The remnant of my flock

“And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase” (Jeremiah 23:3).

The enemies’ desire to destroy Israel as a state causes the opposite to occur: Jews return to the land of their fathers, the Promised Land. 

Despite the ongoing war and lack of safety, a new wave of Jews from the US and France choose to make aliyah, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the State of Israel.

Marc Rosenberg, vice president of Diaspora partnerships at Nefesh B’Nefesh, a nonprofit organization that promotes and facilitates aliyah from North America, told The Media Line that Americans are now mainly moving to Israel for ideological reasons, although some are also coming for practical reasons.

“We see an increase of people asking about serving in the army, which is fascinating considering the danger that is involved,” Rosenberg said.

Twenty-four-year-old Hadar Amar from California hadn’t thought about moving to Israel before last year, although her two older siblings moved to Israel six and nine years ago, respectively.

“I got my degree in the States and started working at a corporation. However, there was always a sense of loneliness. I just didn’t feel connected; in America, I felt like a stranger,” she told The Media Line.

“Being in Israel now makes me feel safe, happy and connected. I’m with my loved ones. I’m also creating the life that I have been waiting for, for years. It’s not easy, especially having the people closest to you serving in the army, but this experience helped me to realize what it’s like to be a Jew in today’s society,” concluded Amar.

-themedialine.org, 9 June 2024

Under the word “Antisemitism,” Wikipedia published a 50-page article. Here an excerpt:

There are various ways in which antisemitism is manifested, ranging in the level of severity of Jewish persecution. On the more subtle end, it consists of expressions of hatred or discrimination against individual Jews, and may or may not be accompanied by violence. On the most extreme end, it consists of pogroms or genocide, which may or may not be state-sponsored. Although the term “antisemitism” did not come into common usage until the 19th century, it is also applied to previous and later anti-Jewish incidents.

In recent times, the idea that there is a variation of antisemitism known as “new antisemitism” has emerged on several occasions. According to this view, since the State of Israel is a Jewish state, expressions of anti-Zionist positions could harbor antisemitic sentiments.

When it comes to the Church, the writings of former Catholic priest James Carroll expose the antisemitic treatment of Jews in his book titled Constantine’s Sword: “Jews accounted for 10% of the total population of the Roman Empire. By that ratio, if other factors such as pogroms and conversions had not intervened, there would be 200 million Jews in the world today, instead of something like 13 million.” In mathematical terms, that represents a decrease of 93.5%.

Here we are reminded of the prophet Isaiah: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth” (Isaiah 10:20). The fact that Israel can be placed under the category of exceptionalism is self-evident. This also became apparent since the murderous atrocities committed by the terrorist organization Hamas on 7 October 2023.

When we keep the word “remnant” in mind, we realize that the 7.2 million Jews in the land of Israel are indeed a small remnant, especially when compared to the almost 465 million Arab population of the Middle East. 

But that’s not all; the rest of the world—and this includes the US—is categorized in one verse: “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land” (Joel 3:2).

For all practical purposes, Israel does not have a chance to exist, yet the Bible makes it crystal clear that she does. God’s promise is based on the existence of the universe: “If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever” (Jeremiah 31:36). We as believers—born again of the Spirit of God—have obtained the promise of Jesus, “Salvation is of the Jews.” Thus, we continue to pray for their salvation, based on the promises of God the Creator. When judgment falls upon planet earth, exceptionalism will be revealed: “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:7).

Midnight Call - 08/2024