The Night Of Broken Glass, 85 Years Later
Today marks Kristallnacht or the night of broken glass – the day when, 85 years ago, on November 9, 1938, a pogrom against the Jewish people was carried out by the Nazi Party’s paramilitary, with some participation from the Hitler Youth and German civilians throughout Nazi Germany. Kristallnacht marks the point Hitler moved from an emotional antisemitism to a systematic antisemitism of laws and government violence. Everything changed.
It was a time when shards of broken glass littered the streets after the windows of Jewish-owned stores, homes, hospitals, schools, and synagogues were smashed and demolished by rioters and attackers. They destroyed 267 synagogues throughout Germany, Austria and the Sudetenland. Over 7,000 Jewish businesses were destroyed, and 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and placed in concentration camps.
Reports estimate hundreds of fatalities were caused by murders, post-arrest maltreatment, and subsequent suicides. The death toll is estimated to have been 638 deaths by suicide. Historians view Kristallnacht as a prelude to the Final Solution and the murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust.
Recognizing Modern-Day Antisemitism
Is Kristallnacht upon us again? I believe that for the first time in 85 years, we can see parallels between what took place in 1938 and what is taking place today, before our eyes. We must therefore revisit that terrible night, which was a beginning to what turned out to be a satanic attempt to wipe out the Jewish people, and ask ourselves if history is repeating itself again.
The unspeakable brutality of rape, murder, burning babies alive, decapitation, killing parents in front of their children, killing children in front of their moms and dads. And then a week later a woke philosophy emerges, calling for a “humanitarian pause” only to give Hamas enough time to regroup and reload.
And put all of this against the scene barely making headlines today in the fifth block of the mainstream media, Palestinians trapped by Hamas under threat of death, finally getting a path out of northern Gaza to a slightly safer southern Gaza - all escorted by the Israeli Defense Forces.
Read that again!
The ones called “the aggressors” are the same ones to grant safe passage to Palestinian civilians so Israel can deal effectively with the terrorists housing 240 hostages in “the metro,” the 300 mile underground network of tunnels beneath Gaza, a hell like no other.
Against the backdrop of the worst atrocity to the Jewish people since the Holocaust, October 7, 2023 has not spurred compassion for the Jewish people, only hatred.
If you understand this from a common sense perspective, I’m all ears.
And here in the USA, we are seeing masses of people taking to the streets chanting “From the River to the Sea, Palestine shall be free.”
In other words, wipe out the Jews. Drive them into the sea. In other words, genocide!
This is taking place on our elite college campuses, with thousands spilling onto the streets of cities across America.
While we believe no one should be hated ever, the U.S. government’s new initiative to combat the 10% rise in Islamophobia in the United States seems laughable compared to the 390% rise in antisemitism in the last month alone. And those are just the stats for America. Go global, and you see antisemitism increase 1,400% with no signs of stopping. To verbally announce an initiative to protect American Muslims WITHOUT in the same sentence protecting American Jews is its own form of Jew-hatred.
Is this tremendous rise in antisemitism we are witnessing, yet another prelude to yet another Holocaust? I guarantee you this is on the heart and mind of EVERY Jew alive today watching pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel, anti-Jew protests today.
Israel's Struggle: The Present-Day Kristallnacht
What is significant to note is that in 1938, this took place in Germany and spread to western Europe. This time, we are seeing new levels of antisemitism. Anti-zionism has shed its mask to show its true colors. It is now clear that was just a cloak for the antisemitism it always was, and has now emerged as such - not confined to one locale, but spread to the rest of the world.
It is global.
That is the ultimate end of the story for Israel. But right now they are the canary in the coal mine. Hamas is committed to the annihilation of Israel and the Jewish people. It is Israel’s Kristallnacht all over again.
And after the Jews, they will come for the Christians. Not my words, theirs.
I don’t want to leave you without hope, in spite of the darkness around us today. As Pastor Adrian Rogers said, “We are surrounded by a glorious darkness.” How is that so?
Understanding the Significance of Israel
It is important for all of us to understand about that little nation, Israel, and its people.
Today, all eyes are on Israel, and rightly so. If you are a follower of Jesus, you have a vested interest in that little country and the people, so you can be encouraged that you have a God that is keeping His covenant.
ALL EYES ARE ON ISRAEL. Take a quick look.
The eyes of God.
The eyes of the enemy.
The eyes of the world.
The eyes of the church.
The eyes of the Jewish people.
God’s eyes on Israel - Past
A great nation that came out of the loins of Abraham that is going to bless the world.
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
- Genesis 12:1-3
Israel was designed to be a blessing to ALL the rest of the nations (families, whole world).
God’s eyes on Israel - Present
God will bring them back.
“And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”
- Ezekiel 37:14
God’s eyes on Israel - Future
A most difficult time. It is the time of Jacob’s Trouble - nothing like it in the past. A Tribulation that will lead to their salvation.
“Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.”
- Jeremiah 30:7
Jesus said, For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will (Matt. 24:21)
A time of trouble….such as never was.
“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.”
- Daniel 12:1
Which book is that? The Lamb’s Book of Life. The only book you need to be in.
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent.
“For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.”
- Isaiah 62:1
When ALL Israel will be saved.
“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”
- Romans 11:25-27
This takes place at the end of the Tribulation. Difficult times are coming upon this world. I believe we are seeing the stage being set, even now. Jesus said, “When you see these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).
Stand Boldly with Israel
As we draw to a close, let us come together, as brothers and sisters in Christ, to reflect on our place and calling in this critical moment in history. The solemn remembrance of Kristallnacht, coupled with the unsettling events we witness today, must not pass through our consciousness like a fleeting shadow. Instead, let it ignite within us a fervent resolve to stand with the Jewish people.
We are at a juncture that requires more than just passive remembrance. The echoes of history sound a warning that cannot be ignored. As followers of Jesus the Messiah, who was born into the Jewish faith, we are called to a love that transcends all boundaries - a love that compels action.
It is a call to embody the scriptural mandate to “mourn with those who mourn” and to raise our voices against injustice (Romans 12:15).
It is time for us to stand boldly, not only in defense of our Jewish brethren, but also in earnest supplication for the peace of Jerusalem, as the Psalms guide us (Psalm 122:6).
Our advocacy, our prayers, and our unwavering support are needed now more than ever. In a world that increasingly seeks to distort the truth, let us be bearers of the light, proclaiming God’s unwavering love and His promises to Israel.
Let us stand boldly, not as passive observers, but as active participants in the plan of God. Faced with growing antisemitism, let our voices be clear and our commitment unwavering. The call for Christians is to stand in solidarity with the Jewish people, not just in words, but through our deeds and our steadfast commitment to justice and truth.
For Zion’s sake, we cannot be silent. For Jerusalem’s sake, we will not rest. As the church, you have been grafted into the heritage of God’s story with the Jewish people, and the call is to support and defend them.
Our call to action is clear: to love kindness, do justice, and walk humbly with our God as we stand for Israel and the Jewish people (Micah 6:8).
Have courage, knowing that we are not alone in this fight. May our stand be a testament to the love of Jesus, and may we look forward with hope to the day when “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26).
Until then, we labor in love, we stand in solidarity, and we hold fast to the truth that God is with Israel, as He is with us.
For such a time as this, let us be bold, let us be brave, and let us be the light of the Lord to the Jewish people and to all nations.
About The Jewish Road
At the heart of The Jewish Road lies a passion ignited by a father-son duo, Ron and Matt Davis. Our journey began with a simple yet profound desire: to bridge the gap in understanding that has kept two faith communities apart for too long. We're here to help Christians connect with the roots of their faith and for Jews to explore the life and teachings of Jesus with an open heart.
Imagine a world where every believer, be it Jewish or Christian, not only knows their faith but truly understands its origins and interconnectedness. We strive to restore the Jewish essence of the Gospel, offering insights that deepen knowledge, bolster faith, and propel the growth of the Kingdom. The narrative of faith, we believe, is a two-act play where both acts are essential for a comprehensive grasp of the story. By uniting these acts, we're presenting a more holistic and enriching perspective.
Life is too short to wander without knowing the full essence of your beliefs. Whether you're attending a synagogue or a church, there's so much more to discover. The Jewish Road is here to guide, enlighten, and, most importantly, bring both halves of the story together. Join us on this journey; together
