Israel is currently experiencing the most severe trauma since its founding – the country and its people are deeply wounded. At the same time, the State of Israel is under greater scrutiny from the United Nations than any other country. Benjamin Philipp, a practicing Jew who heads the non-profit organization Hineni in Jerusalem, sheds light on the current situation by looking to the Bible.
By Benjamin Philipp, Jerusalem
I began writing this article after Shabbat, when we read the weekly Torah portion BO, Exodus 10. It begins with the words:
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, so that I may put these signs of mine in his midst, and that you may tell your son and your son’s son how I mocked the Egyptians, and tell my signs which I put in them, and you will know that I am the Lord.’”
Today we can see that Israel is being treated by nations in a similar way to how it was treated by the Pharaoh in Egypt some 3,000 years ago. This includes attacks by terrorist organizations in which Jews have been brutally murdered, on a scale not seen since World War II. And this is happening at a time when the majority of nations are also rising up against Israel in many other ways.
Among other things, this is due to condemnations by the United Nations General Assembly. Between 2015 and 2022, the General Assembly passed 140 resolutions criticizing Israel, primarily for its treatment of the Palestinians and neighboring countries that seek to destroy Israel. No other country has as many UN resolutions on it as Israel. Furthermore, the UN Human Rights Council has passed almost as many resolutions condemning Israel alone as it has on issues affecting the rest of the world combined. In addition, South Africa has recently filed a lawsuit against Israel for genocide at the International Criminal Court.
A people that is different
In short, the whole world complains that Israel is not acting in accordance with UN resolutions and the political, moral, and ethical standards of the rest of the world. This is a conflict between Israel and the rest of the world that has existed since biblical times. For millennia, Israel and the Jewish people have been accused of behaving differently from the rest of the world.
Starting with our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who refused to participate in the ancient, worldwide cultures of idolatry, child sacrifice, and other worldly pagan practices. Instead, the Jews worshipped only one God, whom they claimed loved life and wanted to make the world a better place for everyone.
Consequently, we Jews followed God's path of light, guided by the code of divine principles handed down from our ancestors, which led us through the darkness of the ancient pagan world. This enabled us to survive for thousands of years, even when we were conquered, oppressed, and dominated by other nations in our land. Then came the expulsions into the Diaspora, where we Jews were again persecuted and brutally murdered by various nations, generation after generation.
Israel, a blessing for the world
The divine principles that made us Jews so different for thousands of years later became the foundation of major religions and modern ethical thought, encompassing three-quarters of the world's population. These principles have influenced humanity more than any other nation, leading it out of the old culture of paganism and darkness. As God foretold, Genesis 12:3 states:
“And all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you.”
And as the world continues to turn, the foundations on which the Western world stands today, with its desire for peace, justice and dignity of human life, and social responsibility, are the true Jewish heritage – the Jewish contribution to the nations that now accuse Israel of being immoral and unethical.
Now, after twenty centuries, the Jewish people are fulfilling the biblical prophecy of their return to the promised land of their ancestors. As a result of Israel's development into a modern state, the country is once again making a significant contribution to the world through its innovative high-tech sector, the development of world-changing technologies, and progress in science, medicine, agriculture, energy, and communication.
And once again, it is the same nations that are rising up against Israel, nations that have tried for thousands of years to destroy the Jewish people, generation after generation. They are treating Israel just as cruelly as the Egyptian Pharaoh did. That is why many people are confused and troubled by this. However, as a practicing Jew, I recognize the words of our prophets, as foretold in Zechariah 12:3:
“At that time I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all nations. All who try to lift it will be torn by it; all the nations of the earth will gather against Jerusalem.”
God will hold the nations accountable
Perhaps God is now hardening the hearts of the nations and their leaders to make them a laughingstock, as he did with the Egyptians, so that he may again set his signs among us, as our prophets foretold. This will allow us all to know that he is the Lord. In this way, the nations will be held accountable for everything they have done throughout history against the children of Israel, just as Pharaoh did.
Interestingly, there is a sculpture at the United Nations in New York depicting a man forging a sword into a plow. It refers to Isaiah 2:4
“He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
However, the nations continue to neglect to read the book of the prophet Isaiah, for example, chapter 11, verse 12:
“And he will set up a sign among the nations and will gather the exiles of Israel and gather the scattered people of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”
Therefore, we, as people who believe in the Bible, Jews and Gentiles alike, must continue to read the prophets so that we may find comfort, hope, and truth in them. This will enable us to be strong and to trust in God, even in these difficult times.
We know that in the future redemption, not a single Jew will remain in exile. As it is written, “The Lord your God will restore your fortunes” (Deuteronomy 30:3), and our great Rabbi Rashi comments, “With his hands he will indeed take every single person from their place, in the spirit of verse 2. And one by one you will be gathered, O children of Israel.” And since redemption is brought about through repentance, it is self-evident that redemption itself will affect “every single one”… “One by one,” so too will “every single one” repent… “one by one.”.
This article first appeared in our newspaper "Israelaktuell," issue 136. You can order the newspaper here . We would also be happy to send you several copies for distribution.
