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To spite the persecution of the Jews in the holocaust, I think it did provide the right climate for the state of Israel to be formed. The will of the Jews to immigrate and form the new state might not have been there otherwise, and the setting of the world stage was right in those days to help make it possible, as might not have been the case otherwise. I do not think the Jews will ever suffer another persecution on the scale of the holocaust ever again. I also do not think the Arabs will ever be able to destroy the state of Israel. Biblical prophecy says that in the last days before revelation, all the world will be facinated with Israel. So I would take that to mean they will be one of the worlds major players at that time, and will continue to rise in status as time passes.
Biblical prophecy says that in the last days before revelation, all the world will be facinated with Israel. So I would take that to mean they will be one of the worlds major players at that time, and will continue to rise in status as time passes.
Biblical prophecy is not a reliable source for serious historical discussion, so this means nothing that is credible. There are forums where it's considered a valid source, but this is not one. I now begin to see where a lot of things you have said before emanate from.
Any people, such as the Jews, Gypsies, Kurds, Armenians and others seeking refuge have often found themselves at the mercy of their host country. When the fortunes of a country go bad, minority groups often become the object of blame. History is replete with stories of scapegoating, and Jews, in particular, have been the victims of both religious and racial persecution.
During the Christian Crusades, tens of thousands of Jews were killed by crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. Interestingly, Jews sometimes fought alongside Muslims in battles with crusaders. When the Black Death fell on Europe, Jews were often accused, even though they, too, were suffering the same fate. As Barbara Tuchman said in her great book, A Distant Mirror, on the chaotic social conditions of the 14th century, the medieval Church viewed the recalcitrant Jews as a "perpetual insult" to the Christian church and that Jews "must be kept distinct and apart from the Christian community." As moneylenders, Jews were often accused of usury, and the Church considered it no great sin to loot and even kill the offending Jews. The list of perceived Jewish offenses goes on, including well-poisoning, ritual murder, etc. Jews were often attacked in working class revolts because it was the one part of society that was completely vulnerable to their wrath.
As an aside to the OP's question, the term "antisemitic" seems to be erroneous and a misnomer. The term is said to have been coined in 1879 by Wilhelm Marr to indicate hostility to Jews. Semitic refers to a language group and not to a people. Since Arabs and several others are Semitic-speaking people, it seems strange that the term "antisemitism" is used exclusively in regard to Jews.
One of the best books I have read on the history of the Jewish people is "The Zionist Connection: What Price Peace" by the late Alfred Lilienthal, who was a Jew. Lilienthal traces the history of the Jews from their origins to the diaspora, in which many Jews amalgamated with the Khazars of Ukraine and became known as the Ashkenazi Jews of eastern and central Europe. The Ashkenazi Jews are one of two great divisions of Jews, the other division is known as the Sephardic-genetic Jews, largely living in the Iberian Peninsula and northern Africa. Lilienthal wasn't very popular with many Jews because of his opposition to the methods of Zionism. Albert Einstein, an early supporter, became became disillusioned for similar reasons.
If that's what people believe, you'd think they'd be grateful, because people who believe that also generally believe that Jesus being crucified enables them to be forgiven for their sins. Maybe if he doesn't get nailed to a cross, no one can get forgiven and everyone is stuck with the consequences of all the times they coveted their neighbor's wife. (I'm fortunate. Both my neighbors' wives do not, shall we say, inspire covetousness.) People's disconnects never cease to amaze me, especially in the area of religion.
Digressing for one small moment; this is completely off topic for which I apologize, but in this same vein of logic, as a Christian, I have always felt bad about the bad rap that Judas, the original Jewish scapegoat in my opinion, got. Wasn't the betrayal part of the big plan, too? Would Jesus have ended up ultimately in the hands of the Romans if he had not been delivered by his trusted friend? Rhetorical questions, to be sure, but something to think about.
Digressing for one small moment; this is completely off topic for which I apologize, but in this same vein of logic, as a Christian, I have always felt bad about the bad rap that Judas, the original Jewish scapegoat in my opinion, got. Wasn't the betrayal part of the big plan, too? Would Jesus have ended up ultimately in the hands of the Romans if he had not been delivered by his trusted friend? Rhetorical questions, to be sure, but something to think about.
That's why it all comes down to a few core beliefs, which one either believes or one does not. If one cannot believe the core beliefs, the whole thing unravels, which is why I renounced Christianity. Even if all the things defined by it as sinful are actually wrong (which I don't believe), I don't believe that a deity would incarnate his kid in order to be killed, nor that a psychotic act against an innocent could somehow expiate any of those wrongs by anyone else. Too easy an out. And I also don't believe everything that happens is part of a grand plan, or for a reason. If it is, the deity whose grand plan the Haiti earthquake is, I officially am disinterested in worshipping.
But maybe that's one of the reasons Jews got/get picked on: they don't buy into the easy 'get out of hell free' card Christianity sells. If you can't play the card, then life is tougher; you have go to those you harmed and provide restitution, which Judaism expects as part of any sincere contrition. Ow. No fun. "You mean I also have to pay him back? But I said I'm sorry! I should get a pass!" Same for the 'it's all God's will' factor common to Christianity and Islam. I somehow do not think that very many Jews consider the Holocaust to be Hashem's will. Therefore, if not everything is God's will, then some things are under our control and the onus is on us to shape events in decent ways. There goes another bit of spiritual prestidigitation, beloved of many over actually doing something positive, swept away.
There's a reason, so to speak, why Judaism sparkled during the 'Age of Reason'. Because it's mostly pretty reasonable to the objective mind. No wonder medieval Christian leaders (who were basically Pat Robertson pre-incarnated) found it an irritant. Reason wasn't their strong suit.
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