Steve Conover: Thank you for joining us for the Friends of Israel Today. I'm Steve Conover, executive director of The Friends of Israel. With me is our host and teacher, Chris Katulka. foiradio.org. That's where you can connect with us. We have nearly a decade of content on the site. It features Chris Katulka’s insightful teaching and various interview guests. Again, that's foiradio.org.

Chris Katulka: Steve, in a moment I'm going to share a staggering statistic about antisemitism, which led us to create content that for our listeners that would educate them on antisemitism, on the hatred of the Jewish people, and that's what we're going to be looking at over the next three weeks. We're going to be looking at this shapeshifter that has moved throughout history, which is targeting Jewish people, ultimately targeting God. And so that's why we want to highlight the importance of standing with Israel and the Jewish people as we study antisemitism.

Steve Conover: But first in the news, After 15 months of captivity, three female Israeli hostages, Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damarileft left Gaza and returned to Israel as 90 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails, leaving both Israelis and Palestinians torn between celebration and trepidation as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold last Sunday. 

Chris Katulka: Well, here’s my take. We praise God that Romi, Doron, and Emily have been released and are back in the arms of their parents and loved ones. But how sad though that Palestinian prisoners who many are committed to eradicating Israel and perpetuating the mission of Hamas are back on the streets of the Palestinian territories. Let’s pray for more hostages returned and an end to Hamas’ rule once and for all.

Chris Katulka: A few weeks ago, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, reported that antisemitism in the United States has risen by an astonishing 900% over the past decade. That's right. Targeted attacks against the Jewish people in the United States have surged to unprecedented levels raising urgent questions and concerns. To address this alarming trend, it's essential first to define antisemitism. Antisemitism is the hatred of the Jewish people. 

Historically, it has taken on various forms morphing to fit the context of different eras while maintaining its core animosity toward the Jewish people. One of the most horrific manifestations of antisemitism was the Holocaust, the systematic extermination of 6 million Jewish men, women, and children by the Nazi regime during World War II. This atrocity begs the question, after such a catastrophic and widely condemned event, why has antisemitism risen so drastically in the United States in the last 10 years? The answer lies in understanding the nature of antisemitism.

It's a shapeshifter. It does not present itself the same way throughout history, but it evolves to suit the times and the context that's going on around the Jewish people. Satan as a spiritual adversary uses antisemitism as a tool of warfare against the Jewish people. Israeli journalist, Haviv Rettig Gur, provides a compelling definition of antisemitism. He shared on the Hugh Hewitt Show that antisemitism is an ancient idea, reoccurring throughout history—the archetype that Jews stand in the way of the redemption of the world. Antisemitism is ultimately the belief that Jews are what's holding the world back from moving forward. Moving forward spiritually, moving forward socially and moving forward politically. This belief has been used to blame the Jewish people for a multitude of problems throughout history. Over time, this archetype has manifested itself in three primary forms: religious antisemitism, genetic or racial antisemitism and national or even statehood antisemitism.

So in the next three weeks, we're going to explore each form through the lens of Haviv’s definition to reveal how antisemitism blinds the world to God's plan of redemption. So let's begin with the most ancient form of Jewish hatred, which is religious antisemitism. The Jewish people and the land of Israel are really inextricably linked, eternally bound by the covenant and promises that God made to Abraham. God promised Abraham three things. Do you remember? The land, which is the land of Israel, a people which are the Jewish people and a blessing that God would bless the Jewish people and that they would bring blessings to all the families of the earth. These divine promises form the foundation of Jewish identity. But they have also made the Jewish people targets of hatred throughout history. Religious antisemitism is rooted in the perception that Jewish religious practices and beliefs are obstacles to spiritual or even societal progress.

This ancient bigotry, documented and even in the pages of scripture, you just have to go back to Haman in the book of Esther, and all throughout Jewish history, often targeted Jewish people for their faith. Historically, the simplest way for Jews to escape persecution was to abandon their religious practices or convert to another faith. One of the earliest examples of religious antisemitism can actually be traced back to Antiochus IV, the story of Hanukkah, a Greek king who in 167 BCE, sought to obliterate Jewish identity by outlawing Torah reading, kosher dietary laws, Sabbath observances and other traditions. Antiochus' actions epitomize the efforts to suppress Jewish faith and culture through force. Another significant example is the Spanish Inquisition, which culminated in the 1492 Alhambra Decree. This decree forced Jewish people in Spain to either convert to Catholicism, flee, or face execution. Jewish families who had lived in Spain for centuries were uprooted, and even those who converted were often suspected of secretly practicing Judaism leading to further persecution.

Christian antisemitism has deep historical roots. While Christianity was born out of Judaism, really, we were born out of what the Old Testament had promised, theological and cultural rifts would quickly emerge. Jewish refusal to accept Jesus as the Messiah led to tensions which were amplified by theological misunderstandings and outright distortions. Some early church fathers such as John Chrysostom, preached vehemently against Jews, accusing them of what's called deicide—the killing of Jesus Christ, our God. This accusation became a cornerstone of Christian antisemitism, perpetuating centuries of discrimination and violence.

During the Middle Ages, Christian Europe became a particularly brutal place for Jewish communities. Jews were falsely accused of heinous crimes such as “blood libels”—baseless claims that Jews use the blood of Christian children in religious rituals. Pogroms and expulsions and massacres were commonplace, often incited by religious fervor. Just think about the Crusaders, which aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land, also unleashed horrific violence against the Jewish communities in Europe, as Crusaders saw them as enemies of the faith. 

Theological antisemitism was institutionalized within the church. For instance, the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215 AD decreed that Jews must wear distinctive clothing reinforcing their separation and inferiority in society. Such decrees set the stage for centuries of Jewish people being marginalized and even hostility towards them. In Islamic history, the treatment of Jews was actually very complex and varied. 

In Islamic history, the treatment of Jews was actually very complex and varied. Early Islamic texts, including the Qur'an, contain passages that would sometimes praise Jewish people, but often condemn them, reflecting the Prophet Muhammad’s interactions with Jewish tribes. Under Islamic rule, Jews were often treated as “dhimmis”—protected second-class citizens who were also required to pay a tax (called a jizya) and adhere to restrictive regulations. While there were periods of this coexistence between Muslims and Jews, such as during the Golden Age in Al-Andalus, which is in Spain, there were also times of severe persecution, such as the massacres in Granada in 1066 AD. Certain texts of Muhammad called the hadiths, portrayed Jews in a negative light, and these have been weaponized by extremists to promote hatred.

Modern Islamic antisemitism often intertwines with the hatred of Israel, creating a potent mix of religious and political hostility towards Jews and the Jewish state, the state of Israel. This will be explored further when we discuss national antisemitism at the end of our series. But one of the most infamous episodes of religious antisemitism was definitely the Spanish Inquisitions, which we talked about earlier. By the late 15th century, Spain's Catholic monarchy sought to unify the country under one faith after defeating the Muslim control over the region. Jewish people actually became the prime targets stuck in the middle. The Alhambra Decree I had mentioned of 1492 forced Jews to convert to Catholicism. Thousands of Jewish families were uprooted and many who converted were actually still suspect of practicing that Judaism, which caused more pain in their own life, more persecution, more antisemitism. The Inquisition employed brutal methods including torture and public executions to enforce their conformity.

Today, religious antisemitism often takes a more subtle form but remains destructive. In Christian circles, some groups actually push a form of interpreting the Bible called Replacement Theology, the belief that the church has replaced Israel in God's plan and that the Jewish people no longer have a divine claim to the land of Israel. This theology undermines the biblical covenant between God and the Jewish people and often creates division between Christians and the Jewish community. In the Islamic world, antisemitism is frequently framed as a religious duty. Radical Islamic groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah reject Israel's right to exist on the basis of their theological beliefs. These groups portray the conflict as a Holy War further inflaming antisemitic sentiments. Now listen, we're going to take a quick break and when we come back, I want to share ways that we can address this religious antisemitism against the Jewish people. So stick around.

Chris Katulka: We are having this discussion on antisemitism, especially since antisemitism is on the rise, and one of the greatest ways that you can support Israel and the Jewish people is by educating yourself on the history of antisemitism and Friends of Israel has a fantastic resource for you. Just a few years ago, I wrote a book called Israel Always, which highlights the history of Israel and the Jewish people. One of the areas we tackle in the book is actually the history of antisemitism and the impact antisemitism has had on Israel and the Jewish people, so I really want to encourage you to get this book because as you think about antisemitism, all of it is actually grounded in the way Satan wants to skew the promise that God made to Israel and the Jewish people back in Genesis chapter 12, verses one through three, a foundational verse to understanding the book, Israel Always.

Steve Conover: I thoroughly enjoyed reading Chris's book, Israel Always, and I know you will too. You'll gain insight into Israel's past, their current influence in the world. You'll grow in your love for the Holy Land and the promise that has been made to Israel for their future. To learn more or to purchase your copy of Israel Always visit foiradio.org. Again, that's foiradio.org.

Chris Katulka: Welcome back everyone. We're talking about antisemitism, the hatred of the Jewish people, especially since we've learned from the ADL that in the past 10 years, antisemitism has increased more than 900%. So we wanted to spend time talking about ways that we could support and stand with Israel and the Jewish people iIn light of these statistics. 

Well, first, let me start with this. You start by teaching the history of antisemitism, which actually includes its religious roots, which helps foster a better understanding and empathy toward the Jewish people. Another way is building bridges between our communities, the Christian community and the Jewish community, which can dispel misconceptions and actually promote a mutual respect among one another. We do that here at the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, building bridges between the Christian community and the Jewish community. And finally, within Christian circles, we can address the issue of Replacement Theology, the idea that the church has replaced Israel, which is not a biblical way of looking at the way we should interpret the scriptures.

We want to reaffirm the biblical covenant that God made with Abraham and the Jewish people dating back to Genesis chapter 12. Well, despite centuries of persecution, the Jewish people have endured. A testament to God's faithfulness. The covenant between God and Israel is unbreakable. It's rooted in prophetic promises that span millennia from the Old Testament. The modern state of Israel, which was established in 1948, stands as a symbol of God's faithfulness to his people. For Christians, the restoration of Israel is a reminder of God's redemptive plan for the entire world. Romans 11, verse 29, declares, “For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” That's what the apostle Paul said. He's talking specifically about the Jewish people and Israel. The Jewish people's return to their land, it's not merely a political event, but a fulfillment of what God had promised in the scriptures. Antisemitism, whether rooted in religion, race, or politics is a persistent and destructive force.

Religious antisemitism has laid the foundations for centuries of hatred, culminating, yes, in the Holocaust and evolving into modern anti-Zionism, which is the hatred of Israel. Yet that unbreakable bond between the Jewish people and the land of Israel stands as a testament to God's covenantal faithfulness, going back to Abraham. In the face of rising antisemitism, people of faith have a responsibility. Bible-believing Christians have a responsibility to confront hatred, to educate others, and to affirm God's love for the Jewish people by standing against antisemitism in all its forms, we honor Jesus, the Messiah, and the God who chose Israel as his people and who call us to love our neighbor as ourselves. The covenant that God made to Abraham in Genesis chapter 12:1-3 really is a cornerstone of his plan for all of humanity. God promised Abraham that through his descendants, the Jewish people, all the families of the earth would be blessed.

This covenant speaks of a redemption and a hope pointing to the Messiah Jesus who would bring salvation to the entire world. Yet throughout history, Satan has worked to tirelessly distort this truth. This spiritual attack is evident through the narrative that suggests Israel and the Jewish people are obstacles to God's global redemption. A manipulation that directly opposes the promise that God made to Abraham. Remember earlier we had talked about Israeli journalist Haviv Rettig Gur’s definition, which highlights this distortion. The claim that Israel is an obstacle to worldwide peace or redemption is not just a political or cultural stance, but a spiritual deception rooted in Satan's attempt to undermine God's covenant with Abraham. Israeli journalist, Haviv Rettig Gur’s definition highlights this distortion. The claim that Israel is an obstacle to worldwide peace or redemption is not just a political or cultural stance, but a spiritual deception rooted in Satan's attempt to undermine God's covenant with Abraham. This narrative shifts blame and hostility onto the Jewish people, portraying them as barriers to the world's progress rather than instruments of God's blessing, 

Christians have a responsibility to counter this manipulation by standing firm on biblical truth. And Romans 11 reminds us that the Jewish people remain beloved by God because of his covenant with Abraham. Understanding this truth allows us to see through Satan's lies and to affirm the role of Israel as a blessing to the nations By standing against antisemitism and supporting the Jewish people, believers participate in God's work of redemption and resist the enemy's attempt to distort his promises. In doing so, we uphold the truth of God's covenant and proclaim his faithfulness, countering the narrative that Israel is an obstacle to redemption. Instead, we declare the biblical reality that through Abraham's descendants, the entire world is blessed.

Steve Conover: Now, Apples of Gold, a dramatic reading from the life and ministry of Holocaust survivor, Zvi Kalisher.

Mike Kellogg: I am in uniform again in the mountains, where the winds blow fiercely. In Israel, vendettas can go on for years. Both sides attack each other night and day and seem happy when they have out harmed the other. What will be the end of it? Only the Lord knows.

Some lay awake at night thinking about these things, but I have gotten over it. They can shoot all the guns they have, but I have peace because I have a good protector, one whom few others have.

The other night, someone awoke me. He was jealous that I could sleep during all the uproar. He asked, “How can you sleep at a time like this, with shells bursting all around us? Have you no fear?”

Quoting Psalm 56:3–4, I said, “When I am afraid, I will trust in [God]…. I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” I then told him, “One who has no faith must always be in fear. You must trust God to watch over you. We must be like sheep. They sleep securely when protected by a good shepherd but quiver in fear when they are alone. My Lord said, ‘I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and am known by my own’.”

The man replied, “What does this parable mean? What are you trying to tell me?”

I told him how the Messiah Jesus slept in the bottom of a boat on the Sea of Galilee while His disciples were terrified because of the fierce storm and huge waves raging around them. When they woke Him, He rebuked them, saying, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” (Mt. 8:26).

I explained that I can sleep soundly because my Shepherd watches over me. “Trust in the Lord,” I told him, “and go to sleep. In the morning we will talk further.”

He then put his head down on the rocks, which we call the “Hilton Hotel,” and immediately went to sleep. He slept soundly for two hours while the shooting continued. In the morning we met again at the field kitchen. He said, “I slept like a child. What type of psychology did you use on me? I do not understand what all this is about, but if it is going to do for me what it has done for you, then I am ready to believe as you do.”

I then asked him, “What do you think is better—to walk against the wind or with the wind?”

“With the wind, of course,” he answered.

“It is the same when you walk with the Lord,” I explained. “You are never alone. He is always with you and gives you strength. We are going through dangerous times now. Any moment might be our last. It would be terrible at such a time as this to deny the truth. How can a person reject the Lord, who has given us new life, new thoughts, and a wonderful future? The Lord told us, ‘Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’. Is it not better to trust Him than to walk in fear and worry?”

The soldier took his soup from the kitchen and sat down beside me. He said quietly, “I thank God that He gave me comfort. I now feel as if I were home. Even the shooting does not bother me anymore. There must be some great power from above. I can see what it has done for me. We became fast friends and still share the same rock for a pillow. Wherever I go, my new friend tags along. He seems to be a different person. He has no fear and laughs and talks to me all the time.

Steve Conover: Thanks for joining us for today's episode of The Friends of Israel Today. Chris, where are we headed next week?

Chris Katulka: Yes, Steve. This week we looked at religious antisemitism. Highlighted some of the history of antisemitism in the Christian faith and also in the Islamic faith and how that brought persecution against Israel and the Jewish people. Next week we're going to look at racial antisemitism, something that came out of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Steve Conover: We hope you'll join us then. Our web address is foiradio.org. Again, that's foiradio.org. You can call our listener line. That number is 888-343-6940. Again, that's 888-343-6940. Our host and teacher is Chris Katulka. Today's program was engineered by Bob Beebe. Edited by Jeremy Strong, who also composed and performs our theme music. Lisa Small is our executive producer. Sarah Fern is our associate producer. And I'm Steve Conover, executive director of The Friends of Israel. The Friends of Israel Today is a production of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. Passion for God's Word. Compassion for God's Chosen People.