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Never Again, Never Alone
We thought the world had learned its lesson. We thought humanity had grasped the gravity of antisemitism. We thought we had friends who stood with us. We held onto the hope we would never again witness this amount of senseless brutality. But on October 7, 2023, Hamas’ savage attack on innocent Jewish people shattered those illusions. The subsequent upswell of antisemitic rhetoric has been hard to believe and even more hurtful to experience.
“Never Again”—the Jewish community’s determined vow against another genocide after the horrors of the Holocaust—now feels like a hollow echo. It is natural to feel helpless in the face of enormous evil and shattered dreams. It is normal to wonder how something like this could happen again, despite all the Jewish community’s efforts to build a safe haven for ourselves. But in a world with shattered hopes, we now wonder if there is any lasting hope left to grasp.
Watch a Virtual Timeline of October 7th at REMEMBERINGOCTOBER7.COM
Never Alone
However, even as our hopes seem shattered, there is an unbroken promise—a promise enduring the test of time—which has seen Jewish people through the darkest moments of history and can carry us through despite the growing intensity of attacks on Israel and global antisemitism.
This promise is not given by man but by the God of Israel. In the Torah, He made an eternal covenant with our ancestors, a covenant binding Him to us and to the land of Israel forever (Genesis 15). This covenant is not based on the worthiness of Jewish people but founded on God’s love and faithfulness for His chosen people.
As Moses, our lawgiver, wrote,
The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)
According to Moses, God promised to be our God and called upon us to be His people. He vowed to dwell among us, guide us, protect us, and defend us, and despite our failures and shortcomings, He has remained faithful to His promises.
Throughout history, God has proven Himself to be a shield of protection around Jewish people. Whether our persecutors were Haman, Hitler, or Hamas, He has intervened on our behalf countless times—often in miraculous ways—to deliver us from harm and danger. Even when Jewish people felt abandoned or forgotten, He was always present, working behind the scenes to bring about redemption and restoration.
He is still deeply engaged today, even amid the interminable suffering Jewish people have endured over the last year, especially Israelis who lost loved ones on October 7 and during its aftermath.
Unexpected Friends
We are not alone in another sense as well. There are countless followers of Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah, who believe the land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel, and they also believe Jewish people still play a significant role in God’s plan for the ages. In a world where Jewish people seem to be losing friends and are feeling increasingly isolated, we might remember how Christians also used to be viewed as enemies and persecutors. However, times have changed, and today’s sincere, Bible-believing Christians are now some of our greatest supporters.
As one Anglican Christian said recently, “If antisemites want to harm the Jewish people, then they have to get through us first!” How powerful! What an expression of love and support. This amazing show of support and backing by Christians may open us up as Jewish people to take a new look at the claims of Yeshua to be the Jewish Messiah.
Yet, the support we as Jewish people receive today from the Christian community can sometimes be confusing because of an uncomfortable history of “Christian” persecution. The Crusades, pogroms, and even the Holocaust are often believed to be the cumulative result of a long history of Christian antisemitism.
This is why it is so critical for Christians and Jewish people to understand there are many beliefs tying us together. One of them is a mutual understanding of how God made a covenant with Jewish people, which He will never repeal. Consider this biblical promise:
Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; the Lord of hosts is His name: “If this fixed order departs from before Me,” declares the Lord, “then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever.” (Jeremiah 31:35–36)
The continued existence of the sun, moon, and stars—and even the waves hitting the Tel Aviv seashore—is evidence of God’s continued preservation of the people of Israel. Many followers of Jesus recognize this fact, passionately insisting anyone who is opposed to the Jewish state and people is opposed to God Himself.
A Deeper Reason
However, there is an even deeper significance behind the advocacy of Christians on behalf of Israel. Christians often view the modern State of Israel as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy and believe God will fulfill His remaining promises of bringing a lasting peace to Israel when Yeshua returns.
The Christian commitment to Israel and Jewish people stems from a profound understanding of Yeshua’s identity as the Jewish Messiah. Yeshua identified as a Jewish person; He was one of us. He said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). He came to Jewish people first, and only later did His message have an impact on Gentiles all over the world.
Followers of Yeshua see Him as the fulfillment of biblical prophecies, as central to the redemption narrative throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, and the embodiment of God’s love for His people. Yeshua also came to bring unity between Jewish people and Gentiles and to reconcile humanity to God. As Messianic Jews, we believe Yeshua came to offer forgiveness of sin to all who put their trust in Him: to our Jewish people and to Gentiles alike. The Jewish prophet Isaiah foretold the Messiah’s atoning death for our sins:
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. (Isaiah 53:3b–6)
By forgiving our sins, Yeshua provides us with a true and lasting hope nobody can ever take away or destroy. He said,
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28–30)
Yeshua gives us a peace transcending the troubles and horrific terrorist acts of this world. When all else fails, including our calls for “Never Again,” our Messiah remains faithful and true. We are never alone when we trust in Him. We know the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be faithful to keep His promises to His chosen people—forever!
The Truth behind the Chant: “From the River to the Sea”
False Charges of Genocide against Israel
On streets and campuses around the world, we have heard the slogan, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Ironically, those chanting it think they are advocating for peace in the Middle East, but they are instead standing with Hamas and crying for the obliteration of Jewish people who live between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
We have heard the calls to support Hamas in its cause for the Palestinian people when, in reality, the efforts of Hamas are designed only to benefit Hamas and not the average Palestinian, whom the terrorist group uses as human shields.
We have also heard Israel labeled a genocidal, oppressive, and colonizing nation. Let us look at the accusation of genocide in a bit more detail.
The United Nations defines genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.” If Israel were trying to commit genocide against Arabs in Gaza, it is obvious they have failed; Palestinians are thriving within Israel proper and even within Gaza (prior to the war) and the West Bank.
Despite the decades-long, ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, there are still more than two million Arabs living in the Gaza Strip, and Israel has more than one million Arab citizens within its borders with full legal rights. Arab soldiers even fight in the Israel Defense Forces, and an Arab Muslim judge, Khaled Kabub, was appointed in 2022 to a position in Israel’s Supreme Court. These realities would not occur in a nation committing genocide or even apartheid.
Moreover, Arab nations like Jordan and Saudi Arabia made heroic efforts to protect Israel from aggression during Iran’s cruise missile strike in April. This action begs the question: Why would Arab nations protect a country accused of genocide against fellow Arabs?
But the irony runs even thicker. Israel is a parliamentary democracy, guided by constitutional documents, with freedom of speech, religion, and the press, unlike its many neighbors. Israel’s Basic Laws (its version of a constitution) include a section on human dignity and liberty, ensuring the preservation of life, dignity, property, and personal liberty of all citizens, including Arab Muslim Israelis.
Yet, Hamas’ 1988 charter is explicitly anti-Israel and anti-Jewish and clearly maps out its genocidal, terrorist aspirations:
“Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it.”
“The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.”
Although Hamas updated its charter in 2017, wherein it might accept a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, it still refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist. Additionally, its actions on October 7, 2023, reveal its lack of dedication to peace.
Nothing New under the Sun
This current spate of hatred did not begin with the creation of the modern State of Israel in 1948 or with the aftermath of Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. Jewish people have been accused of every conceivable crime throughout history without recourse to evidence or logic. In previous generations, the slogans and the signboards complained Jewish people were too capitalist, too communist, too rich, too poor, too educated, too backward, too religious, and too godless. The common thread between these contradictory accusations was the following: no matter what Jewish people do, antisemites find a way to hate us.
Countless kingdoms and empires throughout the centuries have carried out genocidal programs against Jewish people. The Third Reich was the worst in a long line of attempts in history. Today, the modern State of Israel has become the lightning rod for antisemitic anger, and though it is not perfect or without political error, it has never been guilty of the antisemitic tropes forming the crux of today’s criticism of Israel and Jewish people. The vitriol against Israel is irrational and without merit. Yet, despite the efforts of Israel’s foes, every attempt to destroy Jewish people has failed. Why?
Jewish Survival
Have you ever considered there may be something beyond the natural realm at play here—something supernatural leading to Jewish survival against extraordinary odds and powerful enemies?
The Bible says some astonishing truths about Jewish people. The prophet Jeremiah said God would preserve Jewish people as a nation as long as the sun and moon are still in the sky (Jer 31:35–37). Since the solar system and Jewish people remain today, his prophecy checks out. Yeshua said, “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22), and, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). Yeshua has a special love for His own people.
Paul, the Jewish apostle and rabbi, said, “From the standpoint of God’s choice [Jewish people] are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:28–29). Jewish people have survived and continue to thrive because God promised to protect His chosen, and God always keeps His promises.
We can only understand the history of antisemitism and its present virulent expression by pulling back the curtain of everyday life to look at the underlying spiritual reason for this “world’s oldest hatred.” If the God of the Bible exists, and He has expressed His plans and purposes for Jewish people, it makes sense evil forces opposed to Israel’s God would seek to try to destroy His chosen people in every generation.
One of the challenges we face as twenty-first-century rational thinkers is our disregard of the spiritual world. We entertain the possibility of more being “out there,” which we cannot see or touch with our five senses. We especially long for a beautiful world beyond our sin-tainted existence, especially in tough moments. We hope against hope ultimate good exists. But, if it does, then we would have to accept the probability the opposite is true as well.
If ultimate good exists, then it is likely a form of extreme evil does too. For Jewish people, Adolph Hitler clearly attained and even embodied evil in ways few human beings ever do. Who was his greatest enemy? Jewish people, of course. He hated Jewish people with an otherworldly hatred. It is almost impossible to believe such a degree of enmity was culturally or sociologically generated. We believe Hitler was a demonic tool, and the devil (haSatan in Hebrew) is ultimately behind evil world events. HaSatan, which means “the adversary,” appears seventeen times in the Hebrew Bible. He is the embodiment of ultimate evil and stands behind and inspires those who have sought the destruction of Jewish people throughout the ages.
Maybe you do not believe in ultimate evil, as we all much prefer some form of ultimate good. Nevertheless, it is evident both exist in the history of the world and are epitomized in the plight of Jewish people. If you can open your heart and mind to the reality presented by the Bible, then you would be open to the idea a good God who keeps His promises exists, as does an evil being who seeks the destruction of the very people God created and called to be a bridge of redemption to a dark and fallen world.
The good news from the teaching of the Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures) and the New Testament is, ultimately, evil loses and good triumphs! This good news is described throughout the entire Bible. One day, God Himself will finish the job and deliver the devil to a lake of fire where he will no longer pose a threat to Jewish people, to our world, and to the kingdom of our holy God. Evil is not eternal but is temporary and has a beginning and an end. Ultimate good endures for all eternity and is found in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and is available to those who follow Him and call upon the name of the Messiah for salvation.
A Question to Consider
At this point, it would be good to examine what drives people to seek the destruction of Jewish people. Ask yourself the question: Who is behind this, and is it the side of life you want to choose? Even those who may not desire to erase Jewish people from the earth but are supporting the cause of those who do will eventually discover the cause is antithetical to truth and goodness. Their approach is a losing proposition as God Himself is preserving and protecting Jewish people from our opponents.
For further information, download our e-Book “Stop the Hate”.
Founding Statement of the
Coalition against Antisemitism
Our partner ministry in the U.S., Chosen People Ministries, is building a Coalition Against Antisemitism (CAAS), which will propose several ways to oppose antisemitism through education, activism, public demonstrations, rallies, lectures, social media, and initiating various public events with a particular emphasis on college campuses. They will work to influence local churches, seminaries and colleges, denominations, and Christian institutions to make them aware of rising antisemitism while also providing resources and practical advice on how to counter anti-Jewish attitudes within their spheres of influence. Their founding statement expresses our conviction God chose the Jewish people for His purposes, and how antisemitism, which contradicts God’s covenant, is Satanic. It also surveys the various forms antisemitism has taken over the centuries.
Spiritual Origins of Antisemitism
As our common faith declares, God created and chose the Jewish people to accomplish His purposes on earth (Genesis 12:1–3, 28:14; Romans 9:4–5). Therefore, the existence of antisemitism runs contrary to God’s covenant promises to Jewish people (Jeremiah 31:35–37). Antisemitism is Satanic in origin (Revelation 12:13–17) and is in keeping with the devil’s plot to alienate the Jewish people from God’s plan for His chosen people.
Antisemitism Rooted in False Teaching
Antisemitism was nurtured by Christians in positions of political power who formulated anti-Jewish policies during the medieval period, limiting Jewish freedoms and occupations while empowering and protecting their persecutors. These policies undermined the dignity and security of God’s covenant people and spawned a negative view of Christianity within the greater Jewish community.
Early Anti-Judaism
Anti-Judaism, the precursor of modern antisemitism, became firmly embedded in church doctrine over the centuries. Although the New Testament conveys a positive view of Jewish people (Romans 11), the writings of the church promoted an increasingly negative view of Jewish people, causing a growing chasm with the Jewish community. Many early Gentile Christian leaders believed and taught that God rejected the Jewish people in favor of the church.
The Growth of Racial Antisemitism
By the late Middle Ages and the beginning of the Enlightenment antisemitism was increasingly popularized in the writings of European Christians and a growing cadre of secularists. Their language ultimately engendered even more virulent manifestations of racial antisemitism, leading to frequent blood libels, pogroms in Eastern Europe, and other forms of persecution in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Islamic Antisemitism
Antisemitism assumed new dimensions during the Muslim conquests in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe as Islam teaches that all non-Muslims must submit to its political authority in Muslim-ruled lands. Negative views of Jewish people in classic Islam combined with European race-based antisemitism and politically motivated anti-Zionism to pervade the culture of Israel’s neighbors. The founding of the modern State of Israel in 1948 became a lightning rod for Islamic antisemitism. Unfortunately, during the last few decades, Islamic antisemitism became especially volatile and violent, as demonstrated by the barbaric massacre, rape, and kidnapping of innocent Jewish Israelis and non-Jews living in Israel on October 7, 2023.
Antisemitism and Global Conspiracy Theories
Antisemitism expressed by various conspiratorial writings, including the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” and numerous antisemitic tropes, spread throughout the world during the modern era. Fueled by racial ideology, this hatred of Jewish people ultimately led to the Holocaust.
The Coalition and the Gospel Message
The Coalition Against Antisemitism (CAAS) gives voice to all, and especially to followers of the Messiah Jesus, who are compelled to counter the destructive tropes, false charges, lies, and doctrines fueling antisemitism and hatred of the Jewish people. This hatred has become increasingly visible and militant in recent years, even more since October 7, 2023. CAAS calls upon those who seek the good of Israel to join hands in praying for Jewish people (Psalm 122:6) and take decisive action in repudiating antisemitism through intentional, bold, and respectful public action, media, education, and local church engagement. Additionally, we affirm that both the proclamation of the good news and acts of kindness toward the Jewish people are motivated by love and gospel obedience, as the apostle Paul implores all true believers to bring the gospel “to the Jew first” (Rom 1:16). The Scriptures also affirm that the God of Israel will one day fulfill all His promises to His chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6–26; Rom 11:25–29).
To learn more, go to opposeantisemitism.com
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