DW: Is the only safe Jew in Germany an invisible one?

Jewish males wearing yarmulkes (David Berkowitz)

There is concern that Germany is becoming more and more intolerant of Jews:

Opinion: Is the only safe Jew in Germany an invisible one?

30 May 2019

What an admission of failure! What a declaration of bankruptcy! And what an abominable reasoning when the anti-Semitism commissioner of the Federal Republic of Germany says: “I cannot advise Jews to wear the kippa everywhere all the time in Germany.”

Following this sentence to its logical conclusion, it means that if the propensity to violence against Jews in Germany — sowing hatred or actual physical attacks — is now so great that Jews can no longer wear their kippa, or yarmulke, safely, they should just take it off.

The correct response would have been: We will fight hatred and all those who hate in our country until Jews never have to remove their yarmulke in public!

Does anyone advise Christians to hide their crucifixes?

According to Article 4 of Germany’s Basic Law, this country guarantees freedom of religion: All faiths should be able to express their religion in public freely. Nobody in Germany would ever dream of advising Christians to no longer hang up a crucifix.

And therefore it is all the more astonishing — but also all the more revealing — when Jews are advised not to wear their yarmulke anymore.

The next step would then be to hide the Star of David worn around the neck — essentially conceal all external symbols that identify a Jew. In the future, should I really advise my children to only live their Jewish identity internally and hide it in public?

If you follow Felix Klein’s advice to the letter, then living visibly as a Jew is no longer safe in Germany. Being invisible is more secure. https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-is-the-only-safe-jew-in-germany-an-invisible-one/a-48971953

Yes, it is getting less and less safe, not just in Germany, but in many other parts of Europe for Jews.

Before going further, however, lets consider that the wearing of a yarmulke is not scriptural.

Here is what a Jewish source reports about them:

Yarmulke

Cover your head so that the fear of heaven may be upon you. -Talmud Shabbat 156b
R. Huna son of R. Joshua would not walk four cubits bareheaded, saying: The Shechinah [Divine Presence] is above my head. -Talmud Kiddushin 31a
R. Huna son of R. Joshua said: May I be rewarded for never walking four cubits bareheaded. -Talmud Shabbat 118b

The most commonly known and recognized piece of Jewish garb is actually the one with the least religious significance. The word yarmulke (usually, but not really correctly, pronounced yammica) is Yiddish. According to Leo Rosten’s The Joys of Yiddish, it comes from a Tartar word meaning skullcap. According to some Orthodox and Chasidic rabbis I know, it comes from the Aramaic words “yerai malka” (fear of or respect for The King). …

Whatever the reason given, however, covering the head has always been regarded more as a custom rather than a commandment. Although it is a common pious practice to cover the head at all times, it is not religiously mandatory. … the similar skullcap worn by the Pope. (Signs and Symbols. Judaism 101. http://www.jewfaq.org/signs.htm viewed 09/08/14)

So, Jews recognize that yarmulkes are NOT biblical, but come from Talmudic traditions and that they are similar to what the Roman Catholic pontifex maximus wears. Yarmulkes, depending upon their color, can give the impression of a look for religious leaders that the Bible prohibits (cf. Leviticus 21:1,5).

Early church leaders did not look like Jewish rabbis nor did they dress like the Anglican/Roman/Eastern Orthodox Catholic clergies nor Messianic Jews now dress. Early Christians basically dressed like regular people (see also Were the Early Duties of Elders/Pastors Mainly Sacramental? What was there Dress?).

Furthermore, the New Testament teaches that Christian males are not to have their heads covered when the pray:

4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. . . 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. (1 Corinthians 11:4,7)

Many Catholic bishops and Messianic Jews do pray with their heads covered.

Let me also add that early Christians most certainly did NOT wear crucifixes (see also What is the Origin of the Cross as a ‘Christian’ Symbol?).

That being said, the sad reality is that many people around the world harbor antisemitic feelings.

As I have written for years, it would not surprise me to see the percentage of those who hate Jews rise. And we continue to see antisemitism rising.

Many people hate others, and the Jews tend to be of the more hated groups. But that is not how people are to live.

Notice something that God had Moses record:

8 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:18)

But it is not just Jews that are hated or will be in the future. Throughout history, true Christians have sometimes been called “Jews” and have been subject to persecution supposedly directed towards Jews. True Christians also had to suffer through the so-called Spanish Inquisition, which utilized torture against those that had Church of God beliefs–and more is expected in the future (see Persecutions by Church and State). Protestant (see The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong) and Eastern Orthodox (see John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople and Antisemite) leaders have also promoted antisemitism and Church of God persecution.

Thus, it is not just physical Jews that are at risk–spiritual ones are as well (cf. Romans 2:28-29; John 15:20).

Anyway, despite laws that supposedly protect religious freedom, things will change in Europe and people will be forced to wear a mark in order to buy or sell (Revelation 13:16-18). Worship of the ‘beast’ will be pressed under the penalty of death and persecution (cf. Revelation 13).

It will NOT just be those of the Jewish faiths that will be impacted by this.

People should not be antisemitic. People should not hate others.

Sadly, we will see persecution greatly increase before Jesus returns–and much of it will be against real Christians (cf. Daniel 7:25; see also Persecutions by Church and State).

Some items of related interest may include:

Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There is also a YouTube video sermon you can watch: The Coming Persecution of the Church.
The Spanish Inquisition and Early Protestant Persecutions Was the Church of Rome really responsible for this? What happened? A video of related interest is titled: The Past and Future Inquisition.
God’s Grace is For All Is being Jewish a hindrance to salvation? What about not being a descendant of Israel? What does the Bible really teach? Here is a link to a related sermon titled Race and Grace; Do you view race as God does?
John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople and Antisemite This late fourth/early fifth century Bishop of Constantinople is considered to be a ‘saint’ and ‘doctor’ by the Church of Rome, Church of England, and the Eastern Orthodox, but he did not teach Christ’s love.
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the COG views this, and compares this to Ellen White. Here is a link to a prophetic video Six Financial Steps Leading to 666?
The Mark of Antichrist What is the mark of Antichrist? What have various ones claimed? Here is a link to a related sermon What is the ‘Mark of Antichrist’?
Mark of the Beast What is the mark of the Beast? Who is the Beast? What have various ones claimed the mark is? What is the ‘Mark of the Beast’?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the genuine Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example? Here is a related sermon video: Martin Luther and Herbert Armstrong: Reformers with Differences.
Messianic Judaism Beliefs Differ from the Continuing Church of God Both groups keep the seventh-day Sabbath, but have important differences in doctrines and practices. Here is a link to a related sermon: Messianic Jewish Beliefs.
What was the Liturgy of the Early Church? Were early church services mainly scriptural, emotional, or sacramental? Who follows the basic original liturgy today? A related video is also available: What were early Christian church services like?
Veils and Other Head Coverings Do women need to wear veils or similar coverings while praying or attending church services? What does the Bible teach about hair length? What about going around bald? Here are some scriptures on that subject.
Was Celibacy Required for Early Bishops or Presbyters? Some religions suggest this, but what does the Bible teach? What was the practice of the early church?
Did the Early Christian Church Practice Monasticism? Does God expect or endorse living in a monastery or nunnery?
Were the Early Duties of Elders/Pastors Mainly Sacramental? What was their Dress? Were the duties of the clergy primarily pastoral or sacramental? Did the clergy dress with special liturgical vestments? Can “bishops” be disqualified as ministers of Christ based on their head coverings?
What is the Origin of the Cross as a ‘Christian’ Symbol? Was the cross used as a venerated symbol by the early Church? Two related YouTube videos would be Beware of the ‘Ecumenical Cross’, The Chrislam Cross and the Interfaith Movement, and Origin of the Cross.