Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, November 9, 2020
Shalom,
82 years ago tonight… Kristallnacht (the night of broken glass). It is one of the major turning points in European Jewish history. https://www.history.com/topics/holocaust/kristallnacht Adolph Hitler had become chancellor of Germany in 1933. The persecution of Jews continued to gain momentum in German society. This night is widely viewed as the ignition point of what Nazi hunter Eli Weisel simply called “Night.” (That is the title of his first book, an autobiography of his experience in the Holocaust.)
During the night between 9 and 10 November 1938, more than 1,400 synagogues and prayer rooms, thousands of Jewish-owned homes, hospitals, shops and cemeteries were damaged or destroyed across Nazi Germany and Austria. It was called a “spontaneous uprising,” but in fact it was a concerted effort by the government to increase Jewish persecution.
Rabbi Trail: I’ve never told you about these “Thoene” novels, but I’ve read them all and believe they are among the best books I’ve ever read. My collection and more are in the Shomair library. It is good to read them in order. Brock and Bodie Thoene https://www.thoenebooks.com/ wrote extensively on this story in their book (fiction based on fact), “Vienna Prelude” in their series “Zion Covenant.” http://dictionary.sensagent.com/Zion_Covenant_Series/en-en/
This is fact (not fiction)… Herschel Grynszpan, a young Jewish boy (early 20’s), who had been fired from his job, shot a German diplomat in Paris. This was used as an excuse by the Nazis to perpetrate the Kristallnacht violence (murder and mayhem). In fact, Herschel was put up to commit his crime by the Nazis themselves who provided the pistol and a “handler.” It was all part of their planning and orchestration of the subsequent events we now call the Holocaust.
At least 91 Jewish people were killed that night and an estimated 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps at Dachau, Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen. This turned out to be just the next “payment” on the Holocaust, not yet fully revealed, but already under way. Hitler was elected German Chancellor on January 30, 1933, a date widely viewed as the start of the Holocaust.
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Superman (the comic book character) was first published in 1938, the same year as Kristallnacht took place (I’m not sure even I, myself, appreciate the segue). There was no Superman to the rescue for the Jews of Europe. An announcer would conclude the intro to the 1947 Superman radio program with the tag line “disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way.”
I want to focus on their wording for a moment. First, there is no such thing today as “a great metropolitan newspaper.” And there is no such thing as a “reporter;” there are only parrots and “opinion-ers.” And they are never accountable for what they publish.
Rabbi Trail: I didn’t say “what they write” because they don’t “write.” What they do is take someone else’s press release and put their name on it. And we resemble lemmings, lined up to follow them off the cliff. End RT.
This leaves us with the “never ending battle for truth.” Here we will have to join forces with Superman. Or better still, join forces with Yeshua. Superman was the invention of Jerry Siegel, but Yeshua is God. So, what about the battle for truth? Truth seems to be central to the 9th Commandment. Take out the double-negative to “not bear false witness” and what you get is, “speak the truth.” Pray that truth will prevail.
Finally, “justice and the American way.” It is worthwhile to fight for justice and American way, but what do those words mean? The principle of justice is very misunderstood. Justice by some would be if everyone had the same bank balance. They falsely believe if someone has more in their account, they must have taken it from someone else’s account. Not true. Justice is equal opportunity. Everyone does not use their equal opportunity equally.
And concerning the “American way?” I regret to report that America has lost it’s way. The “American way” had a glorious beginning, and a history of greatness. Our founding fathers established a nation the likes of which this world has never seen. Sadly today, those basic principles and freedoms are threatened. Again, we must turn to Yeshua. There is no freedom without responsibility. Take responsibility and pray for Yeshua’s divine intervention to expose the lies and corruption of the enemy (who is, after all, just being himself).
Thank you for reading yet another rant. After all, this is Rabbi’s Reflections. Those are my reflections today. Shalom.
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Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon 9-Nov-2020 22nd of Cheshvan, 5781
Ge 23:17-24:9 Jdg 8 Ps 34 Mt 24:29-51 (Ro 5)
The last half of Matthew 24 is a quote from Yeshua Himself about end-time prophesy. It ends with the parable of the faithful servant. Read it and renew your covenant to be that “faithful servant” Yeshua will find when He returns. We are “faithful” when we do His will in faith.
Hebrews 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Week 46
Memory Verse: Acts 20:24 However, I don’t consider my life of any value, except that I might finish my course and the office I received from the Lord Yeshua, to declare the Good News of the grace of God.
* 226 11/09 Monday: Acts 20-21
227 11/10 Tuesday: Acts 22-23
228 11/11 Wednesday: Acts 24-25
229 11/12 Thursday: Acts 26-27
230 11/13 Friday: Acts 28
Question of the day: What is the world is this? Acts 21:25 “As for Gentiles who have believed, however, we have written by letter what we decided—for them to abstain from what is offered to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from immorality.”
Answer: That’s it? If you’re coming to Messiah from the nations, you are only required to do these 4 things? The rest of the Law doesn’t apply to you? Of course that can’t be true. So what does this mean?
Paul is writing the minimum requirements for non-Jewish people to ENTER the kingdom of God. Growing to maturity means living according to God’s righteous standards if you were born Jewish or born non-Jewish. God revealed His wisdom in the Bible. The Bible is an owners manual for anyone who fogs a mirror. God knew we would benefit from His knowledge about owning a physical body, being in emotional health, getting right spiritually, and living together with each other and with Him. That’s what the Bible teaches us. There is no way Paul meant that Gentiles should do “those 4 and no more.”
“Gentiles who have believed” are baby gentile believers. Why would baby Jewish believers not need the same rule? Because Paul expected the Jews coming to faith to already be oriented to the preponderance of God’s commandments.
Well then, what about Colossians 2:14 He wiped out the handwritten record of debts with the decrees against us, which was hostile to us. He took it away by nailing it to the cross. What was “nailed to the cross?” The commandments related to Temple service, the sacrificial system and the Aaronic priesthood. The book of Hebrews describes in great detail why those ordinances no longer apply. We have a great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, Yeshua. That’s a reason to celebrate.