The story of a remarkable Christian soldier who risked his life for Jewish men.

72 years after the liberation of Auschwitz by the Red Army on 27 January 1945, Britain and other nations are acknowledging Holocaust Memorial Day at a time when anti-Semitism is once more on the rise.

Israel itself, which has since risen from the ashes of that dreadful scourge that wiped out six million European Jews, is under dire threat from enemies on all sides while attacks on synagogues and other Jewish centres are still being carried out in the ‘civilised’ West. Only this last weekend in north-west London, a swastika-daubed brick was hurled through a Jewish family’s window while others were pelted with eggs.¹

The fragile borders to which the United Nations expect Israel to agree (just nine miles wide in places) have for good reason been described by politicians as ‘Auschwitz lines’, because they leave the Jewish state highly vulnerable to attack from neighbouring states who have repeatedly threatened to wipe them off the map.

It was also in January 1945 that one of the most heroic accounts of the war took place. But the incredible story has only just surfaced because the hero concerned never spoke about it.

The truth was finally unearthed by his granddaughter when asked to focus on a family member as part of a college assignment. Her widowed grandmother gave her the diary kept by her husband during his time in a prisoner-of-war camp which revealed the astonishing fact that, by standing up to the German commandant, Master Sgt Roddie Edmonds, of Knoxville, Tennessee, had saved the lives of 200 American Jews.

Israel is under dire threat from enemies on all sides, whilst Jews in the ‘civilised’ West are increasingly under attack.

‘We Are All Jews Here’

As the highest-ranking officer there, Edmonds was made responsible for the camp’s 1,292 American GIs, 200 of whom were Jewish. Then one day the Germans ordered all Jewish POWs to report outside their barracks the following morning. Knowing what awaited them – being moved to a slave labour camp at the very least – he decided to resist the directive, ordering all his men to fall out the following morning.

The commandant, Major Siegmann, duly ordered Edmonds to identify the Jewish soldiers, to which the sergeant responded: “We are all Jews here.”

Holding his pistol to Edmonds’ head, the commandant repeated the order. But the sergeant – a devout Christian – refused.

“According to the Geneva Convention, we only have to give our name, rank and serial number. If you shoot me, you will have to shoot all of us, and after the war you will be tried for war crimes,” Edmonds had said, according to one of the men saved that day.

Edmonds’ pastor son Chris regards all of them as heroes as they could easily have identified the Jews among them to save their skin. But they all stood together.

Neutrality Not an Option

Late last year, Roddie Edmonds was posthumously awarded the Yehi Or (‘Let there be light’) Award by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous. He has also been honoured by Jerusalem’s Holocaust Museum Yad Vashem as ‘Righteous Among the Nations’.²

But as Jews were herded into cattle trucks for transporting to death camps, there weren’t many Roddies about who dared to speak up and stand up on their behalf. These days, where controversial issues are concerned, leaders still prefer to keep their heads below the proverbial parapet while remaining ‘impartial’. But there is a time when we must take sides. We must choose between life and death, between God and evil. If we claim to be Christian, we have no option.

“Neutrality is only an illusion,” writes Robert Stearns. “Those who are not for God are against Him. (Matthew 12.30a) The German public’s unfortunate legacy during World War II lies not in what they did in response to their despotic leader and his horrendous practices, but in what they did not do.”³

These days, where controversial issues are concerned, it seems easier to remain ‘impartial’. But there is a time when we must take sides.

Righteous Among the Nations

This did not apply, however, to Hans Scholl and his sister Sophie, young Christians who led the White Rose leaflet campaign of resistance - for which they paid with their lives. Prophetically, they asked the question: “Who among us has any conception of the dimensions of shame that will befall us and our children when one day the veil has fallen from our eyes and the most horrible of crimes…reach the light of day?”⁴

Garden of the Righteous, Yad Vashem, Jerusalem.

Stearns also points out that, when the Nazis invaded European nations, many monarchs vacated their thrones and fled. But King Christian X stayed in Denmark as he defied the bullies. And thanks to his example, most Danish Jews survived the war.⁵

Princess Alice, the Queen’s mother-in-law, has also been recognised by Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum as ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ for saving a Jewish family during the war, and is buried on the Mount of Olives.

As Princess of Greece, she hid Jewish widow Rachel Cohen and two of her five children in her home. Rachel’s husband had in 1913 helped King George I of Greece, in return for which the king offered him any service he could perform, should he ever need it. When the Nazi threat emerged, his son recalled this promise and appealed to the Princess, who duly honoured her father’s pledge. Prince Charles last year fulfilled a longstanding wish to visit his grandmother’s grave.⁶

It’s interesting in this respect that Prince Charles has compared the dangers facing minority faith groups across the world today with the “dark days of the 1930s”.⁷

Are we courageous enough to tell the entire world that we are followers of Jesus and, as such, willing to do all we can to stand up to evil?

I Am One of Them…

The Queen herself is a wonderful example of someone who is prepared to make an uncompromising stand for faith and truth, declaring in her latest Christmas message to the nation: “Jesus Christ lived in obscurity for much of his life and was maligned and rejected by many, though he had done no wrong. Millions now follow his teaching and find in him the guiding light of their lives. I am one of them…”

Are we, like the Queen, courageous enough to tell the entire world that we are followers of Jesus and, as such, will do all we can to stand up to the evil that lurks in every dark corner of our land?

Roddie Edmonds was prepared to die for 200 Jewish men. Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac. But the greatest sacrifice of all was when Yeshua (Hebrew for Jesus), “though he had done no wrong”, laid down his life for both Jews and Gentiles on a stake outside the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, after being “led like a lamb to the slaughter” during the Passover feast (Isa 53:7). He bought our pardon; he paid the price.

Notes

1 Jerusalem News Network, 24 January 2017, quoting Algemeiner.

2 Gateway News (South Africa), 1 December 2016, originally published by The Times of Israel.

3 The Cry of Mordecai by Robert Stearns (Destiny Image).

4 Ibid.

5 Ibid.

6 Torch magazine, Christians United for Israel – UK, Dec 2016-Feb 2017.

7 Saltshakers, 24 December 2016, quoting Premier.org.uk.

A UNESCO resolution was passed yesterday denying the Jewish claim to Temple Mount and the Western Wall.

The resolution, which passed with 24 votes in favour versus 6 against (with 26 abstentions), re-classifies Temple Mount in exclusively Muslim terms and fails to acknowledge its significance to Jews.

Whilst it acknowledges Jerusalem as significant to three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), the section on Temple Mount omits any reference to Judaism or Christianity and uses only Arabic place-names,¹ effectively re-writing several thousand years of history.

The resolution on 'Occupied Palestine' is in its second draft form (the first draft was voted on in April, with a similar result). Having now passed through the UNESCO committee stage, it will go to the Executive Board for approval next week. Unsurprisingly, it was tabled by several Arab states, including Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon and Sudan, no doubt acting on behalf of Hamas. Interestingly, several heavyweight nations with supposedly positive relations with Israel also voted for the resolution, including Russia and China.

International Condemnation

The resolution's blatant defiance of the historical and archaeological record and its clear anti-Israel (many have already said anti-Semitic) bias has caused quite a stir, both in Israel and internationally. This morning Israel froze all co-operation with UNESCO until further notice, with Education Minister Naftali Bennett arguing that the vote will only encourage further terror attacks on Jews.²

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also criticised the resolution, describing UNESCO as an "absurd theater" and saying "To say that Israel has no connection to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall is like saying that China has no connection to the Great Wall of China and that Egypt has no connection to the Pyramids".³ Israeli President Reuven Rivlin responded to the result: "No forum or body in the world can say that there is no connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel and to Jerusalem. A body that does so is simply humiliating itself."⁴

The Western Wall of Jerusalem remains one of the most hotly contested spaces in the world.Further afield, Bulgarian Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova has signalled her clear disapproval of the motion, saying that it threatens to undermine the organisation's activities,⁵ which are supposedly to work for global peace and security. Criticism has also come at UNESCO from lawmakers at all points on the political spectrum, as well as pro-Israel lobbying groups worldwide.

Anti-Semitic Agendas

In broader context, the resolution represents the next stage in the Arab bid to delegitimise Israel and erase her claim on the Land, from the top down, through a concerted effort within the UN. The text of the resolution repeatedly refers to Israel as 'the occupying Power' and nearly exhausts the thesaurus with its cries for Israel to relinquish her presence and authority in the West Bank: it 'deplores', 'condemns', 'decries', 'disapproves of' and 'deeply regrets' Israel's authority over the contested areas, condemning "continuous Israeli aggressions" and "provocative abuses", with no mention whatsoever of Palestinian terror activity.⁶

Linguistically, it builds on the vote in 2010 to refer to various holy Jewish sites in both Muslim and Hebrew terms (with the Muslim term coming first, of course), e.g. 'al-Haram al-Ibrahimi/Tomb of the Patriarchs' and 'Bilal bin Rabah Mosque/Rachel's Tomb' ,⁷ this time removing Hebrew terminology altogether.

The resolution on 'Occuped Palestine' is more than just a failure to acknowledge the Jewish claim on Temple Mount – it is a deliberate erasure of it, a bald-faced attempt to rewrite history in favour of contemporary Islamic agendas. It is the latest in a string of distorted, anti-Semitic judgments to emerge from the UN, adding to the international effort to demonise Israel's presence in the West Bank and her claim on Jerusalem.⁸

The resolution is the UN's latest bald-faced attempt to rewrite history against Israel and in favour of Islam.

Dangerous Games

But, thankfully, it is not all bad news. Aside from Russia, no European state voted for the resolution this time around, thanks to recent Israeli diplomatic efforts to improve relations with other Western countries. Israel's ambassador to UNESCO, Carmel Shama-Hacohen, has commented that the vote shows a loss of key Palestinian support ground in Europe (particularly significant is France's shift from leading the anti-Israel vote to abstention), compared to the vote on the resolution's first draft, in April of this year.⁹ It's not much, but it's a start – we are not yet at the stage of global war on Israel, as prophesied in Ezekiel 38.

God clearly states in Scripture that "I will bless those who bless [Israel], and whoever curses [Israel] I will curse". This promise has never been rescinded – it is as true today for modern individuals and nations as it was for ancient empires.

As Hatikvah's excellent documentary 'Abraham's Vision'¹⁰ helpfully unpacks, the Hebrew words for 'curse' differ in this verse. God promises to 'ârar' [bitterly curse] those who 'qâlal' [make light of, despise, treat with contempt] Israel. This includes the least form of mockery or denial.

Those who voted for the resolution are treading on dangerous ground, for "it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb 10:31). Thankfully, Britain voted against it!¹¹ But we should not be rubbing our hands with glee at the prospect of the Arab nations eventually getting their just desserts – we should be praying that God brings them into a full knowledge of the truth, about him and his people – and we should be standing up for this truth ourselves.

Thanks to Israeli diplomatic efforts, no European state voted for the resolution.

The Way to True Peace

UNESCO's mission is to build peace "in the minds of men and women". As its behaviour stands in such stark contrast to this goal, we must learn that we cannot rely on international institutions of 'peace' and 'justice' to promote the truth worldwide. Only those whose minds are being renewed by The Truth himself - Jesus Messiah, who makes "one new man" out of Jew and Gentile (Eph 2:15), dissolving centuries of enmity - can show the world the pathway to true peace. And we don't have to be international diplomats or UN officials to do that – it starts where we are, with those immediately around us, today.

References

1 The Western Wall is mentioned only twice in the whole document, both times in quotation marks and after the Arabic name Al-Buraq, suggesting lesser legitimacy. The phrase 'Temple Mount' is missing from the entire document, replaced 15 times with the Islamic name Al-Ḥaram Al-Sharif.

2 Hoffman, G. Bennett suspends Israeli cooperation with UNESCO after Temple Mount vote. Jerusalem Post, 14 October 2016.

3 Ravid, B and Khouri, J. UNESCO backs motion nullifying Jewish ties to Temple Mount. Haaretz, 13 October 2016.

4 Ibid.

5 Sharon, I and Arhen, R. UNESCO chief pans her member states on anti-Israel Jerusalem resolution. Times of Israel, 14 October 2016.

6 The full text of the resolution can be read here.

7 See Wikipedia's page on UNESCO.

8 Since 2013, Israel has been condemned in 45 resolutions from the UN Human Rights Council (nearly half of all the country-specific resolutions it has ever passed). See here.

9 Ahren, R. Outrageous as it may be, UNESCO's Jerusalem vote has a silver lining. Times of Israel, 14 October 2016.

10 Previously published as 'Blessing, Curse or Coincidence? Vol 1', see here.

11 Other countries voting against were Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands and the United States.

New light is shed on the Holocaust heroine who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The discovery of a handwritten will and more than 70 photographs has provided fresh insight into the life of a Christian martyr who perished at Auschwitz.

Just six months before the camp was liberated by the Red Army on 27 January 1945, the life of courageous Scot Jane Haining was snuffed out, aged 47, by Nazi butchers for the 'crime' of loving the Jewish girls under her care.

Priceless Discovery

The "priceless" finding in the attic of the Church of Scotland World Mission Council's archive in Edinburgh has once again brought Jane's story into sharp focus, four years after the publication of a new book on the subject.

From Matron to Martyr – One Woman's Ultimate Sacrifice for the Jews (2012, Tate Publishing) is authored by New Zealander Lynley Smith, a distant relative who travelled the world to research details for her magnificent portrayal of this brave woman from Dunscore, near Dumfries – the only Scot to be honoured with a 'Righteous among the Nations' award by the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem.

Commenting on the poignant discovery of her last will and testament, dated 2 July 1942 and bequeathing her typewriter, coat and other items to various people, council secretary Rev Ian Alexander said:

It is a wonderful document and tremendously exciting to have something that Jane Haining herself has written. It gives a sense she was fully aware of the risks she was taking...Scottish missionaries were advised to return home from Europe during the dark days of the Second World War, but Jane declined and wrote: 'If these children need me in days of sunshine, how much more do they need me in days of darkness?' ¹

Jane Haining's life was snuffed out, aged 47, by Nazi butchers for the 'crime' of loving the Jewish girls under her care.

Beyond the Call of Duty

Jane had been living and working in the Glasgow area before taking on the role of matron at a girls' home in Budapest, Hungary – the boarding establishment of a school run by the Scottish Mission to Jews.

So dedicated was she to what she believed was her life's calling that she refused to leave her post when given several opportunities to escape, and even being ordered home by her superiors who feared for her safety. But more important to her was the safety of the Jewish girls under her care, already suffering under relentless discrimination and persecution even before the Nazis marched into their country.

Many of their parents were forcibly split up by the authorities as they sent the breadwinning Jewish men away, ostensibly to work camps, leaving families destitute and distressed.

The children often took refuge in the arms of Jane, who loved to comfort them with hugs and prayers of assurance. When she was forced by new laws to sew yellow stars onto the uniforms of her girls, she sobbed uncontrollably. And when some of the poorer pupils had no footwear, she effectively cut off any remaining ties with her homeland by using the soft leather of her suitcase to make soles for the girls' shoes.

She could identify with those who had lost parents as her mother died in childbirth when she was only five (her baby sister Helen lasting just 18 months) and her father died soon after remarrying, leaving his grieving widow pregnant.

Jane refused to leave her post when given several opportunities to escape, and even when ordered home by her superiors who feared for her safety.

Death, Where is Your Sting?

Jane was eventually arrested by the Gestapo on a series of charges which basically amounted to the fact that she showed too much concern for the Jews. Leaving her girls distraught, she was moved around various local prisons before being corralled into a cattle truck, crushed in with some 90 other women in conditions worse than animals would suffer, with access to neither water nor toilets for the long and tortuous journey to Auschwitz in south-west Poland.

She died soon afterwards, allegedly of natural causes. But since she had a strong constitution and had held up well even when sharing her food with her fellow inmates in an earlier prison, she is more likely to have been either shot or gassed, like so many of the million-plus Jews estimated to have perished at this most infamous of all death camps.

A postcard written two days before her death indicated no ill health, but hinted at her impending 'promotion' to meet with her Lord in heaven.

Intriguingly, in a chapter titled A View from the Summit early on in the book, the author imagines the scene of Jane's arrival in paradise, which serves the useful purpose of taking the sting out of the horrors that ensue in the narrative. Indeed, the Bible speaks of how the promise of resurrection removes the sting of death!

Delighted by the new discovery, author Lynley Smith told me: "It shows that Jane was well aware of the danger she was in – something I have always said. Bearing in mind that her Bible was miraculously rediscovered in 2010, I think God is keeping her story alive as its message – her example of loving the Jews enough to die for them – is so urgent for today."

Jane is likely to have been either shot or gassed, like so many of the million-plus Jews who perished at Auschwitz.

Reaping with Songs of Joy

The book has been translated into Hungarian, a key Budapest thoroughfare has been named after her and the government there has also honoured Jane for her sacrifice. But in truth, anti-Semitism there is once more on the rise, inflamed by the policies of the right-wing Jobbik Party.

In fact, little appears to have changed since those dark days in 1944. Lynley has told me how, on a recent visit to Budapest to launch the Hungarian translation of her book, she witnessed a group of skinheads racing through the city, one of them giving a 'Heil Hitler' salute as he dashed past a policeman.

In 2010 Jane was awarded a Hero of the Holocaust medal by the UK Government. Yet she had sought no honour in this world except to do the will of God and love his Chosen People. Meanwhile the Church of Scotland Mission in Budapest, which was home to a sizeable Jewish population in the 1930s, marked its 175^th anniversary last weekend.

As I was meditating recently on Psalm 126 – that "those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy" – I thought of Jane Haining, who wept uncontrollably as she was forced to sew yellow stars on the uniforms of the Jewish girls in her care. A harvest of life from the dead would surely follow, of which the re-birth of Israel was just the beginning.

As the Rabbi who wrote a foreword to Lynley's book said, "Jews need to know that true followers of Jesus are our friends."

References

1 Life of Scottish missionary who died in Auschwitz revealed. Jewish News, 15 September 2016.

Paul Luckraft interviews Piers Crow, Bible teacher and director of The David House, a charity and para-church ministry with a vision to share God's heart for the Jewish people.

When I met Piers over a late breakfast one sunny morning, I soon realised I was in for a fascinating time. The more he shared the clearer it became that this ministry has an important role to play in what God is doing, not just in this country but elsewhere around the world, especially in Ukraine. Moreover, his own background and the way he was led into this work offers encouragement and stimulation for those seeking to serve God in similar ways.

Prior Preparation

Piers had the benefit of a Christian family and upbringing, but rebelled in his teenage years and dropped out of school. However, at the age of 19 he was saved and his journey with God began. After beginning A-levels again, Piers chose to study Christianity, Judaism and Islam and went from there to study Theology at Cardiff University. He describes this experience as intellectually stimulating but spiritually dry. However, one major plus point from his time there was meeting a Swedish girl who would quickly become his wife.

However, God had a plan for all that study and a 'chance meeting' on a shuttle bus going to the airport in Sweden led to a conversation about biblical prophecy. Chatting with his fellow passenger during this brief journey, Piers was challenged by the fact that the Bible has so much to say about Israel and the Jewish people - something that he had not come across before, either in his university degree or at his church. This made a lasting impression and was a turning point in his life leading to more and more study of the Jewish roots of his faith. But what should he do about this new revelation?

The David House charity has two main aims – to reach local Jews and to teach Jewish roots to the wider Church.

Piers Arthur-Crow, director of The David House.Piers decided that the next step was to enrol for a year at a Bible school in Sweden known for its heart for Israel. This was a much more inspiring experience which ignited his faith and helped him grow towards what God had planned for his life. Yet, where was all this leading? Piers was not at all clear about what to do next but he was determined not to lose sight of the Lord and the life of prayer and study he had encountered whilst away.

He took up a part-time job as a postman so he could continue to study Hebrew and the word whilst praying into God's plan for him. Then, in 2007, out of the blue, The David House came into his life.

Encountering The David House

The David House was not a new venture at this time. It had been started in the late 1960s by Ken Price and since 1966 it had been the UK distributor of the Vineyard magazine, a world-wide publication which aims to stimulate readers to faith in God and his Messiah, Jesus (Yeshua). This magazine is still going strong and is available today.

In 1972 The David House became a charity with two main aims: to reach local Jews ('local' meant in the Cardiff area) and to teach Jewish roots to the wider Church. Ken never went out of his way to seek funding, standing on the word God had given him from Isaiah 49:23, "for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me". He simply prayed and the finances came in, even when the charity grew to such an extent that it was necessary to purchase a building in Cardiff out of which to operate the ministry. God clearly had his hand on this work.

Looking back, Piers finds it astounding that this ministry building was on the same street where his father had had his family business and where Piers had lived as a student in Cardiff. He had passed The David House building many times, never knowing what a key part it would play in his life and calling!

Piers first joined The David House as a trustee, but God had destined a greater role for him there. He later left the Board in order to become an employee of the charity, with the specific remit of running The David House in the UK. Piers very much wanted to continue in the way that Ken had operated and with the same degree of faith. He regards himself as having inherited the mantle from its founder.

The ministry stresses to Gentile believers the need for a firm understanding of the Jewishness of Jesus and the Hebraic nature of God's word.

Mission: The One New Man

What does The David House do today? Its aims have not changed over the years. A primary goal remains to reach the Jewish people and share God's love and purpose for them. But alongside this is the equally essential task of teaching the Church about God's heart for the Jews and of the nourishing root they provide to the Gentile branches of the Olive Tree. It is a key part of the ministry to constantly stress to Gentile believers that without a firm understanding of the Jewishness of Jesus and the Hebraic nature of God's word, it is impossible to fully discern God's plans and purposes for the world, both today and in the future.

In recent years the Lord has impressed upon those involved in The David House the global work he is doing in this day to bring together Jew and Gentile as 'one new man' in Christ, as laid out by Paul in Ephesians 2:11-22. This work was won at the cross (Eph 2:16) but for so long the Body of Jesus has not realised the fullness that Jesus has purposed in bringing Jew and Gentile together in himself.

The stirring of the Gentile Church to realise its Jewish roots goes hand in hand with the steady and significant growth of the Messianic movement in the last few decades. Piers is reminded of Romans 11:12, "Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!" Rather than a passing phase, it is part of the promise of the return of the Jewish people to their Messiah as the Gentile Church becomes ready to provide a greater witness and welcome than it ever has before.

This might seem a daunting task, especially as similar initiatives elsewhere have not always proved successful. But it has become increasingly clear that the One New Man movement is not just the work of a few enthusiasts trying to spread their ideas. Rather, this is both spontaneous and Spirit-led, the mark of God himself upon his Church, clearly indicating the direction in which it should, and eventually will, go.

The Lord is currently doing a global work in this day to bring together Jew and Gentile as 'one new man' in Christ.

Fruitful Conferences

It was perhaps most astonishing to hear that Ukraine is at the forefront of this. God is clearly moving most significantly in that country and The David House has recently started running conferences there, beginning in the spring of 2015 and continuing at six-monthly intervals, with its fourth conference being held in Kiev this coming September.

Hundreds of leaders are attending with an approximately 50-50 split between Jews and Gentiles. Believing rabbis meet with Christian pastors to consider topics such as the identity of Israel, the nature of the Church, the Hebraic context of the Bible, the curse of anti-Semitism and God's will to establish the One New Man. Overall the growth of one new man through these conferences has the dual success of defeating Replacement Theology within the Church and providing a strong Messianic witness to the Jewish people.

The David House also runs conferences in the UK, both on the south coast and in south Wales, and puts on events to celebrate the main feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles to bless and edify believers.

Overall, talking to Piers gave the impression that this is just the beginning and that the One New Man movement is really gaining momentum. The outcome of efforts so solidly biblical and providential is more certain and the fruit more lasting. This is definitely the case in those areas where The David House is involved.

To find out more about The David House or for regular mailings please contact Piers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or PO Box 5395, Hove, BN52 9YD.

Charles Gardner comments on the controversy.

I was struck with a mysterious sense of déjà vu when, having spent much of the afternoon researching the life and times of Theodor Herzl, inspiration for the Jewish nation, I heard on the news that a red-hot political row had broken out over anti-Semitism.

I had just been witnessing movie scenes¹ of the shocking racist incidents that probably drove Herzl into an early grave as he vowed to do something about it. Yet now, some 120 years after his campaign to establish a Jewish national home got off the ground, anti-Semitism is still rife in Europe's corridors of power.

The Labour Party, Britain's official opposition which has traditionally had the support of most Jews, is reeling from the shockwaves of anti-Jewish feeling expressed by some of its leading figures.

First we heard of the suspension of a Labour MP for having posted anti-Israel comments on social media,² then it was the resignation of an Oxford University Labour group leader sickened by anti-Semitism in its ranks.³ Then we learnt of a young Labour councillor forced to resign after it emerged she had tweeted that Hitler was "the greatest man in history".⁴

And now former London Mayor Ken Livingstone takes to the airwaves to defend a Labour MP suspended on similar grounds.

After claiming Hitler was a Zionist who, in 1932, believed Jews should be moved to Israel, Mr Livingstone invoked a tirade of invective not only from opponents, but from many within his own party including a Nottinghamshire MP, John Mann, who confronted him in the street and called him a "disgusting, lying racist" and "Nazi apologist".⁵

Britain's official opposition is reeling from shockwaves of anti-Jewish feeling expressed by some of its leading figures.

Around 30 Labour MPs, including several Shadow Cabinet members, demanded Mr Livingstone be expelled from the party (he has been suspended) and there was outrage over the decision by Mr Corbyn to issue a public telling off to Mr Mann.

Labour peer Lord Dubs – who escaped the Nazis as a child through Britain's Kindertransport scheme – is "enormously troubled" by the row. "What we need is firm leadership; the leadership has been a bit slow in responding [to anti-Semitism]", he told a British TV news programme. Jewish Labour donor David Abrahams, who has given £650,000 to the party, called for Mr Corbyn to resign, saying a new leader was needed to cut out the 'cancer' of anti-Semitism.⁶

As for Mr Livingstone's claim, historian Andrew Roberts says it's a "grotesque mangling of the historical record", adding: "The idea that Hitler ever wanted a fully-functioning successful Jewish state in Palestine...is ludicrous."⁷

Mr Corbyn, for his part, who has referred to terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah as "friends", denies the party is in crisis.

Godlessness in the Public Square

The chilling aspect of all this is that it is not something taking place in a dark corner. It's in the public square, at the very centre of British politics. And I have a hunch what lies behind it.

The root cause, I believe, is the growing godlessness in the nation, and especially in the Labour Party. What a travesty for a political movement launched by devout Christians like Keir Hardie determined to let their faith make a difference to society by campaigning for a fairer share of wealth (for example). But what motivates them now?

People who are godless hit out at those who are special to God. That's what happened in Hitler's case; it led to mass murder and mayhem, but ended in disaster and defeat for the dictator and his people. As Genesis 12:3 says, those who bless Israel will themselves be blessed - but those who curse Israel will be cursed.

The chilling aspect of all this is that it is not taking place in a dark corner. It's in the public square - at the centre of British politics.

Steven Jaffe, a member of the UK's Jewish Board of Deputies, made this point earlier in the year when he said that the Holocaust had been spawned by godlessness and the rejection of faith. He said the exodus from Egypt was immediately followed by the battle with Amalek, who had no reason to attack Israel. There was no territorial dispute or history of conflict, for example. And they attacked the sick and the elderly – those who were most vulnerable. (Deut 25:17-18)

"The conflict with Amalek is not over", he said. Amalek denied God and his power in the same way the Nazis did, and the latter mirrored their lack of mercy.

Never Again?

The poisonous view that God does not exist naturally leads to godless behaviour and thought. Pledges of never letting another Holocaust occur are not enough, in my opinion; without a recovery of faith in the God of Israel, there can be no guarantee that it won't happen again.

The only safe place to be – in the long term – is in God's hands, doing his work. I challenge the Labour Party to return to its Judeo-Christian roots.

References

1 It is no dream. Moriah Films collection, Simon Wiesenthal Centre.

2 MP Naz Shah suspended from Labour. BBC News, 27 April 2016.

3 Tran, M. Labour opens inquiry into antisemitism allegations at Oxford student club. The Guardian, 17 February 2016.

4 Labour councillor suspended over claims she called Hitler 'the greatest man in history'. The Telegraph, 10 April 2016.

5 Daily Mail, 29 April 2016

6 Ibid.

7 Ibid.

Paul Luckraft reviews 'When a Jew Rules the World' by Joel Richardson (WND Books, 2015)

From its intriguing and somewhat provocative title to its final sentence (in which the author expresses his personal longing for the day when indeed Jesus will rule the world) this is an impressive and wide-ranging book on the topic of the role of Israel in God's plan.

The author demonstrates a powerful theological and historical argument for God's sovereign election of Israel and his eternal purposes for them, guiding the reader through the history of the Jewish people and their all-important role in God's future kingdom, when Messiah Jesus will be in complete charge.

He is thoroughly convinced that if the church "is to ever regain the clarity and prophetic spirit it needs to navigate the dark days ahead" then it must reject the false doctrine of replacement theology and begin the process of cleansing "by acknowledging Israel as the essential thread that runs throughout the Lord's unfolding promise-plan of redemption" (p6). He hopes this book will help to combat the ignorance and arrogance whose consequences have been seen throughout history and which are likely to be repeated in the days ahead.

This is an impressive and wide-ranging book which guides readers through the history of the Jewish people and their role in God's future kingdom.

Surveying History and Theology

The book is in three parts. The first outlines what the Bible says about Israel in the plan of God, including a discussion of each of the main covenants found in the Old Testament and a look ahead to what is promised in the new covenant, including the restoration of the Jewish Kingdom.

As he examines the Biblical covenants with Abraham, Moses and David, he doesn't shirk the issues of land and what this will one day mean when Jesus rules the world. Overall in this section he provides a very helpful analysis of the distinctions between these three covenants - and condemns those who blur them into one 'old' covenant.

The second part is an historical survey of what he calls 'Jew-hatred', a term he prefers to 'anti-Semitism' as it is more specific. He asserts that replacement theology, or 'supersessionism' (again, his preferred terminology), is at the heart of this Jew-hatred, being both its foundational principle and constant driving force. The details here are largely familiar and are found in many other similar works of this kind, but it is an essential part of his overall thesis. He tackles the atrocities in their usual chronological order, from 115 AD and the early Church Fathers, via Constantine and onwards to Luther and the Reformation, the Russian pogroms and finally, of course, the Holocaust.

Richardson examines the distinctions between God's covenants with Abraham, Moses and David, condemning their blurring into one 'old' covenant.

The third section is largely a consideration of Biblical prophetic passages. Richardson's conviction is that we must take the Bible literally wherever possible and that these things will happen. As a consequence of this belief, Jesus will one day rule from Jerusalem. The only way to avoid this conclusion is to spiritualise the promises God gave to Israel, and create a preterist or amillennial theology (these terms are clearly explained!). The author declares that the only way to combat the errors of replacement theology is by advocating a thoroughly restorationist, futurist, pre-millennialist position (again, all is made clear early on, in chapter 2).

The author attacks logically but lovingly those who distort clear biblical truth. He is prepared to name them while recognising that they do hold their beliefs most sincerely. However, he points out that "even the most brilliant mind is at a profound disadvantage when defending something that is not true" (p62). A gifted eloquence is no substitute for truth.

The book analyses what the Bible says about Israel - including its future - and surveys anti-Semitism through the ages.

Islamic 'Replacement Theology'

His book includes an interesting chapter on Islamic supersessionism, showing how Islam has embraced its own form of replacement theology over both Jews and Gentiles. Within this he remarks how the Islamic view of the end-times changes the role of Jesus on his return from that of Jewish King to Muslim preacher and judge - no longer a Jew ruling the world but an advocate of Islam!

There is a very good section on many of the great teachers and preachers who predicted the re-establishment of Israel, such as JC Ryle, Charles Spurgeon and David Baron. He also upholds Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Corrie Ten Boom as two shining examples for our day.

Towards the end he issues a warning to those interested in biblical prophecy and apocalyptic matters that it is so easy to approach all this "in a factual, yet deeply detached and emotional manner" and forget that we "are speaking of real families, real people, real lives. If discussing these things does not fill our hearts with sorrow or drive us to our knees in prayer, then it is clear that we are not seeing them through the eyes of the Father or His Son, Jesus" (p234-5).

Excellent from start to finish - thoroughly recommended to anyone who wants to understand better the relationship of Israel to Bible prophecy.

Thoroughly Recommended

Here is a well-informed approach to the topic - clear and very readable. Richardson knows what needs to be said and how to say it for our benefit and edification. His book has good endnotes and a general index, though not a bibliography or scripture index. Clearly he has thought through in detail what it means to believe in a Jewish kingdom within the Millennium, and he is able to reassure us that the olive tree into which we are grafted is not dead or uprooted.

Excellent from start to finish, this book is thoroughly recommended to anyone who wants to understand better the relationship of Israel to Bible prophecy.

Hardback, 273 pages, available from Awesome Books for £13.43 + P&P, or from Amazon for £18.58.

Whilst there are usually other big world issues demanding our attention, anti-Semitism is never far from the front pages of our newspapers.

For the UK, the big issue for the coming months will be the EU referendum, but whilst responding to our personal and national priorities we must be careful not to lose a broader perspective. What else is going on that may bring balance to our understanding and prayers?

Terror Attacks in Paris

In January 2015, world attention was drawn to the terror attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Following this came the assault on a Jewish Kosher supermarket in the east of the city, where four Jews were killed and where the surrounding Jewish neighbourhood was shocked by this act of terror.

These may have seemed like two simultaneous but independent incidents, with Charlie Hebdo taking highest priority in the media. To gain a more balanced perspective, one had to look outside of this and make extra effort to search for other news that would shed biblical light on the overall picture.

Doing this, one would have discovered a growing unease in French Jewish communities. According to the Jewish Agency for Israel, due to growing anti-Semitism about 7,000 French Jews had left the country during 2014 (many emigrating to Israel); double the figure for 2013.¹ The attack on the Paris market was connected to developing anti-Semitism across the nation and not an isolated incident to be sidelined by other news of the day.

Anti-Semitism is never far from the front pages of our newspapers – but it is easily obscured by other big world issues that demand our attention.

Other Recent CasesIsraeli IDs for new immigrants from France.

Anti-Semitic feeling² is erupting in many corners of society and in countries across the world. On Holocaust Memorial Day Martin Schulz, the German head of the European parliament, warned that anti-Semitism was prominent in the whole of Europe, with many European Jews living in fear and afraid to wear their religious garments on the streets of the continent's major cities.³

Anti-Semitism has become so bad in Malmo, the Swedish city where the popular television drama The Bridge is set, that it contributed to actor Kim Bodnia's decision to leave the show.⁴

Another incident in France occurred on Tuesday 12 January, when a Jewish politician was found stabbed and beaten to death at his home in the suburbs of Paris, prompting fears of yet another anti-Semitic attack.⁵

Recently the German head of the European parliament warned that anti-Semitism is rife across Europe, with many European Jews living in fear.

In Britain

Recently there have been anti-Semitic acts in British football.⁶ In London, there was an incident sparked by the sale of t-shirts with slogans designed to provoke Jewish fans of Tottenham. There has also been frequent anti-Semitic chanting from visiting supporters of rival teams.

Only last week an incident was highlighted when Oxford University was ordered by the government to investigate allegations of widespread anti-Semitism. The university's Jewish society had reported eight separate racism allegations levelled against the Oxford University Labour Club. This followed the resignation of co-chairman Alex Chalmers, who said a large proportion of members of OULC "have some kind of problem with Jews".⁷

This was also linked to concerns about trends in the Labour Party, whose leader Jeremy Corbyn has expressed strong sympathy for Hamas and Hezbollah. He failed to apologise for past links to these organisations in his first meeting with representatives of the Jewish community since becoming Labour leader.⁸ Is there a danger of growing anti-Semitism subtly infiltrating the ranks of one of the UK's main political parties?

The Bigger Picture

These examples of continuing anti-Semitism in the world should cause us to consider our world from a biblical perspective. It is so easy to get diverted into the politics of the day and forget what is happening behind the scenes.

Closer to home, anti-Semitic feeling has been noted recently in such diverse arenas as British football, universities and political parties.

Learning from Another Era

I was privileged to be on the staff at the Bible College of Wales during its latter years, when Rev Samuel Howells was Director. I would talk with him in his study and he would tell me something of the war years, when he was part of the team led by his father Rees Howells. In their commitment to prayer through those years they saw clearly that underlying the intent of Hitler to bring in the Nazi regime to dominate both Europe and the world was a spiritual battle for the survival of the Jews.

The account of these years is set out in Rees Howells: Intercessor (2003, Lutterworth Press). Samuel told me of the time when his father came out of the prayer room, ashen faced, saying that the Lord had asked him to take responsibility for the Jews in the Nazi death camps – and he had accepted. The ministry of intercession deepened in the college from that time on, as the deeper issues of the war were understood.

After the war the UN was to vote on the partition plan for Palestine. Dr Kingsley Priddy was Rees Howells' deputy at the time and he told me that they had visions of angels around the UN building as the vote took place. Samuel also said to me once something I still try to understand. Speaking of the intercessory team, he said "We lost six million Jews in the war, but the nation of Israel was reborn." This is perhaps how someone who takes responsibility in intercession will describe the battle and its results.

Samuel also told me that his father, once a strong man, died at a relatively young age in 1950 - strained by those years of spiritual warfare. That indicates the depth of the issues that we will face in future struggles of a similar kind.

During WWII, Rees Howells and his intercessory team saw clearly that underlying Hitler's intent to dominate the world was a spiritual battle for the survival of the Jews.

Same Battle, Different Manifestation

Our spiritual adversary dragged the entire world into a physical conflict in Europe in 1939. There is, similarly, a spiritual dimension to the UK's relation to Europe in our day. The door is now open for us to untangle ourselves from the EU. After that we will have an opportunity to regroup as a nation under God, according to our constitutional position expressed most clearly in the Queen's Coronation Oath.

Now more than ever, we need to understand the spiritual nature of this battle, whilst remembering the central purposes of God's end-time covenant plan. We must take care not to become pre-occupied fighting on one front while neglecting central issues on other, seemingly peripheral fronts.

Growing anti-Semitism is a symptom of an important front of the spiritual battle today, just as it has been through the entire history of Israel. God has a plan for Israel that will be resisted by our spiritual adversary in many ways, erupting in diverse places in what we call anti-Semitism.

Now more than ever, we need to understand the spiritual dimension of the battles we face today, including the UK's relationship with Europe.

One day this battle will be clearer to discern, with an overt turning against Israel stirred up among the rising world coalitions. For now, it may seem a more peripheral issue, but those with understanding will perceive the danger signs and the priorities for our prayers.

Interested in learning more about anti-Semitic trends around the world, or catching up on the latest incidents? You might benefit from looking at the following secular websites:

• The Anti-Defamation League: The ADL has recently produced an index of world anti-Semitism, presented as a useful map. It also catalogues selected anti-Semitic events from 2015.
• The Co-ordination Forum for Countering Anti-Semitism: the CFCA publishes trend reports, articles and news items (see their website here).

Notes

1 Aliyah Hits Ten-Year High: Approximately 26,500 New Immigrants Arrived in Israel in 2014. Jewish Agency for Israel, 2 January 2015.

2 There are a number of attempts at a precise definition of the term anti-Semitism. This one is useful.

3 See, for example, Sanchez, R, Europe's Jews are 'living in fear', warns head of EU parliament. The Telegraph, 27 January 2016.

4 Danish TV star says anti-Semitism made him uncomfortable in Sweden. Jerusalem Post, 17 February 2016.

5 Samuel, H, Killing of Jewish politician near Paris prompts fears of anti-Semitic attacks. The Telegraph, 13 January 2016.

6 See, for example, Telegraph Sport, Chelsea crack down on sales of abusive Arsene Wenger and Harry Kane T-shirts. The Telegraph, 9 February 2016. 7 Ali, A, Oxford University Labour Club co-chair, Alex Chalmers, resigns amid anti-Semitism row. The Independent, 17 February 2016. 8 See, for example, Riley-Smith, B and McCann, K, Jeremy Corbyn fails to apologise for links to Hamas and Hezbollah in first meeting with Jewish leaders. The Telegraph, 9 February 2016.

Charles Gardner reviews a spell-binding new book from Julia Fisher, which looks at the costly path of discipleship being followed by Jews and Arabs in Israel.

Stories of healing, restoration and forgiveness, along with a remarkable outflowing of love and reconciliation...sounds rather like the gospel accounts of when Jesus walked the land of Israel! Actually, it's also the story of what is happening there today, according to a spell-binding new book by British author-journalist Julia Fisher.

What is God doing in Israel? (Monarch Books) is a gripping account of the lives of individual Jews and Arabs who have had a supernatural encounter with Yeshua (Jesus).

In each case it has led to a dramatic transformation in their lives. And the cost of their discipleship – whether coming from a Jewish or Muslim background – has been no less demanding than that experienced by Paul and the original apostles. For there is nothing half-hearted about their faith, with passion undimmed despite painful suffering, especially through rejection by family or community.

Modern Apostles

Appropriately, therefore, the book is divided into twelve chapters, each dedicated to what I would call a true modern 'apostle'. Most of the Jewish believers included have been disowned by their families at some point – in the case of Sandy Shoshani it was 14 years before she was reconciled with her father, who subsequently gave his life to Jesus on his deathbed!

As Jesus said: "No-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:29)

Also featured is the more widely-known story of David and Leah Ortiz, whose teenage son Ami was virtually blown apart by a bomb (though he has since miraculously recovered). Perversely disguised as a Purim parcel, the device was sent to the family home during the Feast of Purim, when Jews exchange gifts to celebrate their rescue, by Queen Esther, from a plot to exterminate them in ancient times. The perpetrator of the atrocity, a Jewish extremist, believed the Ortiz family were betraying his people by encouraging them to follow Jesus.

As far as some of the Muslim-background believers are concerned, they have become like hunted animals after deciding to follow Christ, with Julia having to carry out interviews with a great degree of stealth and care so as not to attract attention to these brave men and women risking their lives for the sake of their Lord. Many have been tortured, imprisoned or forced to flee the land.

This gripping account tells the stories of Jewish believers who have been disowned by their families - and Muslim-background believers who have become like hunted animals after deciding to follow Christ.

The Power of True Reconciliation

The shocking irony of it all is that these persecuted believers actually hold the key to peace in this troubled region. Palestinian and Jewish believers are clearly united by their love for Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah; they pray and fellowship with one another and are a powerful demonstration of the reconciling effect of what Jesus did for them on the cross, breaking down the dividing wall of hostility and creating "one new man" out of the two (Eph 2:14).

"This is something the politicians cannot do" said Mazen Naswari, a Palestinian pastor in Jerusalem's Old City. "This love that we as believers in Jesus share, no matter what background we come from, shows that we can love one another."

Patrick Radecker was a seemingly hopeless drug addict who lived on the streets for seven years but, with the help of a rehabilitation centre in Haifa called House of Victory, he has been totally cleaned up and renewed, almost unrecognisable to those with whom he used to hang out in downtown Tel Aviv. A Jew whose family immigrated to Israel from Holland, Patrick too has developed a special love for Arabs since he started following Yeshua.

Here is the answer to conflict in the Middle East: all these people, Jews and Arabs, have found peace through the Messiah whom the prophet Isaiah foretold would be the "Prince of Peace" (Isa 9:6).

What is God Doing in Israel is out today (19 February 2016), available for purchase from Amazon or from Lion Hudson, both £8.99 + P&P (Kindle edition £8.54).

Paul Luckraft reviews 'The Jews: Why Have Christians Hated Them?' by Gordon Pettie (2010, Everlasting Books and Music Ltd, 172 pages, £5. Available on request from the UK office of Revelation TV)

I would recommend this book for two reasons. First, if you have never read anything before on this topic, then it will open your eyes to a very important aspect of Christian history and the relationship between the Church and Israel today.

Second, if you are familiar with the failings of the Church regarding the Jewish people, then this book will fill in any gaps in your knowledge and provide a very good summary in concise form, though it is sufficiently complete to act as a thorough reference to the prolonged Christian mistreatment of the Jews.

The author is honest enough to admit that his work may not ultimately provide a satisfactory answer to the question in the title. 'Why?' is always a complex question. But he has recorded as much evidence as he can fit reasonably into one book to demonstrate that, whatever the reason or reasons, "layer upon layer of hatred by Christians to Jews has taken place" (ppvii-viii).

This book provides a concise but thorough reference that will open your eyes to the topic of Christian-Jewish relations through history.

Impetus for the Book

The initial impetus for the book arose from two visits Pettie made to Israel, the first in 2000 when he was asked to administrate a 10-day conference in Jerusalem. A few months later he travelled back to fulfil a similar role for a Repentance Conference, where Protestants repented for what had been done in their name against the Jewish people through the centuries. A new journey of discovery had begun through which the author not only gathered information, but also found his love increasing for Israel and God's people.

The desire to commit to print what he was learning became a devotion and a full commitment. Not having written a book before this was a challenging prospect, but after a year and a half of research in which he studied little else, the book was ready. Its content is clearly disturbing but, as the author states, "For Christians to receive a wake-up call and start loving the Jews, they need to see what happened in the past. The evidence has to be examined, and some of it is not very nice!" (p8).

Denouncing Replacement Theology

The overall aim of the book is the denouncement of Replacement Theology and chapter two provides a very good discussion of this and how the early Church separated itself from its Jewish roots, amply illustrated by quotes from the early Church fathers.

The overall aim of the book is to denounce Replacement Theology, which it does through a very good discussion and with ample illustration.

It seems there is an unfortunate printing error on page 29 where the statement that "God is calling His Church to renounce the teaching of Repentance Theology" should presumably read "Replacement Theology". His next comment clarifies this as we are exhorted to "repent for the false doctrine that has arisen from it and re-establish the Jewish people to the right place that God has for them" (p29).

Chapter three focusses on Jerusalem and is followed by more details on how we have lost our Jewish heritage, including a helpful summary of the feasts and festivals. However, the heart of the book (nearly half the total number of pages) is devoted to a comprehensive chronological survey of Christian antagonism towards the Jews from Constantine to our own day. There is a special focus on Luther as one of the key moments in this immense catalogue of horrors, and a separate chapter entitled 'Christian support for Hitler's Holocaust'.

Practical Advice

However, this is not just a fact-finding book. The final chapter, entitled 'So what can be done?', contains practical advice on how to use what you have learnt in a meaningful way. The list of 14 suggestions include praying, study, offering practical help and speaking out – something for everyone!

This is more than just a fact-finding book. The final chapter contains practical advice on how to use what you have learnt in a meaningful way.

Here is a book that provides useful information but also stirs the heart. It is an excellent potted history and if readers want to find more details elsewhere there is a helpful list of recommended further reading. But there is enough here to help counter any remaining hostile attitudes and persuade us to show the Jewish people that we do not hate them. It goes some way to encouraging us to fulfil Paul's aim of showing Christ in such a way as to arouse the Jews to jealousy, so that they find in Jesus the Messiah they are longing for.

Could a momentous statement from Orthodox rabbis signal a vital sea-change in Jewish-Christian relations? We welcome your comments!

We live in momentous times! Everything is being shaken. Revolutionary forces have been shaking the world for 50 years – social revolution, political revolution, technological revolution – everything is changing at an ever-increasing speed! Every day something new happens that causes us to change our thinking and re-assess what we had considered immutable, unchangeable, everlasting.

World-Changing Statement?

Last month a statement was made by a group of 25 Orthodox rabbis that attracted very little attention in the media but which may prove to be an event that changes the course of world history. The statement was entitled: 'To do the will of our Father in Heaven: Toward a partnership between Jews and Christians'.¹

It began with the following paragraph:

After nearly two millennia of mutual hostility and alienation, we Orthodox Rabbis who lead communities, institutions and seminaries in Israel, the United States and Europe...seek to do the will of our Father in Heaven by accepting the hand offered to us by our Christian brothers and sisters...

The statement continues:

Now that the Catholic Church has acknowledged the eternal covenant between G-d and Israel, we Jews can acknowledge the ongoing constructive validity of Christianity as our partner in world redemption, without any fear that this will be exploited for missionary purposes.

As stated by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel's Bilateral Commission with the Holy See under the leadership of Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen, "We are no longer enemies, but unequivocal partners in articulating the essential moral values for the survival and welfare of humanity". Neither of us can achieve G-d's mission in this world alone.

Changed Attitude to Jesus

One of the key points that the statement acknowledges is that Jesus upheld the centrality of the Torah. This was a point of contention when the apostles first began their mission in Jerusalem. In the trial of Stephen before the Sanhedrin it is recorded, "They produced false witnesses, who testified, 'This fellow never stops speaking about this holy place and against the Law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us'" (Acts 6:13-14).

In the Gospels there are many occasions when Jesus disputed with the Pharisees concerning their interpretation and practice of the Torah, but he always upheld the Torah as the unchangeable word of God. In the statement from the Orthodox rabbis this is acknowledged in a momentous passage that unties 2,000 years of misunderstanding between Jews and Christians. The statement affirms a declaration by 18^th Century German rabbi Jacob Emden:

Jesus brought a double goodness to the world. On the one hand he strengthened the Torah of Moses majestically, and not one of our sages spoke out more emphatically concerning the immutability of the Torah. On the other hand he removed idols from the nations.

Significantly, the statement acknowledges that Jesus upheld the centrality of the Torah, untying 2,000 years of misunderstanding between Jews and Christians.

An Historic Turning Point

Since issuing this statement, it has been signed by many more Orthodox rabbis around the world, undoing two millennia of Jewish rejection and animosity towards Jesus. This is surely a notable miracle and could signal a turning point in the history of Jewish-Christian relations, as prophesied by the Apostle Paul in a letter to Christians in Ephesus. He said that the purpose of Jesus was to destroy the barrier between Jews and Gentiles. "His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace" (Eph 2.15).

Rabbi Dr Eugene Korn, Academic Director of the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding & Cooperation said:

This proclamation's breakthrough is that influential Orthodox Rabbis across all centers of Jewish life have finally acknowledged that...Christianity and Judaism have much in common spiritually and practically. Given our toxic history, this is unprecedented in Orthodoxy.

Another significant passage in the statement says, "Both Jews and Christians have a common covenantal mission to perfect the world under the sovereignty of the Almighty, so that all humanity will call on his name and abominations will be removed from the earth. We understand the hesitation of both sides to affirm this truth and we call on our communities to overcome these fears in order to establish a relationship of trust and respect" (emphasis added).

Could this statement signal the turning point in the history of Jewish-Christian relationships prophesied by the Apostle Paul?

United Witnesses

Christian tradition that dates back to the New Testament is that the day will come when the barriers between Jew and Gentile will be broken and the two will be used by God in a powerful spiritual unity to witness truth to the world, which will transform the nations. This teaching is clearly set out by Paul in the three central chapters in his letter to the Romans: chapters 9 to 11.

Paul saw this coming together of Jew and Gentile believers in Jesus to be part of God's end time purposes for the evangelisation of the world. He believed that this would not take place "until the full number of the Gentiles has come in" (Rom 11:25). Then "All Israel will be saved" and God will reaffirm his unbreakable and irrevocable covenant with Israel.

This expectation of unity between Jew and Gentile was foretold 500 years before the time of Jesus by the prophet Zechariah, who was given a vision of two branches of an olive tree and told, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth" (Zech 4:14). This is repeated in the last book of the Bible, in a prophecy foreseeing the future of Jerusalem and the end of its occupation by unbelievers:

They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. (Rev 11:2-4)

Long foretold in Scripture is a coming unity between Jew and Gentile, a miraculous breaking down of barriers, through which God will reach the world.

Need to Reject Replacement Theology

Now that rabbis are reaching out to Christians, it is surely time for senior church leaders throughout the world to respond by utterly rejecting the curse of 'Replacement Theology' that says that the church has replaced Israel in the purposes of God. This has done untold harm in stirring up hatred against the Jews over so many centuries. It was this false belief that God had broken his covenant with the Jews that caused Luther to urge the German princes to drive out Jews from their lands.

Luther's teaching became influential in Hitler's Nazism that produced the bloodbath of the Second World War and the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust in which 6 million Jews were murdered. This past week we have been remembering Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January) the day on which the Soviet army liberated Auschwitz and revealed its horrors to the world.

Opportunity for the Church

This is an historic time for Christians throughout the world to call upon church leaders to respond to this statement from Orthodox rabbis by humbly apologising for the false theology we have propagated for centuries. We should also be humbly confessing before God that we have dared to teach that he is not a covenant-keeping God who would never ever break his promises.

It is surely time for Christians to call on their church leaders to respond to this statement by humbly apologising for the false 'replacement theology' we have propagated for centuries.

We have denied the truth that God revealed to Jeremiah when he told him "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah" (Jer 31:31). This new covenant was only opened to us Gentiles through Jesus. God affirmed his promise with a solemn oath:

Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done, declares the Lord. (Jer 31:37)

Now is the Time

Now is the time, while God is shaking the whole world, for Christians to recognise our responsibility for so many of the tragedies of history and to reach out in love and humility to our Jewish brothers and sisters. The Catholic Church has done this: surely Protestant Church leaders should do the same – reaching out in the name of Jesus the Jewish Messiah.

It is Jesus who opened the one true God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob to us Gentiles. His followers were said to have turned the world of the Roman Empire upside-down. Maybe the time has come when God is turning our upside-down world the right way up!

Read the CJCUC statement in full here.

References

1 Orthodox Rabbinic Statement on Christianity, CJCUC, 3 December 2015.