Rising Anti-Semitism in Europe

On 18 May 2014, I wrote in this space about rising anti-Semitism worldwide. Since then anti-Semitic incidents increased dramatically, mostly in Europe.

The latest attack on a synagogue in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, took place on Saturday 14 February 2014, the Jewish Shabbat.  A 37 year old community member, Dan Uzan was killed in cold blood while protecting the synagogue during a Shabbat service.

This incident moved the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu to propose to his cabinet to create a fund of 49 million dollar to assist in a mass aliyah (emigration) from Europe. He also warned that the situation will get worse and that Israel will welcome all Jews to come home to Israel.

Many Jews in France are either in the process of making aliyah or seriously thinking of making aliyah. The situation in Europe is deteriorating so fast that Jewish communities are organising their own protective units and many fear to go outside their homes. It reminds us of the time just before the Holocaust.

While reading and seeing these developments in the media, we also realise how amazingly accurate our Bible is in terms of the prophetic Word regarding Israel and how fast the pieces in the puzzle are coming together. One of many scriptures comes to mind:

“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will now bring Jacob back from captivity and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for My holy Name. They will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward Me when they lived in safety in their land with no one to make them afraid. When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will show Myself holy through them in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. I will no longer hide My face from them, for I will pour out My Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 39:25-29 (NIV).

I believe the events we are witnessing in Europe and other parts of the world, is a divine call upon Jews to go back to the land God promised to them. We need to pray that they heed to this call before the window of opportunity is closed.