A difficult but necessary study

[Henaynei]

Now that we’ve had a taste of the havoc that anti-Semitism can wreak in our midst, and we’ve had a glimpse of who can be caught in its sway—often, by appearances, the most unlikely—I believe HaShem has placed a challenge before this forum that would unite those of us who truly love Israel and teach us volumes about the nature and reality of anti-Semitism.

I would like to challenge the members of this forum to begin to make an in-depth study of the Holocaust—through books and film—until we’ve each attained a measurable depth of knowledge on the subject. Perhaps we might devote a year to this study, discussing the books and films we’re using, assisting one another through the horror, anger, pain, and confusion such a study may elicit.

Even for those of us who believe we do have some depth of knowledge on the subject, it would be a powerful right of passage into Judaism, for I don’t believe anyone can study the Holocaust deeply and not emerge from it with a stronger link to the Jewish people and a greater understanding of the enemies of Israel. The hater of the Jew often comes cloaked in the robes of reason, righteousness or piety, though his soul be black with envy. If we are to sojourn with the Jew we should become students of anti-Semitism; knowing what it is, who it affects, and what it can do. And we should, emotionally and spiritually, pass through the fire our beloved friends have passed through, if we’re ever to truly understand what they’ve suffered in Christian lands.

 

[Sephania]

 

[ShirChadash]

I know you posted it ^, Zayit, but it was going to be my reply too, so I decided to add it anyway. *heavy sigh*

 

[ShirChadash]

Just thoughts:

I've tried... for the past four days, I have tried to make it through "Schindler's List." I haven't succeeded yet. It's on two video cassettes (a smarter buy for us, as we can watch it in our own bedroom away from the wandering eyes of our trusting, beautiful children who wouldn't, all of them, be able to watch this...) and I have made it through the first cassette. Two days... it took me two days to get through that alone. The beginning of the film reminded me of Leon Uris' novel, Mila 18; the stark pictures of the Warsaw ghetto, the frantic looks of men and women and children, the discussions of, "surely this is enough... surely they will be appeased, it is enough...". The little girl, the one colorized child who stood out in the midst of the black and white footage... I was almost desperate to grab her up in my arms when I saw her walking... so sweet and innocent and unknowing. As I watched, I just shook my head... over and over and over. Each day that has gone by since we purchased the tapes, each day my children ask me, "Mama, did you finish the show last night? Mama, can you tell us?" And my big boys, 14 ,and 12, and 10, "Mom, we should watch too." Each day my husband looks at me, and knows I had to turn it off last night, I couldn't watch more.


Amazing what all this does to me. I studied and wrote research papers about Auschwitz and Treblinka when I was in high school. Since then, I have had a sensitivity... and I haven't grown hard of heart to see over and over the pictures, the hatred, the death and destruction and frenzied horror that was the Holocaust... I've only grown more and more sad. I have to admit, it was so stinging to me to read a comment by a lapsed Jew poster on these very forums, stating that it is "hilarious" to see Messianics not accepted by either Jew or Christian. I kept wanting to say... how tragic to see a Jew think it hilarious to see the disdain and hatred of anyone for their beliefs and lifestyle.

One thing DH and I have known deeply in our hearts, as we step further and further into Messianic Judaism is that we WON'T be accepted by anyone (now, I realize that a good many Christians do accept and support MJ and we are blessed to be in a church which, so far, does... but I will also say we are perhaps more Jewish in our practice than most in gentilized christianity can "stomach", and more than many Messianics I suppose, and we are being called further and further that direction; we expect that someday all those who are Jews, all those who are true Christians, and Messianics definitely, will experience more and more persecution).

So we have said to ourselves, and to one another in our discussions, "yes, so we will be subject to much persecution for aligning ourselves with Jews. And much for being believers in Yeshua. And much for just about everything we believe and stand for". And we have chosen to continue forward and trust that our Abba will bring us through whatever is to be our "lot" in life. But when I see the hatred evident in the film, or read it in books, or hear of it happening to my Jewish brethren, it hits me personally now. I look at my littlest babes sleeping near me and feel fiercely protective. I think of my Jewish cousin and his wife and boys... and wonder... what will they go through before Yeshua comes? What might I be subjecting my own chidlren to, before Yeshua comes, and HOW can we choose this path knowing what probably lies in store? Can I bear to see what so many of our parents (including my father) witnessed in the 1940's? I read books about what it means to be a Jew, to grow up a Jew, to be persecuted day by day by the non-Jews, kippah stolen or knocked in the mud... "dirty Jew!"... it is such mindless and yet such willfull, murderous hate. I wonder when it will find the fuel to erupt in large scale again and then... I realize... it never died down as my elder brothers and sisters live it daily in Israel and elsewhere. *shaking head* It really leaves me speechless.

 

[ShirChadash]

And I had meant to add this poem, which I read just minutes before posting here:

From
I Never Saw Another Butterfly, Children's Drawings and Poems from Terezin Concentration Camp, 1942-1944 Edited by Hana Volavkova; revised and expanded by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. New York: Schocken Books, Inc. 1993.


"The Butterfly"

The last, the very last,
So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow.
Perhaps if the sun's tears would sing
against a white stone. . . .

Such, such a yellow
Is carried lightly 'way up high.
It went away I'm sure because it wished to
kiss the world good-bye.

For seven weeks I've lived in here,
Penned up inside this ghetto.
But I have found what I love here.
The dandelions call to me
And the white chestnut branches in the court.
Only I never saw another butterfly.

That butterfly was the last one.
Butterflies don't live in here,
in the ghetto.

Pavel Friedman 4.6.1942

http://www.euronet.nl/users/jubo/butterfly.html

 

[Multi-Elis]

The hater of the Jew often comes cloaked in the robes of reason, righteousness or piety,

Wow, that is so true. And that's what's so scary, and that is the reason I think all school programs should study the matter. "robes of reason" that makes me think of Voltaire. And we know there is no logical reason for being anti-jewish. Yet he passed of for a reasonable man with "reasonalble" reasons for antisemitism. It can happen anywhere, any time. It is something the whole world should be aware of.

 

[koilias]

If one wants to know how the holocaust could have happened, one need only read through Grimm's fairy tales. Cruelty against Jews was taught from the crib.

 

[INOrder]

A good book to read is
"Hitler's Jewish soldiers"

 

[Trish1947]

Any real born again Christian that would turn over a Jew, or not protect their life in the midst of evil and murder, in my book is about as Christian as Hitler was. We have to be willing to die for what is right. I'd rather die for what is right, than live with myself having done wrong. My God watches me every day, and we have to be willing to die for rightousness, no matter what. When it comes to things like this rising up, it certainly will separate the "sheep from the goats".

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

's to all my Jewish brother's and sister's

 

[Henaynei]

Blessings upon Multi-Elis, Trish1947 and Quaffer!! May the Holy, blessed be He, pour out His mercy and grace on your behalf!! b'shem Yeshua!!

 

[rooster]

i recommend "night" by Elie Wiesel ..... he is a nobel laurete i think, and was in Auschwitz. The book is emotionally raw and makes no attempts to gloss over or insert prose. Its just honest and horrifying.

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

Is it the MJ belief that the Holocaust was done to the Jewish people by Chrisitan people?

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Is it the MJ belief that the Holocaust was done to the Jewish people by Chrisitan people?

DefensOrFidei,

I think it is pretty common knowledge that those who participated in the Holocaust claimed to be Christian. At Christimas time some Jews were hung on Christmas trees and carols were sung. Carols about Jesus and His birth. What would you think if it were your people having that done to them?

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

I dont know Quaffer. I dont know much about the subject other than that Hitler killed 6 million Jews because he was a maniac.

I also wonder why God would allow the Jews to be put through this horrific genocide?

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

I dont know Quaffer. I dont know much about the subject other than that Hitler killed 6 million Jews because he was a maniac.

I also wonder why God would allow the Jews to be put through this horrific genocide?

I guess we could then ask "why did He allow the crusades?" And how about all the horrible things written about in "Fox's Book of Martyr's"? Why are there millions of baby's aborted every year? Do you ever consider it Christian to murder?

 

[ShirChadash]

*shakes head*

 

[Hix]

Its one of the many negative things about being G-ds chosen people, The Jewish people being led as "lambs to the slaughter" becuase of the worlds wrong doings is an unfortunate message repeated in the Tanach *shakes head*

Holocaust aside the church was the cause of other horrendous moments in history such as the crusades and the inquisitions. Not to forget the banishment of all Jews from Europe and the "Blood Libel" lie which still haunts us to this day. But that is not to say it is any christians fault, infact far from it, I personally believe though that everyone should learn from these past mistakes so they are not repeated.

Lets spread the love people
Shalom and G-d bless
~Hix~

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Its one of the many negative things about being G-ds chosen people, The Jewish people being led as "lambs to the slaughter" becuase of the worlds wrong doings is an unfortunate message repeated in the Tanach *shakes head*

Holocaust aside the church was the cause of other horrendous moments in history such as the crusades and the inquisitions. Not to forget the banishment of all Jews from Europe and the "Blood Libel" lie which still haunts us to this day. But that is not to say it is any christians fault, infact far from it, I personally believe though that everyone should learn from these past mistakes so they are not repeated.

Lets spread the love people
Shalom and G-d bless
~Hix~

Agreed, and it's important for all to know, especially the non-Jew, that to take on the name of Jesus makes none of us exempt from persecution.

 

[ShirChadash]

Agreed, and it's important for all to know, especially the non-Jew, that to take on the name of Jesus makes none of us exempt from persecution.

True enough, Quaffer. Let's also hope that taking on the name of Yeshua would at least make us exempt from being persecutors.