Down Home Shalom – Blogs

A Messianic Jewish Outreach

This Monday is the official day of honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. Did you know he was a Republican and he supported Israel? Here is a document that he is said to have written:

“. . . You declare, my friend, that you do not hate the Jews, you are merely ‘anti-Zionist.’ And I say, let the truth ring forth from the high mountain tops, let it echo through the valleys of G-d’s green earth: When people criticize Zionism, they mean Jews–this is G-d’s own truth.

“Antisemitism, the hatred of the Jewish people, has been and remains a blot on the soul of mankind. In this we are in full agreement. So know also this: anti-Zionist is inherently antisemitic, and ever will be so.

“Why is this? You know that Zionism is nothing less than the dream and ideal of the Jewish people returning to live in their own land. The Jewish people, the Scriptures tell us, once enjoyed a flourishing Commonwealth in the Holy Land. From this they were expelled by the Roman tyrant, the same Romans who cruelly murdered Our L-rd. Driven from their homeland, their nation in ashes, forced to wander the globe, the Jewish people time and again suffered the lash of whichever tyrant happened to rule over them.

“The Negro people, my friend, know what it is to suffer the torment of tyranny under rulers not of our choosing. Our brothers in Africa have begged, pleaded, requested–DEMANDED the recognition and realization of our inborn right to live in peace under our own sovereignty in our own country.

“How easy it should be, for anyone who holds dear this inalienable right of all mankind, to understand and support the right of the Jewish People to live in their ancient Land of Israel. All men of good will exult in the fulfillment of G-d’s promise, that his People should return in joy to rebuild their plundered land.

“This is Zionism, nothing more, nothing less.

“And what is anti-Zionist? It is the denial to the Jewish people of a fundamental right that we justly claim for the people of Africa and freely accord all other nations of the Globe. It is discrimination against Jews, my friend, because they are Jews. In short, it is antisemitism.

“The antisemite rejoices at any opportunity to vent his malice. The times have made it unpopular, in the West, to proclaim openly a hatred of the Jews. This being the case, the antisemite must constantly seek new forms and forums for his poison. How he must revel in the new masquerade! He does not hate the Jews, he is just ‘anti-Zionist’!

“My friend, I do not accuse you of deliberate antisemitism. I know you feel, as I do, a deep love of truth and justice and a revulsion for racism, prejudice, and discrimination. But I know you have been misled–as others have been–into thinking you can be ‘anti-Zionist’ and yet remain true to these heartfelt principles that you and I share.

“Let my words echo in the depths of your soul: When people criticize Zionism, they mean Jews–make no mistake about it.”

Disclaimer: The first known appearance of the quoted words above is in a 1999 book “Shared Dreams” by Rabbi Marc Shneier, containing a preface by Martin Luther King, III. The words are purported to originate from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter to an Anti-Zionist Friend,” which allegedly appeared in the Aug. 1967 Edition XLVII of the Saturday Review. However, no such edition exists. While the source of the “Letter” remains unknown, scholars maintain that the “Letter” does reflect MLK, Jr.’s expressed views on the subject and that he had in fact stated in plain terms that anti-Zionism equals anti-Semitism. For more information, read about the investigation by the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA).

JEREMIAH – Chapter 29v11

 “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the L-RD, “plans for your welfare and not for calamity, but to give you a future and a hope.”

Shalom All!

I am so glad to see you survived the holidays. You know, every year I hear the same thing: “I resolve to do this,” “I resolve to do that.” Yes, beloved, I’m talking about the oh-so-insincere new year’s resolution. Mark Twain, the famous writer once said, “If you want to be a successful writer, always write about what you know,” so here goes.

Yes, I too have made new year’s resolutions only to immediately, if not sooner, break them and leave them in the forgotten dusts of time. I (in the past) have resolved to do everything from not worrying too much to being a better man to losing a little weight or being better about answering back phone messages. But my biggest thing has been worrying about the future and what it holds for my wife, my children, and me! Yes, I worry sometimes waaay too much! The scripture tells me that I cannot worry any extra hair on my head nor any extra years to my life! I know this!!! Yet I still catch myself worrying sometimes. I give others such sage advice as, “If you sweat the small stuff you will never be able to handle the big stuff when it happens.” I finally realized (and just recently I might add) that the first thing that I needed to do and understand was that I had to forgive myself for being human! Once I did that I could quit making myself lofty promises that I could not keep!

We all as believers want to please G-D, but we should also learn to trust HIM! Once we learn to trust G-D, pleasing HIM becomes easier. You see, HE knows your strengths and weaknesses (HE made you), and when you realize this, that false need to try and razzle dazzle HIM (and yourself) with big promises goes away, and WOW is that ever liberating!! All Abba G-D wants from you is your best honest effort. Yes, beloved, your Heavenly Father knows who you are, where you are, and YES! HE LOVES YOU! So, don’t worry so much about what the future holds anymore. Just remember who HE is that holds your future in HIS HANDS with LOVE and CARE.

Blessings and Shalom!

AJ