4c. ISRAEL MY FRIEND
PRESENT: ISRAEL’S DIVINE BANISHMENT
DR. EARL PARVIN
2018
4-2-11
INTRODUCTION
In our last meeting, we left the Jewish people scattered all over the world where they had historically been driven from one country to another since 70 A.D. They were looking for a place of acceptance or at least where they could live in peace. But that was not to be, for somehow as if by Satanic design, Muslim clerics determined to continue the Holocaust idea of Hitler. He was seeking to create a Master Race to rule the world and sought to annihilate SIX MILLION Jews by genocide, for the sole reason of a perceived notion that there was a Jewish desire to control the world. Every department of the German government took part in the genocidal state massacre of more than 12 million.
This took place without a whimper from the secular or Christian world. It is most unnerving to realize how similar the goal of the Muslim Jihadist is to Hitler, for he is seeking to rule the world by creating the Muslim UMMAH, or world rule of Islam by invoking Sharia Law, which includes seeking to annihilate the Jew as a primary objective. It is also noteworthy that Muslim majority countries, which were subjected to European Colonialism following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire in 1914, began to gain their independence in the decades of the 40s and 50s. They created Muslim states but with Secular Muslim dictators in control, which is an oxymoron, because True Islam requires a Theocratic State, run by Muslim Mullahs. These dictators created highly paid military who kept them in power through a highly paid police force which eliminated any opposition either religious or political. Funding came either through oil revenues and/or US funds which kept flowing to these rulers in exchange for oil, keeping al Qaeda in check and tolerating Israel. These are the same Middle Eastern states whose masses were clamoring for freedom, jobs and the thieving dictators to be gone. Just who will then gain political control is the huge question and what their attitude toward Israel may be.
Israel started out well with Abraham, the father of the Jews, setting the pace of believing God and it being counted to him as righteousness. God sought to warn His people that if they strayed from following His directives, He would punish them. He sent the Judges and the Prophets when they forgot, but they would not listen nor correct their ways; therefore, He allowed foreign nations to invade Israel and carry them off into captivity. Daniel, one of the exiles, sought to explain what was happening and what would be necessary to correct their deplorable state. Let us continue our study by examining the present circumstances of Israel My Friend, as they seek to go it in their own strength and the help of the United States, but without God’s special blessing. Almost miraculously the Jew has survived murderous World Empires, destruction of Gentile Pogroms, incineration by Hitler and currently the Satanically inspired hatred of Islamic Ayatollahs. Even Mark Twain wrote, “all things are mortal except the Jew. All other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?” Prime minister Netanyahu, says, “Israel’s history is a succession of Holocausts” [Time: May 22,2012.
THE PRESENT: ISRAEL’S DIVINE BANISHMENT - A
As we consider Israel My Friend in the Present we hear their perpetual, agonized and plaintiff cry ever since their deportation in 70 AD., “next year in Jerusalem”, uttered every year at the end of the Passover Seder service. Amid periodic increased persecutions, a trickle of Jews made their way back to Israel. For instance, in 1492 when Columbus sailed the ocean blue discovering America, Jews were expulsed from Spain and some made their way back to Israel. During the same time, Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, had the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt and the Eastern gate sealed. During the 1600s & 1700s Jewish immigration increased due to persecution throughout the Diaspora.
Beginning in the 1800s, the trickle of those returning to Israel, became main streams of Jewish immigration called ‘Aliyahs’ meaning “Ascent to the Land”. The First Aliyah was from the Russian Pogroms or persecutions. The Second Aliyah was in the 1900s, also from Russia and Poland, great centers of Jewish population. During the same period of time, Tel Aviv, the first modern city in Israel was established. This city is where most of the embassies are located. It was in 1917 the ambiguous Balfour Declaration was being discussed. The Third Aliyah started with the end of WW1, tripling the population of Israel. The Fourth Aliyah brought middle class shopkeepers and artisans from Poland. At this time the area east of the Jordan River was invaded by Arabs and became Transjordan. Hitler’s Nazi Holocaust spawned the Fifth Aliyah in 1933. Note that these Jewish migrations back to Palestine all took place before 1948 and the founding of the State of Israel.
This migration of 600,000 Jews to Israel, was causing considerable Arab revolt among the 200,000 Arabs already living there. The British, who were now in charge of Palestine, following the breakup and colonization of the lands of the Ottoman Empire at the end of WW1, sought to halt Jewish immigration which was exacerbating the situation. At the same time American Zionists were clamoring for unlimited immigration. As a result, Aliyah Bet was inaugurated, which resulted in continued, albeit, illegal immigration and a determination by the Jews, to oust the British from Israel. They were successful, for the British determined to turn the whole matter over to the League of Nations and ultimately the United Nations and left.
Essentially within the 50 Muslim dominated countries, the Jews are being treated as Dhimmi or second class citizens, and persecuted, while the political authorities turn their backs and wink at civil rights abuse. At the same time the so-called moderate Muslim want the world to believe that Dhimmi, or non-Muslim, means they are protected people. However, only in America have they been treated as citizens with full rights. Although even here they have been abused, but the courts have upheld their rights. Even those back in the Land are daily harassed by irate Arab neighbors.
POLITICAL PLAN CONCEIVED
The plight and relentless abuse of the homeless, wandering Jew did not escape the attention of more level headed world leaders. It was noted that the Jews needed their own homeland. The British Lord Balfour, with his Christian background, proposed that the Jew, who once lived in Palestine, but who by political intrigue had been denied living there, proposed that their old paternal homeland be given back to them. Unfortunately, politicians have a way of using double speak; therefore, the land in question was being offered to both the Jews and the Arabs.
However, the land he proposed, the land once controlled by King David and his son Solomon, was now important to some Arab new comers. In fact, the land east of the Jordan River was already occupied by the Arabs and called Transjordan. The Arabs of course were now keepers of the M.E. oil wells; therefore, most of the proposed new homeland was given to the Arabs to create the country of Jordan to keep the oil flowing. Even though the Arabs had never developed the land west of Jordan nor formed an Arab state, they were not satisfied with just Jordan.
JEWISH PLAN PROPOSED
What was left of the original Balfour Declaration, became the fulfillment of the Zionist dream of Jewish Nationalism, which had its beginnings in the 1800s as a reaction to the Russian pogroms [anti-Jewish riots & killings]. In 1948 Israel was created as a home for homeless Jews. They dreamed of making the desert bloom and immediately set out to make it happen. Hundreds of Kibbutzim or collective farms were created. They served two purposes. One, much of the land given to Israel in the desert south needed to be developed and made to bloom. Also, the malarial infested swamps around the Sea of Galilee to the north had to be made into productive farmland. Second, the Kibbutzim were primarily established on the border country of Israel and acted as buffer zones or an early warning system against those Arab neighbors who constantly sought to invade. Therefore, they also became ‘citizen soldiers’ or Minutemen as needed by the army.
We need to be reminded, that even after the bulk of the Jews were displaced from Palestine in 70 A.D.; there has always been a Jewish presence. Those who came in to the land after the Jews were deported, neither created a country nor a government. They were nomads or squatters, tilling the land for absentee landlords. As more and more Jews migrated into Israel, the immigrants bought the land from the current owners and made Jewish communities and collective farms. The Palestinians who remained were employed by the new Jewish landlords. As the desert bloomed everyone’s standard of living improved.
With the passage of time, most of the Kibbutzim also developed various forms of industry. The Kibbutznick early on lived a communal life style with everything in common. It was clearly a socialist experiment. Each Kibbutz was an entity unto itself. However, most of them had to evolve into a more democratic form of government to survive, because Socialist idealism does not motivate to work. It is important to note, that never did the Kibbutzim vie for political control of Israel. They were an important element in the determination to settle the land and make the notion of the new state work.
ARAB REBELLION
Even the little land left from the original plan and finally allotted to Israel [about the size of N.J.] was resented by Arab clerics. As soon as the country of Israel was founded in 1948, they stirred up the armies of the surrounding countries [Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq] by insisting that the Jews were occupying Arab lands; therefore, they should join in a combined Jihad to rid the land of all Jews. The Palestinian [Arab] persons living in the land [200,000] were told to leave while Allah cleansed the land and then they could return and enjoy the spoils. However, Allah failed and Israel in the War of Independence took over other lands south west toward Egypt, taking over the Sinai and Gaza; eastward toward Jordan, taking the West Bank and East Jerusalem; and north toward Syria, taking the Golan Heights. Later Israel gave back the Sinai and Gaza making peace with Egypt. That peace move by President Nasser cost him his life by assassination. The return of Gaza required the dislocating of many Jewish families who had established business enterprises. Following their evacuation, the Palestinians destroyed the businesses and have kept firing missals into Israel.
Israel also made peace with Jordan, but maintain control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
However all other Arab neighbors continue to be antagonistic about perceived Jewish occupation of Arab lands. Throughout the 60+ years of Israel’s existence, Muslim clerics continue to stir up numerous jihads seeking to destroy the Jew: The Sinai [Suez] war in 1956, the Six Day War in 1967, the War of Attrition, the Yom Kippur War 1973, Operation Peace for Galilee 1982, the intifada in Gaza and the continual bombardment of the Palestinian Authority. Even so, by means of American armament, their greatest loss was human life, but in every jihad, they humiliated the Arab military machine and frustrated the Muslim Ayatollahs, the real troublemakers.
THE DIASPORA FORCED TO RETURN TO ISRAEL
Relentless worldwide persecution caused a steady flow of Jews into Palestine where they purchased land to establish a new homeland. Today, most Jews live in Israel, with the only other large community of Jews being in the US. Following 1948 with the founding of the State of Israel, the flow of immigrants became a torrent. They came from mostly Muslim countries, with differing cultures and languages, making Israel the most racially and ethnically diverse and tolerant country in the world. More than half the Jewish population consists of people of color. Miraculously assimilation took place. Many settled in Kibbutzim, which became ‘absorption centers’, where they made the desert bloom and learned how to be Israeli citizens. Most collectives established industries which have flourished and outgrew their birthing places. The Jewish emphasis on education and hard work, have made them the envy of the Middle East, and the only democracy.
The influx of new citizens required new housing to be built, much of it in three cities, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Beersheba, where the bulk of the Population lives. The building of housing often becomes a continuing frustration for the Palestinians who consider this action as provocation for more jihad to preserve perceived Arab lands. This Arab perception is driven by the Muslim doctrine that once Arabs occupy land, it is always Arab land.
The wanderers who returned to Israel came from two different ethnic groups and resultant Worldviews. The largest stream of world Jewry, perhaps 80%, were the Ashkenazi, from Germany, the main center of Jewish learning, and eastern Europe. They spoke Yiddish, a Germanized form of Hebrew. They were more Orthodox in their religious orientation and involved in the study of the Torah. They are more homogenous in their outlook on life. The 6 million lost in the Holocaust, were Ashkenazi, yet they are still the largest ethnic group of Jews.
The second and much smaller ethnic group, the Sephardic Jews were from the Iberian Peninsula and the larger Muslim world. They are also known as ‘Oriental Jews’. They are more heterogeneous in their outlook on life, coming from so many divergent cultures. They are also looked upon as those who need more Hebrew-Jewish enculturation and education. They often feel that they are discriminated against and cause some small dissension.
THE CONTINUING SO-CALLED PALESTINIAN ISSUE
The pandemic problem for Israel in the present political scene is the so-called Palestinian Issue [PI]. It is complicated and virtually unsolvable, given the attitude of the Muslim Arabs in Pan Arabi. It involves the “Refugees Problem”…those who were ordered to flee Palestine while the Muslim armies wiped out Israel. The Muslim countries where they fled, refuse to repatriate the refugees, playing on the emotions of the ignorant nations who plead for the poor refuges and blame Israel for routing them. The Palestinian Authority is effectively playing this international card game. Another part of the PI is the Golan Heights on the Syrian border. A third issue is Gaza. A fourth is the proposed Two State Solution, which means Israel and Palestine side by side as two states, with divided Jerusalem being the capitol of both states.
We Christians know that Palestine has been given to Israel as a perpetual inheritance Gen 17:7. Although because of sin the Jewish nation was evicted, it was not meant to be in perpetuity. However, the Arabs will not be satisfied until Israel is no more. The Refugee card the PA would like to play would effectively destroy Israel, because the influx of the Refugees in a Democratic state would control any election.
The West Bank, which is old Judea and Samaria is a constant thorn in the flesh for Israel. It was annexed by Jordan, however Israel controls it since the war and is building new neighborhoods to settle newcomers to the chagrin of the Palestinians. Gaza on the coast was given back to the Palestinians who effectively dismantled the industry built up by the Israelis and now use it as a launching pad for continual bombardments, which they import from Egypt.
The PA has continually struggled internally with terrorists who seek to control the government.
The Golan Heights on the Syrian border was captured because of the constant shelling of northern Israel.
The Two State Solution proposed by our government and that of the UN, is totally unacceptable to the Arabs. They will be satisfied with nothing less than the destruction of Israel. In Palestinian schools the children are taught that the Jews are descended from apes and pigs, are a cancer which should be excised to please Allah.
A whole book has been written on the subject discussed by world powers, “Who Owns the Land”? The answer of course is that the problem is a clash of two books: the Koran and the BIBLE. Both sides have their arguments as seen on the screen.
The solution is that there is no PERMANENT SOLUTION. Only JESUS CHRIST will be able to bring about a heart change in both sides to bring about PEACE.
Has Israel been regathered…? Paul said to the Corinthians, “when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts…to this day” II Cor. 3:14-16.
God will regather in HIS time!. But now they are dry bones.
ISRAEL MY FRIEND PRESENT: ISRAEL’S DIVINE BANISHMENT - B
JEWISH RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE IN ISRAEL
World Jewry developed a complex religiosity. Judaism is described as a “religion in waiting”…some for a Messiah, others just waiting for things to get better. They were out of the Land, without a Temple, a Priesthood or international Sanhedrin. In short, they were a homeless people without leadership. Yet there was an undergirding, inherent, religious consciousness, which helped them survive a relentlessly hostile world. Some speculate their survival was clearly attributable to the strong family structure of the Jewish family.
Jewish men often gravitated to places of responsibility within government circles because of their education and penchant for morality in an immoral world. Then they were often given freedom to practice their own religion. But, they were not in the Holy Land; and even now back in the Land, there is no Temple or accompanying Priesthood possible. But, they were able to develop a sense of community around a different building, the Synagogue which means ‘meeting place’. It’s central focus was an Ark or receptacle for the scrupulously hand-written parchment Scrolls of the Old Testament Scriptures, primarily the Torah. The Star of David is prominent in the building. Often a replica of the Ten Commandments is prominently displayed outside, up high on the front of the building. Services are held on Friday night and Saturday, and require that at least 10 men be present and wear a yarmulka or skullcap to enter and hold a service. The service includes the ceremonial removal of the Scroll from the Ark and placement on a podium on which it is unrolled to a universally prescribed passage for the service. Then a Cantor sings the Scripture passage as he follows the words on the Scroll with a silver pointer.
Lengthy prayers are offered from the Prayer Book, but spontaneous prayers are not made. A homily is offered by the Rabbi, followed by a fellowship time with finger food in another room of the building. At the conclusion of the service, the Scrolls are carefully returned to their place in the Ark, covered with a decorated jacket and perhaps some precious metal shields and the doors closed. Above the Ark is an ‘eternal light’ burning. The red light is symbolic of the coals burning on the Altar of Incense or perhaps the pillar of fire which led Israel in the Wilderness, or the Menorah in the Holy Place. It is symbolic of the eternal presence of God in the Synagogue. As an aside, I have personally observed in Synagogues, that the eternal light is turned off after the service…which sadly indicates that God is NOT present!
RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY IN JUDAISM
Judaism is the predominate faith in Israel. It is a complex faith with many expressions which we might compare to denominational diversity. The basic Jewish Bible is called the Tenak and compares with the Christian Old Testament. The first five books of the Old Testament or the Pentateuch is called the Torah. They also recognize the Prophetic books and the Writings. Other collected rabbinical writings are contained within the 63 books of the Talmud and Mishna. The individual Jew may not have a book copy of his scriptures for personal study, but they are available. The Scrolls are kept in the Synagogue. However, much of Jewish religious life takes place in the home, where the father performs a priestly roll. In the Orthodox home they pray three times a day, morning, afternoon and evening. The Friday Night Meal is the most important event of family life, involving the father and sons attending Synagogue before the meal. During Hanukah, the family remember deceased relatives. The degree to which the people follow their Jewish faith give rise to the following designations:
The Orthodox Jew---he is concerned to keep the whole written and oral law of 613 commandments. The Hassidic Jews are very visible with their black hats, long coats, tieless white shirts, beards and cropped hair. The food they eat must be ‘kosher’ or properly prepared and follow the Jewish dietary laws. The Friday night meal is the most important meal of the week. At age 13 the Jewish boy will become ‘bar mitzva’ or an adult Jew. It is the Orthodox Jew who is concerned to rebuild the third Temple. The Orthodox and Conservative synagogues have daily services.
The Conservative Jew---he is concerned to adapt his Jewishness to modern life while seeking not to be fundamentalist about Jewish law. In the Synagogue men and women sit together. A Jew must have a Jewish mother to be a Jew. Conservatism was a reaction to the liberalized ideas of Reformed Judaism, a product of Germany.
The Reform Jew---He is much more understanding of the times, more fully adapted to modern life and makes up the majority of the population. He is a liberal Jew who probably will not follow the dietary laws. He is less faithful in attending Synagogue, except for special occasions and for social gatherings. He feels that Jewish law should be understood as primarily general guidelines for Jewish life. Services in the Reformed Synagogue are only held on the Sabbath and feast times.
The Secular Jew--- He considers himself a Jew, but is more interested in being in Israel than keeping the law. He wants to live the good life.
The Fulfilled Jew or Messianic Jew--- He has found the Jewish Messiah and has been born again, yet wishes to have a good testimony with his fellow Jews.
The Black Hebrews---This group is mainly Black Americans who consider themselves to be descended from the tribe of Judah who went into exile in Africa. They were then sold as slaves in America and have now migrated to Israel. The Israeli government does not recognize them nor give them the automatic citizenship to any who request it.
There are numerous other lesser divisions of religious faith in Israel. The Christian community is small and fractured. The Greek Orthodox is perhaps the oldest group. Sadly, the largest testimony the churches have in the community is the lavish buildings which seek to commemorate bygone historic events in Biblical history. These are primarily attractions to the tourist and have little spiritual emphasis to those who need to hear of Salvation.
Bahaism’s world headquarters is located in Haifa.
Numbers of Arab Muslim have been absorbed into Israeli society and even serve in the Knesset
The Seven Feasts of Israel
It is amazing that the people of Israel have so much going for them. They have not been demoralized by the incessant persecution. They have the strong family unit with the husband as head of the house. They have a strong work ethic. They have high moral values. They are concerned for higher education. They have constant reminders of Biblical history and better times when they walked with the Lord. This is nowhere better seen than in the annual Feast times of the Jews. These are essentially religious holidays, however, they have become national holidays in a primarily secular Jewish population.
There are three Spring Festivals in the month of April, followed by a fourth, 50 days latter in June and then the Fall Festivals during the month of October. Consider these festivals and what they should remind the Jew about his spiritual heritage.
One of the preparation rituals practiced in Orthodox homes, is to have a complete set of dishes, silverware and cooking utensils used only at this time and which have not been contaminated with yeast. The house is thoroughly cleaned and all yeast eliminated.
The feast lasts for seven days, the first and last days being official holidays in Israel. The seventh day of the festival is in commemoration of God’s parting the Red Sea for Israel to Passover on dry ground and the drowning of the Egyptian army.
These three Fall Festivals speak of the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is sad that Israel has little understanding of the rich heritage God provided them. But, one day they will. The Fulfilled Jews of course have that understanding now.
7. TABERNACLES---also known as SUKKOT which means booth or shelter. The festival commemorates the tents in which they dwelled during the forty years in the Wilderness. At this time some Jewish families make a makeshift dwelling in their yard for the seven days.
THESE LAST THREE FEASTS LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE OF ISRAEL MY FRIEND.
Other festivals are important in Israel as well:
POLITICAL LIFE IN ISRAEL
The political scene in Israel is exceedingly complicated. The Orthodox Jew would like the government to be a Theocracy, which is what it will be in the Millennium. They are also making plans to rebuild the 3rd. Temple, however, they are not a ruling majority, although influential. However, to rebuild the Temple would be tantamount to exacerbating the tensions in the M.E., which would not be the desire of the current ruling liberal Israeli government.
The Kibbutzim were clearly an experiment in Communism where everyone worked for the good of the State. Everything was held in common and even the children were raised institutionally, only being with their parents in the evening. The collective farms were not financially solvent and had to develop industry to survive. The Kibbutzim did work as Minutemen on the borders and absorption centers for the myriads of newcomers to Israel. However, the Kibbutzim were never a major part of political life in Israel. The government has always been democratic and takes place in the Knesset which is representative of the people.
EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
A basic philosophy of the Jewish psyche has always been to obtain higher education. In fact the Rabbis indicated that education was next to godliness. They have always been drawn to the musical and dramatic arts, being eminently successful. In the field of the sciences, they have excelled with an unprecedented number of Nobel Prize winners. In the last 100 years 750 Nobel Prizes have been awarded; 163 to Jewish recipients. They are on the cutting edge of scientific discoveries and patents, including the field of electronics and medicine.
DEMOGRAPHIC CONCLUSIONS
World Jewish population in 2011, hovers at about 13.3 million. That population is found almost evenly divided between two major locations: Israel with 5.3 million and the US with 5.2 millions. The next largest population country is France with about a half million. This means there are only another 2 million widely scattered about in much smaller numbers. Up until the 18th century the majority were Orthodox with most children raised within that context. Then there was a radical shift away from Orthodoxy to pure secularism. Within the American scene, it has been discovered that nearly half of the young people marry outside the faith and are lost to Judaism as such. It seems that ‘cultural Judaism’ is not sufficient for second generation Jews to ‘keep the faith’.
We must also note that there is a movement called Post Zionism, in which some ‘progressive or enlightened’ Israelis want a cultural civil war in which they desire to destroy the Zionist concept altogether. They do not want a Jewish state or a home for Jews, but rather a ‘state of all citizens’ in which there is no Jewishness, but a universal man.
On the positive side, there seems to be a worldwide movement back to Orthodoxy, including Jewish parochial schools. The state of Israel needs to take note that their secularism does not bode well for long range Judaism. It is also noteworthy that the Arab Muslim population birthrate is double that of Jewish Israel.
CONCLUSION TO ISRAEL MY FRIEND PRESENT
The Jewish people are resilient, survivalists. Even going it alone without the overt blessing of Jehovah. He is allowing them to reestablish their homeland in the midst of overwhelming odds against it. They have made the desert bloom under less than stellar circumstances. They are the only Democracy in the M.E., even including in the Knesset members of minority groups, such as the Arabs. Their ability to defeat a combined and often repeated Jihadist effort is as if God were indeed making it happen. It seems… well, miraculous. Where to from here?
Anti-Semitism is on the rise again, worldwide, not just in the Arab world. Protestants are espousing Replacement Theology, which means the church is the new Israel of God. The UN, dominated by Muslim countries is blatantly anti-Semitic, questioning the existence of Israel as a State, calling it a Pariah. Europe, overpopulated by Islamists is subject to jihadist rage against Israel. Israeli soldiers dare not travel in Europe lest they be arrested as war criminals. The Middle East is involved with ethnic cleansing to rid the area of all Jews. Hamas leaders are saying that the Jews have two options: death or departing Palestinian Land. American journalist, 90 year old Helen Thomas spews forth an anti-Semitic tirade, expressing a growing vitriolic hatred of the Jew.
Finally, we must note that the Jew is not the only problem the Muslim has in ethnic cleansing of the Middle East. Christians are also being targeted, persecuted and beheaded. There is no room for either.
We must return to the Scriptures to seek to understand Israel My Friend’s—Future.