The Cause of Anti-Semitism
David Kupelian of WorldNetDaily has written an interesting article on the reasons for anti-Semitism. However, like many WorldNetDaily commentators before him, he takes a fundamentalist Christian view, as is illustrated by his conclusion.
I really get riled by this kind of subtle preaching by WorldNetDaily, as I have posted about in the past. My complaint is that WorldNetDaily claims to be “A free press for a free people.” Yet it has a clear religious agenda.The Jews are a divine paradox, one of many: For instance, it’s a divine paradox that God knows what’s going to happen to each of us before we’re born, and yet we have free will. It’s a paradox that God is love, and yet God allows evil to exist, to serve a certain purpose.
In the same way, it’s a paradox that the Jews, although as a whole they rejected Jesus as being the promised Messiah, are nevertheless still chosen by God as a special people, with a special blessing as well as a special burden.
If the truth be known, anti-Semitism is actually predicted in the very verses that Christians use to support their contention that Jesus died for the sins of humanity!
Christianity interprets these verses as identifying the “servant of G-d” as Jesus by viewing them outside of the context of the immediately preceding verses, which are as follows:13. Behold, My servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.
14. As many wondered about you, “How marred his appearance is from that of a man, and his features from that of a people!” 15. So shall he cast down many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for what had not been told to them they shall see; and that which they had not heard they shall consider.
1. Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
2. And he came up like a sapling before it, and like a root from dry ground, he had neither form nor comeliness; and we saw him that he had no appearance that we should have desired him.
3. Despised and forsaken by men, a man of pains and accustomed to illness: and as one who hides his face from us; despised, and we esteemed him not.
4. Indeed, he bore our illnesses, and our pains – he carried them, yet we accounted him as plagued, smitten by God and oppressed. 5. But he was pained from our transgressions, crushed from our iniquities; the chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with his wound we were healed.
6. We all went astray like sheep, we have turned, each one on his own way, and the Lord accepted his prayers for the iniquity of all of us.
7. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he would not open his mouth; like a lamb to the slaughter he would be brought, and like a sheep that is mute before her shearers, and he would not open his mouth. 8. From imprisonment and from judgment he is taken, and his generation who shall tell? For he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the transgression of my people, a plague befell them.
9. And he gave his grave to the wicked, and to the wealthy with his kinds of deaths, because he committed no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10. And the Lord wished to crush him, He made him ill; if his soul makes itself restitution, he shall see seed, he shall prolong his days, and God’s purpose shall prosper in his hand.
11. From the toil of his soul he would see, he would be satisfied; with his knowledge My servant would vindicate the just for many, and their iniquities he would bear.
12. Therefore, I will allot him a portion in public, and with the strong he shall share plunder, because he poured out his soul to death, and with transgressors he was counted; and he bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.
Is 41:8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.Is 41:9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Is 44:1 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
Is 44:2 Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
Is 44:21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
Is 45:4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
Is 48:20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.
Is 49:3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
So in essence, the verses of Isaiah deal with anti-Semitism and the scapegoating of Jews. For a more rigorous analysis of these verses, click
here.Given that Jewish non-belief in Jesus has caused much anti-Semitism over history, it strikes me as ironic that the very verses that form the foundation of belief in Jesus as the messenger of G-d are in fact predicting the anti-Semitism that has resulted from Jewish non-belief in Jesus! A self-fulfilling prophecy perhaps?
Before I receive any posts from my Christian readers claiming I am anti-Christian, nothing could be further from the truth. I am sure my Christian readers respect my observance of Judaism, but take issue with my not believing in the divinity of Jesus. Similarly, I respect Christianity as a monotheistic religion, and practicing Christians as moral, law-abiding people. But I do not subscribe to their beliefs. Nevertheless, I respect the function that Christians fulfil in spreading morality throughout the world.
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: Blogger Archives
In spite of the fact that I’m not sure who I’m responding to, I would like to address your response to Kupelian with the observation that it seems you are more certain that Christians have caused anti-Semitism when the opposite is true: Christians abhor anti-semitism. True believers shudder at these injustices and masses of them are whole-hearted supporters of Israel, particualrly the land issues. Because it is difficult for true believers to distinguish some that call themselves Christians and are not, it would be more problematic for Jews. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing everywhere, and believers are cautioned and instructed to sort them out and disavow the false religionists.
What compells me to respond about the term ‘servant’ is that it seems to be a generic term for anyone who submits to the Lordship of his Maker. Reference Isaiah 50:4 “The Lord has given me the tongue of a disciple…” Is it Isaiah who is speaking about himself? It could be anyone who is willing to be used. See verse 10, same chapter,:”Who is among you who fears the Lord, who obeys the voice of His Servant? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, lean on Him and be confident in Him.” (Amp) Both terms, “the Lord” and “Servant” are used but I am absolutely sure there is no Jewish community or all of Jewry could be there for every one who calls on the Lord. It’s not possible. Being a servant is a marvelous undertaking, but it has to be a divine Person who could perform what He does in from 52:13 – 53:12, especially bear my griefs and sorrows, and become the atonement for my transgresssions and iniquities. “The chastisement for our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed.” Who else but God could do that?
You are a beautiful, chosen, marvelous people and I adore your Man/God. I have nothing but blessings for you.
A handmaiden of the Lord.
I love the Jewish people and respect their belief, however, as a Christian, I love and serve Jesus.
My beliefs are based on experience and personal “know”.
Anti anything goes against the grain and the character of God.
Is G-d not anti-evil?
What do you do with all those “though shall not” commandments in the Torah?
Seriously, such nonsense!
Your “know” is just as impressive as when George Harrison “knew” Krishna. That is, it isn’t. But if you think chanting the name of your lord will make you free, keep on humming.
BTW, congratulations on ressurecting a dead thread. Most appropriate.