“Shortly before the expulsion from Spain, Jews eagerly assimilated among their Spanish hosts, and considered Spain the new Jerusalem, thinking that, the presence of so many Jews and Christians of Jewish ancestry in the inner circles of the court, municipalities, and even the Catholic church could provide protection and avert the decree of expulsion.
They were wrong.
Similarly, German Jews believed that if they assimilated among the Germans, they would be safe from the eternal finger pointing, that is the lot of the Jew. We remember how this assimilation ended.
Strangely enough, even Adolf Hitler wondered how it was that the Jews had survived thus far. In Mein Kampf, he wrote,
‘When over long periods of human history I scrutinised the activity of the Jewish people, suddenly there arose up in me the fearful question whether inscrutable destiny, perhaps for reasons unknown to us poor mortals, did not, with eternal and immutable resolve, desire the final victory of this little nation.’
Donald Trump’s inauguration as President may give us a hiatus from overt Jew-hatred, but if we do not respond correctly to the opportunity, the backlash will explode in our faces, quite literally. Even if President Trump vetoes all the anti-Israel UN resolutions, this will not abate the hatred that the nations feel toward the Jewish people. Sooner or later, he, too, will have to reconsider his position. So, to avoid another Holocaust, the Jewish people must understand their unique position in the world and act accordingly.”
(Extracts are taken from article by Dr Michael Laitman: https://www.jpost.com)
Dr Laitman concludes his excellent article by suggesting that the Jewish people must learn to regain a correct understanding of their calling to be “a light unto nations” practically in order to avoid another round of genocide. Like him, I lost almost my entire family in the Holocaust.
But what does it mean to be “a light to the nations?” As a Messianic believer, this is where my opinion diverges from a traditional Jewish understanding.
In Isaiah Chapter 49, we read about the return of Israel from exile (before they had been exiled); the end-times arrival of the Messiah and the Millennium Age. In verses 6-7 there is an amazing prophecy fulfilled by Messiah Jesus which also relates to true believers throughout the two Millennia, both Jew and Gentile, and finally World Jewry at some stage in the future.
“6 It is not enough that you are merely my servant to raise up the tribes of Ya’akov and restore the offspring of Isra’el. I will also make you a light to the nations, so my salvation can spread to the ends of the earth. 7 Here is what Adonai, the Redeemer of Isra’el, his Holy One, says to the one despised, whom the nations detest, to the servant of tyrants: “When kings see you, they will stand up; princes too will prostrate themselves, because of Adonai, who is faithful, the Holy One of Isra’el, who has chosen you.”
Before this unprecedented time of renewal occurs, Israel will experience a genocide unlike anything ever experienced before:
“In time, throughout that land,” says Adonai, “two-thirds of those in it will be destroyed — they will die, but one-third will remain. 9 That third part I will bring through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined, I will test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is my people’ and they will say, ‘Adonai is my God.’” (Zechariah 13:8-9)
What will the defining factor be that will unite the people of Israel? We see this encrypted in Zechariah’s prophecy in Chapters 12 and 13:
9 “When that day comes, I will seek to destroy all nations attacking Yerushalayim; 10 and I will pour out on the house of David and on those living in Yerushalayim a spirit of grace and prayer; and they will look to me, whom they pierced.” They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son; they will be in bitterness on his behalf like the bitterness for a firstborn son.” 11 “When that day comes, a spring will be opened up for the house of David and the people living in Yerushalayim to cleanse them from sin and impurity.”
Why all this suffering? Is it really so necessary? The Sages teach that Torah (relationship with God), Israel (identification with the land and the people) and eternal life are the three things that can only be acquired through much hardship (The Talmud, Tractate Brachot 5).
Rightly understood, although it might appear intimidating, “Like a Jaffa orange, the juice is well worth the squeeze!”
