New Year, Same Antisemitism. How Should We Respond?
We are excited as we look ahead and anticipate all that God will do in the coming year. Looking back at 2022, to be honest with you, the last few months were tough for us and for Jewish people around the world.
Antisemitism, broadly defined as “a prejudice against or hostility towards Jewish people,” is on the rise in very real ways. Some of the news hitting the TV, internet, and social media is beyond disturbing. Though I know that I am covered by the grace and mercy of Jesus, it is still painful to experience personal misunderstanding from both the church and the world. Let me briefly explain.
Over my 39 years in ministry, it has not been unusual for me to experience blatant or ignorant misunderstanding as a Jewish person. Someone asking me if I am going to “Jew them down” at our sales table after a service or even by a pastor in a joking manner is not uncommon. After one church service where I explained the tragic history of antisemitism in the church and the difficulty that we have overcoming it in outreach to Jewish people, a lady came up to me and asked, “Why can’t you Jews just get over it?”
More recently I have been questioned both in the church and in public what makes me a “true Jew,” have been confronted personally about black people being the “real Jews” (not just by black people) and have had to defend the theology that God’s covenant with the Jewish people and the nation of Israel is still significant.
In pop culture, famous rapper Kanye West repeatedly made some shocking remarks praising Hitler and giving life to anti-Jewish conspiracy theories. Comedian Dave Chappelle then jokingly defended him on Saturday Night Live. People with massive influence saying things like this is truly concerning to the Jewish community. Though some might brush him off as a crazy fanatic, his words still fan antisemitic feelings into flame and embolden violence against Jews. In November, the month Kanye made these remarks, hate crimes against Jews in New York rose by 125%. In at least one instance the perpetrators wrote on a banner, “Kanye was right about the Jews.”
Israel is also under pressure from the international community. At the end of November, the United Nations General Assembly voted to adopt a resolution to commemorate the Nakba, the Palestinian term for Israel’s establishment, which in Arabic means “Catastrophe.” For me, the establishment of the Jewish homeland is a day of joy and thanksgiving. For many around the world it is a tragedy.
The UN has a long record of singling out Israel for chastisement. The UN has condemned Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, for almost as many human rights violations as every other nation in the world combined. That ironically includes nations like China, Iran, Sudan and Syria. This is “anti-Zionism” – the unique criticism of Israel over and above all other nations. It usually derives from the core belief that Israel does not deserve to exist as a nation. As Jewish people are inexorably connected to the land of Israel, Anti-Zionism has proven to quickly become antisemitism on the world stage.
Anna Beth writes….
Often when I tell the story of how God called me to Israel and the Jewish people, I say that God led me on an “unconventional journey.” I say that because I used to hate Israel! My story has a lot to do with antisemitism, and because of that fact, I am particularly passionate about combating it.
When I was in college, I studied Arabic and loved connecting with the Arab community at my school, many of whom were Palestinian. Because there has been injustice committed against the Palestinian community, and that causes very real pain, there is also an abiding tendency in their culture towards hatred of Israel (anti-Zionism). In my zeal to love and support my Palestinian friends, I took on their narrative and took up their offense and hatred towards Israel. When you love people, it is easy to absorb their prejudices if you aren’t watching over your heart. But I’d only heard one side of the story. Unbeknownst to me, anti-Zionism translated to antisemitism in my heart.
How did I come to love Israel from such a place? To make a long story short... I went there. I joined a college ministry group for a ten-day tour. While getting to know people on both sides of the conflict, I began to see that while the situation was far from perfect, Israel was not the racist, colonial oppressor I was led to believe. The media can’t hope to express the full spectrum of human drama playing out in the Middle East. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains an issue close to my heart, and I believe it is close to God’s heart as well. He deeply loves the people on both sides.
That first trip, I didn’t yet understand God’s special love and purpose for the Jewish people, but I did begin to feel his love for the land of Israel. The Bible began to come alive! It became real to me: this story really happened. In a real place, at a real time, with a real group of people...A group of people with whom God really made an everlasting covenant.
Fast forward a couple of years. I traveled back to Israel a few times – I couldn’t stay away! The third time I was in Israel, God gripped my heart for the Jewish people. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. I had been there before, but that time I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart.
In the entrance of the museum, there was a display - a time line that traced the story of antisemitism from ancient history all the way up until the modern day. The Holocaust was only one expression of this evil that has been called “the oldest hatred.” It hit me: why should this tiny group of people be targeted - hated, expelled, persecuted - in every place in every period of history? It makes no sense.
Where there can be no natural explanation, we must consider a supernatural one. I realized that Satan, the one who constantly opposes the purposes of God in the earth, hates the Jewish people. God loves them so much, and chose them to send his word and his Messiah into the world...So the Enemy chose them for annihilation.
I felt the conviction of God in that moment that in my hatred of Israel, I had ignorantly participated in this evil. I repented and immediately knew that the Lord was inviting me into this story - inviting me to love his people Israel. I said yes. From that moment on, my love for the Palestinian community remained strong, but I saw Israelis and Jewish people differently - I saw them through the eyes of God’s love and faithfulness.
Our ministry is tremendously concerned about the rise in antisemitism around the world. It deeply affects our ministry, the church, and the Jewish community. Antisemitism and, may I emphasize, hatred of any people group, is unbiblical and anti-Christ. This is so pervasive in our culture, I don’t see things changing for the better. The Enemy is working overtime. Lies are being told and believed. The truth is being withheld or misunderstood. But we are not powerless.
There are a few things we can do…
1) Stay focused on the Scriptures and the truth of God’s word. The Scriptures are sharper than a two-edged sword, cutting through lies and revealing the truth (Hebrews 4:12). Antisemitism, hatred of Jews because they are Jews, is a result of deception from Satan. When people believe conspiracy theories or lies, we need to be slow to speak, and to respond with questions from the Scriptures pointing others to the truth.
2) Educate. There are many reputable places to get good information. We can point you in the right direction both online and in print. Please reach out to us for help. Send us a note by mail, e-mail, or call our office (see contact info below).
If you would like to read more about this topic, we highly recommend the book Our Hands are Stained with Blood, which can be ordered on our website. Written by Dr. Michael Brown, one of the foremost and respected Jewish Christian theologians/apologists in the world, it shows the tragic history of the church and the Jewish people. It is revised and updated to address the Palestinian narrative, as well as the false teaching from the Black Hebrew Israelite movement.
3) Preach the gospel. The only hope for reconciliation is the gospel. The only hope to end hatred and bring unity is the way of Jesus. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, true love, unity, and hope. We are committed to proclaiming the gospel as did Jesus, Paul, and the early disciples: “To the Jew first…and also to the gentile.” Romans 1:16.
4) Pray. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. There is only one city, commanded by God, for which we must pray. The city is Jerusalem. Jerusalem is biblically representative of the Jewish people. It is why Jesus sent his disciples to Jerusalem first – preaching the gospel there – to them as a priority. He left from Jerusalem, and he will return to Jerusalem. Pray for those entrapped in false teaching. Pray for those who embrace lies, who are antisemitic, who hate, who cause division. Pray for the Lord to give us wisdom to be winsome in our teaching and our ministry of hope and truth to the Jewish people.
5) Express love to your Jewish friends, neighbors, coworkers and acquaintances. Never underestimate how impactful a simple kind word or gesture can be. Perhaps ask your Jewish friends about their experiences and feelings about antisemitism, and let them know you care about them. If you need help or have questions about talking to your Jewish friends, don’t hesitate to contact us!
6) Remember. Remember who is in control and who is sovereign. It’s easy to focus on what’s going on around us and forget the One who sustains us. Remember what Jesus said: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace (shalom). In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Thank you so much for standing with us as we fight antisemitism, communicate God’s heart for Israel to the Church, and reach the Jewish people with the message of Jesus.