming into the world.

• You are being invited into a relationship with the Divine.

Walk forward with humility.

You are not alone.

4. If Your Life Feels Like Esav—violent, angry, proud

Know this:

• Repentance is always open.

• Cooperation with Israel transforms Esav into good.

• Arrogance brings destruction (“Even if you rise like an eagle…” – Ovadiah).

• Humility brings salvation.

You can choose blessing.

You can choose peace.

You can choose Hashem.

Conclusion: Blessings for Israel and the Returning Tribes

May the House of Judah stand strong, sovereign, and faithful to Torah.

May the Lost Tribes of Ephraim and Menashe awaken fully and return to Hashem with joy.

May righteous converts continue streaming from the nations with pure hearts.

May America remain a partner, not a master.

May Esav choose humility over arrogance, peace over blood, cooperation over conflict.

And may we all merit the day when:

“וְהָיְתָה לַה' הַמְּלוּכָה”

“And the Kingship will belong to Hashem.”

(Ovadiah 1:21)