Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, July 30, 2019
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
How To Spot An Anti-Semite: My faithful RR readers are probably (as a group) the least anti-Semitic people I know, says “Mr. Obvious.” Why did I make this (on the surface) ridiculous statement? Because I want you to recognize the pattern of behavior on the part of people who ARE anti-Semitic. Yes, there are people in the world who hate Jewish people as a group.
Rabbi Trail: Not everyone who hates (and “hate” may be too strong a word) a Jewish person is anti-Semitic. To know the difference is to define prejudice. Prejudice is assigning the characteristics to a group that belong to individuals.
First Ever “Sub-Rabbi Trail: For instance, “Jewish people are greedy.” That is a prejudicial statement. “Some Jewish people are greedy,” is still not a nice thought, but probably true. Actually, I can’t imagine why someone would have to say that. “Some people (in general) are greedy” is also true. So what? End FESRT. End RT.
Prejudice toward Jewish people is called anti-Semitism. Prejudice toward black people is called bigotry. In the 1950s and 60s, when bigotry was at its height, the catch phrase of every bigot was, “Some of my best friends are black.” The minute you heard that statement, you knew you were talking to a bigot.
Well, today, the catch phrase of every anti-Semite is, “I don’t hate Jews, I’m being falsely accused of hating Jews. I’m the victim here.” When you hear that, you know you’re talking to an anti-Semite.
Last note: Our society is (and has been for some time) obsessed with a victim mentality. When I say “victim mentality,” I means, “Whatever is wrong or broken (or goes wrong or gets broken) in life, find a way to make it someone else’s fault and all is (or will be) well.” So, in conclusion, If you’re an anti-Semite, claim you’re a victim of hate and your hate problem will just go away. Need evidence? Try this current news story by Lauren Marcus of World Israel News. https://thejewishvoice.com/2021/07/ben-jerrys-chair-im-a-victim-of-online-hate-im-not-anti-semitic/
Holy Communion – part 4: There are a few times in documented history when Heaven has come down to earth. Every time we share in Holy Communion, heaven comes to earth. The children of Israel experienced the presence of God practically every day for 40 years. Yet, all of that blessing, presence and provision did not have the desired effect.
Elijah called down fire from Heaven resulting in a great victory. 1 Kings 18:37 Answer me, Adonai, answer me, so that these people may know that You, Adonai, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.” 38 Then the fire of Adonai fell and consumed the burnt offering—and the wood, the stones and the dust—and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and they said, “Adonai, He is God! Adonai, He is God!” Yet it was that same day (or within a few days, the Bible isn’t clear) that Elijah ran for his life from Jezebel. 1 Kings 19:3a Frightened, he got up and ran for his life.
It is helpful if we don’t think of God’s heaven as “way over yonder,” but as a spiritual realm that is close to us. When I mention heaven, I’m speaking about God’s heaven. Satan also has a heaven. It is his spiritual realm. He has his own, because he has been removed from God’s presence, but is still a spirit.
My point in all of this discussion is that Holy Communion is a special time when heaven comes to earth. We need to be committed to allowing the visitation of heaven on earth to have God’s desired effect. When we share in Holy Communion, we are taking our place at the Table of God, eating the Lord’s Supper.
When you accepted Yeshua (If you have not yet accepted His invitation, don’t wait. I know a song whose lyrics go… “Today is the day, and now is the perfect hour to forsake your evil ways and turn to the Lord.” Consider it in your heart.), one of His enduring commandments concerns the matzah and wine, 1 Corinthians 11:24b “Do this in memory of Me.”
In Hebrew, “memory” (Zachor) is not the opposite of “forget” (Shakach), but rather a memorial. Since Yeshua is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) a memorial to Him honors past, present and future. We come to His table to honor His ETERNAL promises.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri 30 July 2021 21st of Av, 5781
De 11:10-21Ez 411 Ch 21(Jn 8:31-59)1 Ti 5
Week 31
Memory Verse: John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We looked upon His glory, the glory of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth.
151 7/26 Monday: Luke 1
152 7/27 Tuesday: Luke 2
153 7/28 Wednesday: Matthew 1-2
154 7/29 Thursday: Mark 1
155 7/30 Friday: John 1