We of The Restored Israel of YAHWEH would like to introduce ourselves by giving you a brief description of our beliefs and history as pertains to the issue at hand.
     For the past approximately six years, two of our long-standing Members who own a small carpentry business have been investigated, harassed and followed by i.r.s. investigators.  On Monday, April 12, 2004, these two and one other member of The Restored Israel of YAHWEH -- Kevin McKee, Joseph Donato and Inge Donato -- were arrested by u.s. federal marshals at their homes in Hamilton and Egg Harbor Townships.  These peaceful, honest, hard-working individuals were handcuffed, frisked, shackled and removed from their homes and taken to u.s. district court in Camden, N.J. where they were charged with "conspiring to defraud the United States for the purpose of impeding, impairing, obstructing, and defeating the lawful government functions of the IRS in ascertaining, computing, assessing, and collecting taxes; Tax Evasion; and Failure to File Tax Returns."  Their trial is scheduled to begin on November 29, 2004 at the U.S. District Court in Camden, NJ.
     To begin with, we do not believe that wars—and especially the wars waged by this nation, which have been instigated by its leadership—are for the pure and righteous motivations they claim.  Instead, we see that the underlying motivations are primarily the profits of big business and the agenda of the powerful.  The true, unadorned, unsanitized histories of these conflicts undeniably bear out these charges.
     During the second world war, our founder and Prophet Jeremiah (Leo J. Volpe) refused induction into the army on religious grounds at a time when war protesters were routinely given five years in prison.  He was married at the time with two small children, but had been promised by YAHWEH that he would not go to prison.  Shortly after, in what appeared to be a contradiction, he was arrested and taken to jail.  But after a firm and honorable stand in court, and supported by no organizations or family members, he spent only five days instead of the customary five years in prison.  True to the promise, the court, in an unprecedented move, declared him a farmer, although this was only marginally true as his primary employment at the time was working for the post office.  This practice of refusing induction, or even registering for the draft, is observed by all the members of The Restored Israel of YAHWEH.
     With the passing of time, and in fulfillment of another promise by the ALMIGHTY, Jeremiah was given a great knowledge concerning the prophecies of the Scriptures.  Among the first of the prophecies revealed, were those concerning the restoration of the nation of Israel.  It was revealed that the restoration of Israel, promised throughout the Bible, would be comprised of people of all races and nationalities whose heart was devoted to their GOD and who would put HIS laws and teachings above those of man, without regard to their personal safety, wealth or convenience.  Furthermore, this restoration would not come by warfare (Hosea 1:7).  These new citizens of YAHWEH’S restored nation would recognize, as recorded in Revelation 12:9, that satan has deceived the whole world.  This, when truly understood, is quite a profound concept and explains why the unfathomable, outlandish, unspeakable things happen as they do in this world.  This is why during the second world war we saw american christian killing german christian killing russian christian killing italian christian, and so on—almost all the individual soldiers believing, as do the soldiers from america and iraq today, that GOD is with them and them alone; that the killing that they do is justified and even approved of by their GOD, and if killed in combat that they would immediately go to whatever heaven or paradise that their religion espouses.  And this does not even account for the "collateral damage" which includes innocent woman, children and so on, which far outnumber the military casualties.  Indeed, if it were not for the support given by the religions of the world, the nations could not wage war to the extent that they have.
     James 1:27 states:  "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."  Concerning the wars waged by the nations, Yahshua said in Matthew 24:6:  "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars:  see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet."  He did not instruct His servants to take up arms and participate, but rather not to be troubled or "concerned," as it states in other translations.  Add to this the innumerable admonitions to "love your enemies," do not render "evil for evil" and so on, and an undeniable picture is formed that would contradict the whole concept of war condoned and perpetuated by the nations and religions of the world.  Could you visualize Yahshua or any of His Apostles arrayed in a helmet and flak jacket armed with assault weapons, hand grenades and bayonets?
     Given these teachings, it is not hard to imagine the consequences to those living these principles:  "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake" (Matt. 24:9).  Also, "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.  If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also" (John 15:20).
     Are those who go along with the system, whether it be "right or wrong," persecuted or hated by the system?  Are the pope, Billy Graham, or any other leaders of the mainstream religions hated?  Could you visualize Yahshua or His Apostles being photographed arm in arm with Bush or any other world ruler?  If not, why?  It doesn’t require a lot of imagination to realize that there must be some kind of basic, fundamental differences that would precipitate such animosities.  And certainly refusing to support the agendas of the ruling elements would do the trick.
     Going the extra step in exposing unrighteousness is also the task of The Restored Israel of YAHWEH.  "And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them" (Eph. 5:11, New American Standard Bible).
     Another of the first and principle teachings of The Restored Israel of YAHWEH is the establishment of the Kingdom of GOD on earth, which will replace all other ruling elements.  Matthew 6:10:  "Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."  Again, many religions have missed the point, teaching that the good go to heaven and the bad go to hell.  Where then are the meek who are to inhabit the earth?  And if GOD’S Will is done on earth as it is in heaven, would anything be done in HIS Kingdom as it is in this world?
     In 1948 Jeremiah, motivated by conscience, stopped paying federal income tax.  Realizing that one’s wages represent one’s labor and effort, he could no longer continue to support the financing of past, present and future wars.  Scriptures widely misapplied to support paying income tax ("Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s" and others ) were now understood by Jeremiah.  He understood, as the disciples of Yahshua knew when He uttered the phrase, that all was GOD’S, leaving nothing for caesar.  Again, Jeremiah’s stand was taken alone, opposed by friends and family, and without support from any organization.
     Like Jeremiah, The Restored Israel of YAHWEH understands that money is used as a medium of exchange and represents one’s labor and effort.  If you pay for another to kill someone for you, are you not responsible for that victim’s death?  Of course if you were not aware that the money you gave another went for such purposes, you could not be held accountable.  But if you were aware, everything changes.  An example of this principle is given in Exodus 21:28,29, New American Standard Bible:  "And if an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall surely be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished.  If, however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring, and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death."
     Now although every baptized member of The Restored Israel of YAHWEH chooses not to pay federal income tax or federal phone tax which serves the same purpose, this is not a doctrine primarily taught.  In fact, this information did not even exist on our website until actions were taken against our members by the i.r.s.  Furthermore, our income tax article written years ago had lain unprinted and was not updated until, again, moves were made against us.
     Now although the baptized members of The Restored Israel of YAHWEH choose to make this stand, which does put them in harm’s way in regard to man’s laws, we do not encourage those whom we do not perceive ready either in spiritual maturity or knowledge to do so.  To the contrary, when people in the past have been observed to be in an unreasonably compromising situation, they have been advised to consider the matter with the utmost seriousness, or outright dissuaded.
     But now, as you are very well aware, the battle has been brought to our gate and we are honor bound by our beliefs and conscience to defend our actions.  This is not just an action taken against the principals of McKee Donato Construction, but against all of our faith.  We gratefully accept all the support and prayers offered by all who recognize this i.r.s. action as a trampling of our GOD-given rights to not only refuse to participate in the unrighteous slaughter of our fellow human creatures, but finance the machinery of any nation to kill on our behalf.