Jews are the second-most targeted group for hate crimes in the U.S., yet they are only 2% of the population. They have experienced injustice and anti-semitism throughout all of history, and in all locations of the world. In the country of Argentina was a target for two terrorist attacks on the Jewish Community.
What can Jews do to overcome this terrible problem?
- Find allies who can support Jews when confronted with anti-semitism.
- Support others who are experiencing hate – whether due to race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.
- Create these alliances, relationships, and bridges of support BEFORE they are needed.
- Teach others about hate through the lessons of history. Why is this important?
“For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of MY PEOPLE, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will BRING THEM BACK (May 14, 1948, Israel became a nation) to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.” (Jeremiah 30:3-22)
“I ask, then, has God rejected His people? BY NO MEANS! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God HAS NOT REJECTED HIS PEOPLE whom He foreknew.” (Romans 11:1-2)
“In blessing I will BLESS YOU, and multiplying I will MULTIPLY YOUR DESCENDANTS as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore…In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have OBEYED MY VOICE.” (Genesis 22:17-18) God said concerning this promise, “Thus says the LORD, Who gives the SUN for a light by day, The ORDINANCES of the MOON and the STARS for a light by night…If those ordinances DEPART FROM BEFORE ME, says the LORD, Then the seed of Israel shall also CEASE FROM BEING A NATION before Me forever.” (Jeremiah 31:35-36) As long as the sun shines God will keep His promise, today if you touch Israel, you touch the apple of God’s eye (Deut. 32:10).
One might think, how can God bless them if they don’t even believe in Him? The writer of Hebrews tells us, “When God made His promise to Abraham, saying, “Surely in blessing I WILL BLESS YOU, and in multiplying I WILL MULTIPLY YOU.” …Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by TWO UNCHANGEABLE THINGS in which IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.” (Hebrews 6: 13-14, 17-18)
Just remember this if you speak ill of Israel, you are poking your finger in God’s Eye…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham