​​Vol. H-0004 June 1999 No. H-0006
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HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

​Just recently a young Jewish TV/movie actress had plastic surgery to change the shape of her nose. She had decided that she didn't like her nose because it looked Jewish. So she had it changed. What is it that makes a nose look Jewish? Or any part of the face or body, for that matter? Yet, many people are immediately assumed to be one nationality or another by their looks. Is that so bad, you may ask? Try asking the thousands of Holocaust survivors, and families of those who didn't survive. They'll tell you about how they, their families and their friends were rounded up and forced into ghettos, then cattle cars and concentration and death camps because the Nazis could "see" that they were Jewish. According to the philosophy of Hitler's Germany, their looks, and their very lives, were inferior to the pure Aryan race over which Hitler reigned and with which he intended to rule the world. He failed. To God be the Glory! So why should we be concerned with this issue now? Because antisemitism has always existed, still exists, and always will exist in this world.

Antisemitism* is a dislike or hatred for Jews; prejudice against Jews (1). Perhaps Hitler and his Nazis are the most well known anti-Semites. However, manifestations of anti-Semitism can be found throughout history. After the death and resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus), and the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, the First Century Church began to grow away from its Jewish roots. Conflicts arose between the Church of the Gentile believers and the Synagogue of the Jewish believers. The Gentile leaders began to make changes that caused a separation between the Jewish and the Gentile believers. During the 4th century Constantine, the first Christian Roman Emperor, influenced the division between Christian and Jew by issuing edicts against the Jews. Subsequently, the Sabbath was changed from the last day of the week (Saturday) to the first day of the week (Sunday), called the "Lord's Day", because of Yeshua's resurrection on that day. Biblical feasts and festivals were no longer celebrated. They were replaced with Christian festivals (which were actually based on pagan festivals). John Chrysostom, Bishop of Antioch, furthered the division, blaming Jews for drawing Christians away from the Christian church. He promoted the idea that the Jews were "Christ-killers." This Gentile branch believed that it had become the "New Israel". Known as Replacement Theology, this belief promoted the idea that the Christians had inherited the promises of the Hebrew Scriptures and that these promises no longer belonged to the Jews. In 1096 Pope Urban II0 called for a Crusade (Holy War) against the Moslems in Jerusalem. However, these Christians began their extermination with the Jews, perceiving them to be enemies of Christianity, also.   The slaughter began in France and proceeded across Europe to Jerusalem, where Jews were herded into their synagogues. The synagogues, and the Jews inside them, were burned, in the name of Christianity. Another event that focused on the Jews was the Spanish Inquisition in the 1400's. Jews were forced to convert to Christianity or face persecution and death. They were eventually driven out of Spain altogether. In the 1500's Martin Luther, who once condemned the persecution of Jews, became their enemy when they didn't accept his version of Christianity.  He wrote pamphlets containing articles against the Jewish people, describing them as "stiff-necked Jews, iron hearted and stubborn as the devil." (2) Later Hitler would use Luther's ideas to justify his treatment of the Jews. In the late 1800's Russian Christians participated in anti-Semitic pogroms, attacking the Jews, looting and destroying their property, as well as murdering and raping the people. The 20th century saw the worst of anti-Semitism in Adolph Hitler’s Final Solution. While many Christians stood by he oversaw the elimination of 6 million "Jewish vermin," as he called them.  The horror of the Holocaust, however, did not bring an end to anti-Semitism. Today, we can find it in Israel itself and throughout the Middle East, evidenced by the extreme hatred for the Jewish people within the Islamic religion. To the Islamists, Jews are "the infidel, the great satan," which "must be driven into the sea."  In Russia several Communist party leaders have voiced antisemitic sentiment, saying there are "good Jews" and "bad Jews." The Russian Jews have even been blamed for the collapse of the Russian economy. (3) In 1975 the United Nations passed a criminal resolution equating Zionism with racism.  (In 1991 December 16: UN General Assembly revokes Resolution 3379, with 111 votes to 25 with 13 abstentions.) They, as well as the European Union, make no attempt to veil their Pro-Arab, Anti-Israel leanings concerning the establishment of a Palestinian state. The UN has gone as far as to violate its own Charter by labeling as "occupied" the territory of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, even though, upon its creation, the UN was required to allow the continuation of mandates created under the League of Nations, including the British Mandate (Article 6) that facilitated the reestablishment of the Jewish state.

According to an annual report released in April by the Tel-Aviv University, the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Agency, although the number of anti-Semitic attacks is on the decline, the severity and nature of the violence of the attacks continues to rise. Dr. Dina Porat, the head of the Institute for the Study of Racism and Anti-Semitism released the findings of the annual report.

"Meanwhile, in Novosibirisk, Russia, a newly dedicated synagogue in Siberia was vandalized.  Torahs were thrown on the floor and swastikas and anti-Semitic writings scrawled on the walls and ceilings.

Jews in Novosibirsk received the synagogue back from the local authorities about a year ago, and 10 days before the vandalism, a rabbi arrived from Israel to help the community get back on its feet, according to Rabbi Berel Lazar, who leads Habad (a religious Jewish organization) in Russia. 'It is the first time in many years that they had a rabbi there. They had just celebrated Purim and had an incredible turnout, about 1,000 people,' he said in Moscow. Police investigator, Alexander Osimtsev, said the vandals covered the walls and ceilings of the synagogue with the swastikas and the letters RNE -an acronym designating an increasingly vocal neo-Nazi movement, Russian national Unity.

However, the police downplayed the seriousness of the attack and said they aren't sure whether they will open a criminal case. 'Nothing terrible has happened here,' Osimtsev said. 'We've had much more serious incidents today, such as a murder and a robbery. And this is just some kids having hijinks.'

Expressions of anti-Semitism and desecration of Jewish cemeteries and synagogues have become increasingly frequent in Russia in recent years. Two Communist lawmakers have been making virulent anti-Semitic statements, and despite strong international pressure, the party only grudgingly issued a vague denunciation of their comments.

Before this incident, Siberia had been 'the one place that's been fairly quiet,' Lazar said." (Jerusalem Post) Dispatch from Jerusalem Vol. 24 No. 3 May-June 1999

BOTTOM LINE

Why are the Jews so hated?  Because of Whose they are.  Jews - the people Israel - have been chosen by God to be His people, "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession". (1 Pet. 2:9) The Jews represent a faith that causes uncomfortableness in others... an accountability to their God. If the world can rid itself of the Jews, then it can rid itself of this accountability. If the world can discredit the Jews, then it can discredit their God.  However, God has given us His Word concerning His people.  " ...he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye." (Zech. 2:8)  He has told us that His choice of His people is eternal. "... for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable". (Rom. 11:29) He has set forth the position of Gentile Christians. They have not canceled out God's calling of the Jews. Instead, they have been "grafted in" (Rom. 11:17) and become a branch of the original olive tree.

CHOICE

We have now come to the underlying reason for anti-Semitism. Not only is it a dislike or hatred of Jews - God's People Israel. It is also a dislike or hatred of the God of the People Israel. To hate His People is to hate Him, for He is The God Of Israel. HERESY?!? No.  But you must make a choice. If you say you love God, yet do not love His People, then you do not truly know the God you claim to love. Choose to know Him and His Son Yeshua (Jesus) and you will know His love for His People and will love them with His Love.

FROM THE BRIDEGROOM

"Stand, stand up! Stand up straight, stand up strong and do not accept the antisemitism that is coming out into society in greater numbers than before. The movement that is about now against My People will shadow that of Hitler. You must stand; you must stand firm, and you must stand up for My People. They don't have anybody else to stand. Those whom I've called to be Watchmen must stand. Stand against everything they see, hear, read, --- feel, that's against My People. Don't accept it or take it in. Rebuke it; reject it. Voice the declaration of My choice of My Chosen People..." (April 7, 1998)

CURRENT EVENTS

Sometimes newsworthy events don't get reported in the media. The reason could be lack of space or time. Or it could be that someone doesn't want others to know about these current events, or because they choose to ignore them. Perhaps this is the reason why we haven't heard much about the anti-Semitic activities going on today. Daniel Pipes, director of the Middle East Forum, wrote an article titled "America's Muslims Against America's Jews," which recently appeared in the May issue of Commentary magazine. He says, "that what was once historically a Christian phenomenon - virulent anti-Semitism - is now primarily a product of Muslim groups, many of them based in the United States. If Christian antisemitism is increasingly yesterday's problem, Muslim antisemitism is today's problem, and tomorrow's." He continues, "one would hardly know anything about the depth and reach of Muslim anti-Semitism from following the press, from reading the work of most researchers, or even from tracking the statements of the organized Jewish community."

GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE

Throughout history there have been many Gentile believers who have loved, protected and stood by the Jews - God's Chosen People Israel. Sometimes they have endangered their own lives in doing so. However, they realized their indebtedness to His People: "But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles". (Rom. 11:11) They also knew that the God they loved and served is the God of Israel, and that they were to love His People as He loves them.  He has instructed His Gentile believers: "Do not be arrogant toward the branches;" and "From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God?s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers". (Rom 11:18, 28)   Therefore, these Gentile believers chose to be obedient to their Father God and love His People with His Love.

As we approach the end of the 20th century we can look back over the first 2000 years and learn, or we can ignore the past and continue on the same path. No matter what choices we make, however, everyone will eventually stand before the judgment seat of God and answer for what he has or has not done on this earth. It is in this heavenly place that history repeats itself in the most important way of all: "And they do not cease to say, 'HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, is the LORD, GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, ...'" (Rev 4:8)...

Who was and Who is and Who is to come...

Who was and Who is and Who is to come...

Who was and Who is and Who is to come...

Baruch Haba B'Shem Adonai!

Blessed is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord!

In Yeshua's Name, Be Blessed!​