Weekly Update: A time for repentance
We are in the middle of the Jewish high holidays. The Jewish people have just celebrated Rosh Hashana (New Year) and are now in the Days of Repentance. Coming Tuesday 8th– Wednesday 9th October is Yom Kippur – the Jewish day of Atonement. Many Jews will fast and pray for 25 hours. It is about returning to God.
As Christians, this is a good time for us to recall our own sins – especially our role in the persecution of the Jewish people – and to repent for Christian hatred of the Jews over the centuries.
It’s a good moment to reflect on how we are acting towards the Jews today. When we do so, we see alarming signs of growing anti-Semitism throughout the world.
This coming week, let’s get down on our knees and ask God to forgive what the Church has done to the Jews over the centuries. Trusting in our High Priest, let us ask forgiveness for the ignorance of the church today. Let us pray that the eyes of the church may be opened, and that the Lord will continue to make atonement for the sins of the Jewish people, and protect them, and fulfil His purposes of mercy and grace in them.
“I am here to ask you for forgiveness”
Read this remarkable article by C4I’s Anemone Rüger about the mass murder of Jews in Ukraine – a story of repentance, forgiveness, and how it is possible to make a new start.
>> Read article
Is reconciliation possible?
In this article, Marie Louise Weissenböck (C4I Austria) describes how in June 2019, a group of five Austrians, three Germans and six participants from the Netherlands visited Koen Carlier and his team of Christians for Israel Ukraine, to take part in an act of repentance and reconciliation.
>> Read article
Anti-Semitism in the church
In this video Rev. Willem J.J. Glashouwer teaches about Anti-Semitism in the Church. Jews were better off in the lands of Islam than in the lands of Christendom in the last 2000 years. The Church proclaimed: we are the new Israel. That created an atmosphere where millions of Jews could be slaughtered.
Anti-Semitism and BDS
This article explains why the BDS movement is anti-Semitic – because it rejects the right of the Jewish people to live as a people within secure borders.
>> Read article
Anti-Semitism in Europe – Interview with Chief Rabbi Jacobs
Chief Rabbi of The Netherlands, Binyomin Jacobs speaks about the current status of anti-Semitism in Europe. He discusses his views about the connection between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, the BDS movement and the future of Jewish life in Europe.
Berlin – capital of European Anti-Semitism
Dr. Manfred Gerstenfeld reports: Berlin has surpassed Malmö as Europe’s antisemitism capital, with a wide variety of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel attitudes on display. They include dozens of cases of physical aggression against Jews, including rabbis.
>> Read article
Weekly teaching – hatred towards Israel
The Church and the nations have a bloody history as far as Israel is concerned. To our shame and misery, and possibly because of it, Satan has used the Church in his attempt to destroy the Jewish People. The Bible tells us that the devil, the biggest enemy of God and man, directs his hatred for God at the People of Israel. “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you— Psalm 83:2-5. Israel is the apple of God’s eye. Touch Israel, and you touch the God of Israel. Satan could not overcome God, and so he tries to exasperate God by attacking the people He loves.
Shabbat shalom,
Andrew Tucker
Editor-in-Chief –Israel & Christians Today
Scripture for the week: Leviticus 23:26-32
The Lord said to Moses, “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food offering to the Lord. Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people. I will destroy from among their people anyone who does any work on that day. You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. It is a day of sabbath rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.”
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