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The Rising Specter of Anti-Semitism
European countries are experiencing a rise in
anti-Semitic acts unlike any seen since World War II. Has the haunted past come knocking
on the door again? The number of hate attacks has increased since the latest Mideast
"intifada" began in September 2000. Where will it lead and what lies behind
such deep-seated anger toward Jews and supporters of the nation of Israel?
by Darris McNeely
"There are Holocaust
survivors who are telling their children: 'Look this is exactly how it happened in
the 1930s. This is really reminiscent of the worst times of Europe'... It is part
of an atmosphere. Not just a few hooligans" (Associated Press, April 23, 2002).
World Jewish Congress Secretary-general Avi Beker said 360 anti-Semitic incidents
in France during April heralded worse to come for Jewish communities in Europe.
Violent acts and statements against Jews have escalated in recent weeks since the
Israeli army's counterattack against Palestinian forces in Jenin, Ramallah and Bethlehem.
Among the acts has been the burning of a synagogue in Marseille in the south of France
on March 31. In Lyon another was damaged in a car attack.
Other European countries are experiencing similar attacks. In Brussels and Kiev,
synagogues have been attacked. One incident saw a rabbi beaten while a group of youths
chanted, "Kill the Jews."
Under the headline "Synagogues Burn as Europeans Rage," a Washington
Times article added, "In Britain, which takes pride in a 'multicultural'
society, police have logged at least 15 anti-Jewish episodes this month, including
eight physical assaults, synagogues daubed with racist slogans and hate mail sent
to prominent figures among the nation's 300,000 Jews. One was an assault on a Jewish
theological student, David Myers. He was reading a book of Psalms aboard a London
bus when he was stabbed 27 times.
"The attacks prompted Jonathan Sacks, Britain's chief rabbi, to say, 'Anti-Semitism
is on the rise in Europe as a whole.' He blamed Islamic extremists for 'whipping
up' sentiment against Jews in Britain and throughout the Continent" (April 22,
2002).
Europe has a long history of anti-Semitism. Despite more than 50 years of reflection,
repentance and restitution, it appears there are strong feelings lurking under a
very thin surface. The war did not eliminate anti-Jewish sentiment. Less than a year
ago, a survey showed that 24 percent of all Austrians would "prefer" to
live in a country without Jews. And even in supposedly neutral Switzerland, a survey
reported by the BBC "indicates that 16 percent of Swiss people are fundamentally
anti-Semitic, while 60 percent have anti-Semitic views."
In Lithuania, Jewish leaders reported a rise in anti-Semitism that they believe is
related to the prospects that property seized from Jews before World War II will
be returned to its original owners. Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas had asked
the international Jewish community "to select representatives to open talks
with the government on the issue of property restitution, Agence France-Presse reported.
The extremist Freedom Union party then accused the government of 'groveling to Jews,'
while another group ripped up an Israeli flag at a protest the following day"
(ibid.).
Pressure on Israel
The recent Mideast crisis has highlighted the European tilt toward the Palestinian
cause and against the Israeli state. Some debate whether this is due to pressure
from large Muslim constituencies. France alone has more than four million Muslims
living within its borders. It is estimated that 60 percent of the recent hate attacks
in France come from this segment of the population.
But Israel is seeing itself marginalized in world opinion. Just last August in Durban,
South Africa, a United Nations sponsored conference on racism sought to equate Zionism
with racism and questioned the legitimacy of Israel's existence.
"Members of the Norwegian Nobel committee have publicly called for the withdrawal
of the peace prize from the Israeli foreign minister, Shimon Peres, but not from
his co-winner, Yasser Arafat. The European Parliament voted to urge member governments
to impose trade sanctions on Israel but urged no action against the Palestinian Authority.
Historically, the far right and far left have not agreed on much. These days they
seem united in their contempt for the Jewish state" (International Herald
Tribune, April 21, 2002).
There is no side, Israeli or Palestinian, which is exempt from criticism in the current
crisis. The path of violence will not bring a solution or a generational peace. But
when rabbis are attacked, when Nazi graffiti is smeared on public walls and when
a Protestant minister compares Ariel Sharon's actions to those of King Herod who
slaughtered male children under the age of 2, you have to ask, "Why is this
happening?" Britain's chief rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, said, "If you talk long
enough about killing Jews, one day it will happen, God forbid."
You might also ask, "If you begin to kill Jews, who is next?"
The roots of anti-Semitism
The killing of Jews because of racial and ethnic intolerance has been going on since
the days of the Persian Empire. The biblical book of Esther tells of the plot by
Haman to exterminate the Jews in Persia. But for God's intervention through Esther,
it would likely have happened. Since the late first century A.D., anti-Jewish sentiment
in the Roman Empire has led to exile and centuries of wandering and persecution.
The creation of a modern state of Israel in 1948 opened a new chapter in the plaintive
story of the Jewish longing for a secure homeland.
Christians have historically persecuted Jews, as well. What lies behind this incongruous
evil? Volumes have been written analyzing this fact. Gruesome stories abound of atrocities
perpetrated upon Jews.
In July of 1099 when the Crusaders captured Jerusalem, they slaughtered Arabs and
Jews, burning both mosque and synagogue. Even a favorite modern musical, Fiddler
on the Roof, has the underlying theme of a Russian pogrom built into the story
line.
Author Thomas Cahill, in his book The Gifts of the Jews, probably comes closest
of anyone to uncovering the central problem behind the ancient and modern problem
of anti-Semitism. Cahill tells of Israel's experience with God at Mt. Sinai where
the Ten Commandments were given. God is pictured as giving a strict and unyielding
moral code out of the thunder and lightning atop the mountain. Cahill shows how this
one-dimensional image of God was historically transferred to Jews, depicting them
as "stiff-necked," unyielding and always seeking their "pound of flesh."
"It is this supposedly 'Jewish' quality that will serve as a fundamental justification
for the anti-Jewish attitudes that so infected the Middle Agesñright up to the late
modern period...
"What is ghoulishly fascinating about the history of Christian depictions of
Jews...is that the people being excoriated are presumed to exhibit the unyielding
qualities of God himselfñthe same God whom Christians claimed to worship and whose
sacred scriptures they revered. A good case can be made that medieval anti-Hebraism
and its modern offspring anti-Semitism are both forms of God-hatred, masquerading
as self-justifying intolerance. The hatred of Christians for Jews may have its ultimate
source in hatred of God, a hatred that the hater must carefully keep himself from
knowing about. Why would one hate God? To find the answer we probably need look no
further than the stark, unyielding Ten" (1998, pp. 152-153).
Cahill's book reflects a common misunderstandingñthat the Jews of today are synonymous
with the Israelites of the Exodus. In reality, the ancestors of today's Jews were
but one clan out of 12. Still, his point about God-hating is well-taken.
Could it be that a hatred of God lies at the heart of anti-Semitism? Could it be
that a hatred of God and His eternal spiritual law lies at the heart of not just
anti-Semitism, but all the unsolvable problems of the human condition?
What does the Bible say?
Man has a long history of hiding from God and turning his back on revealed truth.
Adam and Eve set a pattern when they defied God's instruction and took the fruit
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They were ashamed because of their
sin and hid themselves from God's presence (Genesis 3:8).
All of their descendants ever since have consciously or unconsciously rejected God
and His way. Even Israel, the nation chosen for a close, special relationship, after
witnessing the display of God's power and presence on Mt. Sinai, "trembled and
stood afar off." To Moses they said, "You speak with us, and we will hear;
but let not God speak with us, lest we die" (Exodus 20:18-19). History would
prove this distance between God and Israel to be more than symbolic.
The prophet Isaiah said that Israel, typical of all mankind, denied God by their
lifestyle, needing to learn from an ox or a donkey, which at least knew the way home
to the barn. Israel was a rebellious child who did not know or understand the way
to God (Isaiah 1:2-4).
To the Church of God in Rome, Paul summarized the problem of all humanity: God is
not in the knowledge base of the world. Notice, "For the wrath of God is revealed
from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the
truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for
God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes
are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal
power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God,
they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts,
and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:18-21).
Paul is clearly saying that the true knowledge of the Creator was available to generations
past and was rejected, "suppressed," through unrighteous conduct. God made
Himself known, not just to Israel, but also to other nations in unmistakable ways.
Because true knowledge of God was not accepted, "...God gave them over to a
debased mind to do those things which are not fitting" (verse 28).
Man has not wanted God, His laws or His ways to be the governing rule of life. Historically,
this hatred has been laid upon the Jews, a remnant of ancient Israel that has retained
its ethnic identity. The Bible is clear in showing this rebellion will continue until
the end of the age when Christ will intervene with the dramatic scenes foretold in
Revelation.
Sadly, the prophecies show that the age-long hatred of God will not easily be reversed.
To turn people from their sins, symbolic bowls of God's wrath will be poured out
on the earth, including intense heat from the sun, which will scorch men with fire.
"And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God
who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory"
(Revelation 16:9). Even after additional plagues, men will "not repent of their
deeds" (verse 11).
It will take the final appearance of Jesus Christ to break the pride of human will
and bring human beings to their knees in repentance and acknowledgement of their
Creator.
Behind the dark shadow of anti-Semitism in Europe lies a fundamental hatred of God
and His way. Those who seek to keep "the commandments of God and the testimony
of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 12:17) should watch and take heed. That which happens
to the Jew first can happen to others. wnp
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