Covenant and Controversy - Part Two: Jewish Persecution by Pagans
Introduction
The pervasive and persistent issue of anti-Semitism has deep historical roots that span centuries, involving various cultures, religions, and political regimes. This exploration delves into the intricate and often painful history of Jewish persecution, examining the interconnectedness of Christian, Islamic, and pagan animosities towards the Jewish people. By reflecting on historical events and personal experiences, this overview aims to shed light on the ongoing struggle against anti-Semitism and its implications for the present and future.
The Experience at Yad Vashem
Yad Vashem memorial in Jerusalem, Israel
The journey into the depths of Jewish suffering begins at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem. The museum’s deliberate layout guides visitors through the harrowing history of the Holocaust, beginning with a confronting exhibit that attributes the atrocity to Christian anti-Semitism. One of the first posters you encounter contains a statement about how the Holocaust was perpetrated by Christians because of Christian scripture and the teachings of church fathers. How can this be? The Nazis were not Christians. Hitler was not a Christian either.
This stark introduction forces visitors to empathize with the Jewish perspective and recognize the long-standing history of anti-Judaism within Christian teachings. Christians may be quick to defend Christianity and acknowledge that what happened with the Holocaust was not by the hands of “real Christians.” However, we need to empathize that from a Jewish perspective, within the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, the poster is there to make people feel, see and think that the hatred for the Jewish people came from the Christian faith. Before we start arguing with them, maybe we need to just sit and feel for a moment what they feel. How much has our anti-Judaism, and the Church's history of anti-Semitism contributed to the flames of Auschwitz?
Historical Continuum of Anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism is not a recent phenomenon; it is a historical continuum marked by recurring peaks of hostility. Three primary sources of Jew hatred can be seen throughout history, from pagan persecutions to Christian animosities and modern Islamic enmities. The Jewish people have faced relentless aggression and unfortunately that trend continues even today. In this multi-part study, we will focus first on the Pagan influence of Anti-Semitism.
Pagan Persecution
Poland, Auschwitz - April 18, 2014: Auschwitz-Birkenau, Nazi concentration and extermination camp
On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, marking the beginning of World War II. By October 8, Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin had devised a plan to partition Polish territory, dividing the annexed lands between Germany and the Soviet Union. Under full-scale military occupation, the Nazis expelled Polish citizens, imprisoned resistance members, and established ghettos in preparation for what would become known as the Final Solution—the systematic extermination of Jews under German control. In April 1940, Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, ordered the conversion of a dilapidated Polish army compound in a small southern town where train tracks converged. This town, called Oświęcim by the Poles, was renamed Auschwitz by the Germans.
Auschwitz was not merely a concentration camp; it was a meticulously planned system of genocide explicitly designed to annihilate European Jewry. Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II were the core of a network of over 49 satellite camps. This complex stands as the pinnacle of historical Jew hatred, a grim testament to human depravity and the incomprehensible mystery of anti-Semitism.
Renowned Holocaust historian Robert Wistrich once stated that staring into the Holocaust is like staring into a black abyss and hoping it doesn't stare back. This sentiment can be applied to the entirety of Jewish suffering throughout history—a profound mystery as to why this small, seemingly insignificant people have been so vehemently hated by various pagan governments, kingdoms, regimes, and empires.
Persistent Persecution - The History of Jewish Hatred
Examining the Bible reveals numerous instances where Israel faced the threat of annihilation, targeted repeatedly throughout history. Leading Holocaust historians acknowledge the pervasive mystery surrounding anti-Semitism: while we can document what happened, understanding why it happened remains elusive. This phenomenon, which has persisted across various cultures and epochs, continues to provoke deep reflection and inquiry.
In the Book of Esther, Haman’s plot to destroy the Jewish people because they were different is an early example of genocidal intent rooted in anti-Semitism. Haman’s fate, dying on the very gallows he had prepared for the Jews, is mirrored in modern times by groups like Hamas, which openly calls for the destruction of Israel. This continuity from Haman to Hamas underscores a longstanding, diabolical effort to erase Israel from existence.
It would be too simplistic to say that anti Semitism is just one of many forms of racism. Anti-Semitism is not merely one form of racism among many; it has distinct characteristics. Hitler's depiction of Jews as a fundamental threat to the world illustrates a deeply ingrained animosity. In stark contrast, the Apostle Paul wrote that the salvation of Israel brings life to the world, highlighting the divergent views on the Jewish people’s role in human history.
To be fair, not all of the Jewish suffering throughout history can be put in the category of anti Semitism. There are instances in which it really was a political situation that would happen with any other nation or any other people. But most of the history of Jewish suffering can be put in the category of anti Semitism. So we do make distinctions between things that would happen with normal governments and normal nations and policies and politics. But the majority of Jewish suffering has been because of Jewish distinctives.
While not all Jewish suffering can be classified as anti-Semitism, the majority of their historical persecution stems from their distinct identity. Political situations have occasionally resulted in Jewish suffering, but these instances are overshadowed by the broader pattern of targeted hostility.
From ancient Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon, to Greece, Persia, Rome, and the Islamic caliphates, Jews have faced relentless persecution. This aggression transcends cultural, linguistic, and national boundaries, forming a tragic and enduring fellowship of hatred.
In 1939, Poland’s Jewish population was 3.5 million. By the end of World War II, only 250,000 remained. We would like to believe that anti Semitism surely would have died after World War II.. One might hope that such atrocities would have eradicated anti-Semitism, but post-war Poland demonstrated otherwise, as Jew-hatred flourished more robustly than before. This persistence highlights the deep-seated nature of anti-Semitism, which defies simple explanations.
There are many different manifestations of anti-Semitism, and it's impossible to connect all the dots or find a single explanation that works. Historians have documented Judeophobia in Greco-Roman literature dating back two to three hundred years before the time of Jesus. This hatred of Jews as Jews is easier to understand when you consider the context: it was a syncretistic, Hellenizing culture where everyone was expected to conform to Greek or Roman ways. The Jews, however, resisted this assimilation, which set them apart and made them targets of hostility. However, this does not fully account for the persistent, irrational hatred they faced, even when secular or highly assimilated, as seen in Nazi Germany. It's often said that in Hitler's Germany, the Jews were more German than Jewish. Many of them identified far more deeply as Germans than they identified as Jews. And they were absolutely hated.
Post Holocaust Anti-Semitism
After Auschwitz was liberated, anti-Semitism in Poland surged. By 1960, Poland's Jewish population had dwindled to 30,000 from 3.6 million. This decline continued through pogroms and emigrations driven by rising anti-Semitism, demonstrating that hatred did not end with the Holocaust.
The events of 1967 and 1968 hold immense significance, not only for Poland but for nations worldwide and our current generation. During this pivotal period in history, the Jewish people recaptured Jerusalem and reclaimed the West Bank, marking the beginning of what is often referred to as the "occupation" following the Six-Day War—a crucial military conflict in the Middle East. This war left Israel in a vastly different position, having also regained the Golan Heights, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and most importantly, the Old City of David. These developments opened a new chapter in global geopolitics, particularly concerning the Jewish question.
In 1967, Poland experienced a wave of student protests with the anthem "We hate Zionism." In the two decades leading up to this, the sentiment had been "We hate Jews." Following the Jewish people's reclamation and repatriation of their homeland in Judea, Samaria, Gaza, Haifa, and Jerusalem, there was a perceived provocation. This geopolitical reality differed significantly from the Holocaust era, prompting a shift in language and sentiment from anti-Semitism to anti-Zionism.
Following the events of 1967 and 1968, the Jewish population in Poland, already diminished, further dwindled from 30,000 to a mere 3,000. This shift forced the world to grapple not only with the "Jewish question" but also with the "Jerusalem question." The debate transformed from a general animosity towards Jews to a focused rage against Zionism. This new geopolitical context allowed anti-Semites from Poland, Germany, the Arab world, and even America to engage in polemics about the so-called aggression of Zionist Jews, using the existence of a Jewish nation-state reclaiming and repatriating ancient lands as a focal point.
This brings us to a critical question: why did the prophet Zechariah, in chapter 12, describe Jerusalem as a city of controversy, one that all nations would seek to attack? Why Jerusalem?
The oracle of the word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. (Zechariah 12:1-3, ESV Bible)
Modern Manifestations of Anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism has not disappeared; instead, it has morphed into forms that seem more socially acceptable in a post-World War II world, particularly manifesting as anti-Zionism. In Europe, in the United States, and notably on college campuses, anti-Semitism persists under this new guise.
It is important to clarify that not all anti-Zionists are anti-Semites or Jew haters. However, all anti-Semites and Jew haters tend to be anti-Zionists. This overlap makes it challenging to distinguish between the two, allowing anti-Semitism to flourish within the anti-Zionist movement.
Post-World War II, anti-Semitism has gone underground, camouflaging itself. Two significant developments have shaped its modern expression: the Holocaust, which made overt racist rhetoric against Jews profoundly distasteful, and the reestablishment of the state of Israel. These events, coupled with ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts, have framed much of the criticism against Israel.
The United Nations Security Council often debates these issues, highlighting Israel's stance against territorial expansion but emphasizing its need to defend itself against threats from neighboring regions. Much of the modern criticism of Israel is rooted in ancient conspiracy theories that paint the nation as an aggressive, imperialistic force with ambitions of world domination, beginning with its current territory and extending beyond.
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and Modern Conspiracy Theories
In the early 1900s, specifically around 1903, the infamous "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" emerged from Russia. This fabricated document purported to reveal a secret council of Jewish elders conspiring to take over the world through control of economics and financial institutions. Henry Ford believed in its authenticity and personally funded the publication of 500,000 copies. Despite being a complete fabrication used as propaganda against the Jewish people, many accepted it as fact. By 1933, it was even taught as factual in German schools, becoming one of the most notorious examples of anti-Semitic propaganda in modern times.
Today, similar conspiracy theories persist, often spread through YouTube and other platforms. These theories typically center around the idea of a Jewish conspiracy to control global finances or establish a so-called "Jewish world order."
During the Nuremberg trials, a high-ranking SS general provided testimony that starkly contradicted these myths. He stated, "I am the only living witness, but I must say the truth. Contrary to the opinion of the National Socialists that the Jews were a highly organized group, the appalling fact was that they had no organization whatsoever. The mass of the Jewish people were taken completely by surprise. They did not know at all what to do. They had no directives or slogans as to how they should act."
This testimony highlights the greatest lie of anti-Semitism: the belief that Jews are conspiring to dominate the world. In reality, they had no such organization or coordination, not even an information service. Had they been organized, millions might have been saved. Instead, they were taken completely by surprise, unprepared for the catastrophe that befell them. Never before had a people been so unsuspectingly led to disaster.
The Reestablishment of Israel and its Implications
The reestablishment of the state of Israel has provided anti-Semites with a convenient cover to continue their hatred. At its core, the most prevalent and damaging form of anti-Semitism involves the insidious claim that people of a particular race, with their distinct characteristics, are deceptively trying to rule the world. This notion is fundamentally ugly and anti-Semitic.
Criticism of Israel is not inherently anti-Semitic or anti-Zionist. However, when we observe that the United Nations has issued more joint resolutions of condemnation against Israel than any other nation, it suggests a double standard. This discrepancy indicates that something else is at play, and we must acknowledge the presence of racism within the UN.
This situation is reminiscent of someone with a longstanding grudge who always treats a particular person unfairly. When asked why, the response often reveals deeper, unresolved issues.
Today's hostility towards the Jewish people is often framed as criticism of Israel's policies since its establishment in 1948. However, this perspective overlooks nearly 2000 years of European history, marked by repeated expulsions, exiles, and bloodbaths targeting Jews. For almost two millennia, the issue was not about the occupation of Jewish land but the mere existence of Jews in society.
In the vast majority of cases, when we encounter virulent anti-Zionism, we find underlying anti-Semitism. Today, we must evaluate contemporary geopolitical hostility towards the Jewish people in the context of the long history of anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism, which significantly contributed to the creation of a Jewish homeland in the Middle East. It is paradoxical that, after centuries of being told they couldn't live among others, Jews established their own homeland, only to face renewed hostility and be told they can't live there either. History reveals a persistent pattern: regardless of whether Jews are in their own land or dispersed among other nations, they continue to face widespread animosity.
Conclusion
Anti-Semitism, an enduring and complex phenomenon, has adapted and persisted through various forms and epochs. From ancient pagan persecutions to modern geopolitical conflicts, the Jewish people have continually faced hostility and violence. The historical context of anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism provides crucial insights into the ongoing challenges that Jews face globally, particularly in the guise of anti-Zionism today. Understanding this legacy is essential for addressing contemporary issues and fostering a more just and empathetic world.
This past two lessons sets the stage for a broader exploration of religious persecution, which will be further examined in subsequent studies focusing on Christian and Islamic persecution of Jews. By delving into these specific aspects, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of anti-Semitism and work towards meaningful solutions to combat this age-old hatred.