Comments on: Palin’s Rapture

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By: Dean from Ohio

Dean from Ohio — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:54:12 +0000

It’s easy for talking heads like Jeffrey Goldberg to impugn the motives of Bible-believing Christians when times are good. It provides a convenient demon to write about and allows them to feel good about themselves, and sophisticated, and trendy I suppose too. But if things ever turn bad for the Jews, really bad, they will have no better friends and allies than Bible-believing Christians. The reason is simple. Bible believing (and obeying) Christians will risk death to protect Jews and care for them. In fact, Jesus himself says that in the last days, this one attitude, and the actions that flow from it, are more indicative of true faith in him than any other.
Read chapter 25 of the Gospel of Matthew. When Jesus uses the pastoral metaphor of separating sheep from goats, he is saying that those who care for Jews (“these brothers of mine”) at a time when doing so poses great risk to themselves will have shown themselves to be Jesus’ disciples, and will be rewarded for it. This will be true of individuals and nations.
So, let the Jeffrey Goldbergs of the world scoff and insult. Jesus said that his followers should expect this kind of thing (his words were “when they persecute you, and insult you, and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely, on account of me”). We’ll answer kindly and pray that one day they’ll understand.
In the meantime, have a great day, Jeffrey!

By: JoAnne S Mercer

JoAnne S Mercer — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:29:55 +0000

I find the comments made about Sarah Palin disturbing and so naive about her intentions for the future settelments of Israel. Sharing her beliefs as a Christian, we only want the very best for Israel and all Jewish people. Of course we don’t want this anti-semitic attitude that is fastly developing in the Political arena and society as a whole. One poster had it pegged right, the only problem the Jewish people have is with themselves. We are not just for Jews for Jesus, how ridiculas! Some of you ignorant posters have no idea about how literal we take the scriptures, “I will bless those that bless Israel”. Simple! Don’t make this complicated. Sarah Palin is not your enemy. Some common sense on your part would be much desired for your people which seems to be rare in some of this dialogue.

By: Fern Sidman

Fern Sidman — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:35:45 +0000

Kudos to Sarah Palin for having the courage of her convictions and for speaking forthrightly on the issue of Jewish settlements.

Anyone with a brain in their head knows that settlements are NOT the obstacle to peace in the Middle East but rather it is used as a smoke screen and a red herring. Anyone who has but a modicum of knowledge on the Middle East debacle knows that Israel is NOT an instransigent regime when it comes to pursuing genuine and long lasting peace in the region, but rather has made every effort over the last 60 years to live in peace with her avowed adversaries.

I think Sarah Palin’s statement to Barbara Walters was not predicated on her deep analysis of Jewish demographic trends or her belief in an eschatological premise but rather just a glance of the “facts on the ground” which clearly indicate that the growth and expansion of Israeli settlements are a necessity for natural population growth in the region.

Settler families are overwhelming religious and as such they have large families. Sometimes 8-12 children per family if not more. These children will grow up and get married and start having their own children and adequate housing and space is needed to accomodate them. They will seek to live close to their families of origin and should not be forced to move to an undesired location, which would be geographically unfavorable to them.

Secondly, most of the settlers hold deep religious convictions about their right to settle all of Israel, as they are Bible believing Jews and feel they have legal ownership over historic Israel. I think Gov Palin agrees with this belief. I also think she feels that the Arabs have 22 countries in the Middle East in which to live and the Jews have one tiny strip of land, no bigger than the size of New Jersey and that these Jews should be allowed to settle in territories that the world has labeled “disputed”.

Just remember that the “West Bank” was in Jordanian hands from 1948-1967, when the Arab world converge on Israel in a military conflagration. When Israel stunned the world by emerging victorious in the ’67 war, they liberated Jerusalen and the territories known as Judea and Samaria. As such, they did not conquer the land but claimed it in a legal military victory. They did not purge the Palestinians from their homes; they left voluntarily. The only mistake Israel made subsequent to this war is that they did not offically proclaim an annexastion of the terrritories and that has remained a proverbial thorn in their side ever since.

I think Gov Palin is acutely aware of this and she should be lauded and embraced by the global Jewish community and Israel.

By: Carl Fleming

Carl Fleming — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:06:53 +0000

Dont worry about Palin. She doenst want to kill you. She wants to convert you and cant do that if you are dead. In this world the Palins are the least of your worries. Worry about left wing Europeons who are always ready to throw Jews off the side of the boat. The Palins and Hatch’s of this world view Israel as a special place and the Jews as the children of God. So worry about something else.

By: HBB

HBB — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:51:07 +0000

If someone could explain to me how Sarah’s Palin’s support of settlements turned into a discussion of her as a Christian fundamentalist whose political beliefs are motivated by her belief in a radical, end of days theory I would appreciate it? Anyone who doesn’t see the absurdity of this discussion is kidding themselves. If anything this conversation proves two things.
1. Sarah Palin bases her thoughts on settlements and settlement growth on something most liberals ignore- facts.
2. Liberal critics of Palin are absurd and have truly begun scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Israel has a population growth rate twice that of the U.S.. Immigrants make up over 30% of Israel’s population. Palin’s observation of more and more Jews “flocking” to Israel is a demographic reality and not part of religious fanaticism. Whatever Palin’s thoughts about Jews and her alleged anti-semitism, her comments about settlements reflect a simple truism- Israel needs more housing to support its growing population. Period.

Liberal critics of Sarah Palin have reached near rock-bottom. I am careful to say near rock-bottom because you never really know with the liberals. This is absurd. Palin has made an observant, salient comment about one of the world’s thorniest modern issues and now she’s a religious fundamentalist? We really need to get over this. Not everything Sarah Palin says is crazy and not everything liberals throw at her can stick.

By: kenneth ellman

kenneth ellman — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:36:34 +0000

I find some of the comments here very funny and also disturbing.
Jews are always finding ways to take a friendly statement by a non-jew and
figure out a way to devour it. You know the fact that many Christians believe in Jesus (ah surprise) and so also believe that the Jews are wrong in rejecting Christianity, is a good thing. It means that those Christians do in fact believe in the Christian faith and hopefully take it seriously. The fact that some Christians support Jews for Jesus, so what! Most of those same Christians believe that Israel is part of the plan of G-D and that the United States should be a friend of Israel. They believe this because they believe in what Christians call the Old Testament.
SO why should any Jew turn away from non-jews who support the right of the Jewish people to have their own country and to live in safety and peace in the middle east and elsewhere? Perhaps some of my fellow MOT think we have so many friends in the world that we do not need those Christians who truly believe in Israel more than some of my fellow Jews. You can reject Christianity and
belittle it all you want. Educated Jews have nothing to fear from Christian proselytizing . And if there are uneducated Jews it is certainly NOT the fault of the Christians. The reason some Jews succumb to Christianity is not because of Christians chasing them. NO. It is because of a lack of Jewish education and community that unfortunately has left out some of our fellow Jews. If you look at the wonderful work of Chabad, Artscroll and others in showing non-observant Jews their own rich and proud history and knowledge, and the vast literature of Judaism, it really says it all. The greatest enemy of the Jewish people is our own failure to fully educate MOT. We should not fear Christian support for the Jewish people and Israel. Jews are a small people in this world. We should not be so insecure with ourselves that we fear the New Testament. Educated Jews have nothing to fear from Christians today who support Israel and the Jewish people.
The biggest problems the Jewish people have, in the world today, is themselves.
While Judaism is truly one religion with one vast library of ideas in the Torah and Talmud, etc., it does require one very important thing of Jews. It requires that they learn what ever they can and seek out Judaism and Yiddishkeit. It is very easy to access, you just have to want it.
I am not going to argue whether Sara Palin was a good Governor of Alaska, since I really have not studied the subject. I assume she was no better or worse than many previous Governors there.
Nor will I agree that Palin is any more deceiving than most other politicians I have met.
Straightforward politicians do exist but they are almost a contradiction in terms.
So if someone is trying to say that Sara Palin behaves similarly to most other political figure I have no problem with that. But if you are trying to say that the Jews do not need non-Jewish public figures to support Israel, I strongly disagree with that and tell you that you are a little meshuggener
And that goes for Senator Hatch also, who I do believe is a friend of the Jewish people. His Mormon friends can pray for our dead all they want. It does not bother me, any more that it should bother Christians when I say pray for my deceased Christian friends. I would rather have Christians praying for our dead than desecrating our cemeteries. You know what bothers me? When I see my Christian friends who take their own religion seriously speak to my Jewish friends who know less about Judaism that some Christians do.
Kenneth Ellman, Newton, New Jersey, ke@kennethellman.com

By: FlaGuy954

FlaGuy954 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:52:19 +0000

Just remember the old adage: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

By: Anne Lark

Anne Lark — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:34:46 +0000

Jewish values? Are we agreed about Jewish values?
One might think that Jewish values are derived from a belief in the truth of Tanakh. And for some Jews they are. One might think that Christian values are derived from a belief in the truth of New Testament. And for some they are. However those who call themselves “mainstream Christians” or “normative Jews” tend to be pretty far removed from anything resembling their supposed Scriptural roots, and amazingly close to each other in actual beliefs and actions. All that is left of traditionally held beliefs and values is antagonism toward each other, and support for the enemies of faith. How odd that descendants of the faiths that were the founding bases of Western Civilization in general, and the United States in particular, are tumbling headlong over each other to support people who are the antithesis of historical Biblical faith and values. Value of life gives way to support for the murder of innocents. Value of dignity for the poor becomes support for the most demeaning forms of government entitlements. Value of individual freedom gives way to the most cruel of religious and governmental tyranny. Value of honor, honesty, and integrity gives way to mammonism and hedonism. Value of true service gives way to arrogant bureaucratic directives. Value of Lashon Hatov gives way to the most bitter calumny. Value of courage gives way to cowering appeasement. Value of self worth as the creation of the Most High, in his own image, gives way to self doubt and self hatred. The mission of the Jewish people is to send forth the Word from Jerusalem, and instead, “normative” Jews recoil from belief, and from the only true work given for the Jewish people, the work emblazoned in their name: the duty to praise the Almighty, and in so doing, to speak out His Word of Truth, to be a light and a blessing to the nations.
“Normative” Jews are careful not to offend those who are committed to wiping Jews and Israel from the face of the earth, but will heap insults on any who dare to try to reach out and befriend them.
Palestinians who danced in the streets at the murder of 3000 non-combatants become their darlings, and hardworking farmers, fulfilling a Biblical directive to settle and reclaim a desert land are reviled. “Normative” Jews support an administration that refuses to recognize Israel’s sovereignty, an administration that decries new settlers establishing new homes and businesses for their families on land that they have purchased. Olim and settlers are displaced from homes they have built from the dirt up, their farms, factories, and synagogues destroyed by those who had profited from the kindness of their equally poor, but diligent and virtuous neighbors.
I assume that I disagree with some of Orrin Hatch’s beliefs and actions, but I greatly appreciate his kind and good-natured gesture of good will toward those who celebrate Chanukah, a feast of dedication of and to the Holy Temple, and a dedication to the Almighty himself.

By: David in Alaska

David in Alaska — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:37:19 +0000

The author has been seduced.
As an early supporter of Palin’s gubernatorial candidacy in Alaska and being connected in the early days of her administration (I have no axe to grind, just truth to tell) I witnessed the devious and dubious qualities of this woman.
She is but a snake charmer and she is very, very accomplished.
People do not want to believe their own eyes and ears once she lays the spell on.
I defended her for over a year in spite of the accumulating evidence.
Her key group of staff have shown themselves as power hungry and without scruples. Those adherents/sycophants are burning with ambition but their direction points off the cliff and if Jewish people believe in Sarah Palin as a friend, well all I can say is get ready for the new Dark Ages.
Research her real record and background, it is a monster of ignorance on the world if she ever gets any more power than she has now because it is using the imaginations of others (myself included) that has propelled and sustained her very unlikely and improbable presence on the world stage.
It’s the Face, stupid! Not the economy, not the simplistic solutions and pronouncements.
Look deeply or be the Fools asking for more trouble than you can contain.
Check out the Dominionist Movement.
A simple choice to use the brains you have rather than follow a “feel good” path to repression and fundamentalism.
Your choice at your own peril.
Here in Alaska those of us who escaped her petty wrath have watched many thrown under the bus. In fact there is now a bumpersticker of pride seen frequently.
I beg of you, do not let our (Alaska’s) folly loose on yourselves.
It will be evermore your regret.

By: Kara Rabinowitz

Kara Rabinowitz — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:26:06 +0000

I’m also an Alaskan Jew, and I agree with Gina – especially about Palin being fake. She is a vapid, self-promoting, anti-semite, who cannot be trusted. Her lies are obvious to all but the simplest Alaskans to whom she panders, but those of us with eyes to see and minds to sort through the real from the imaginary can attest to the fact that Palin has nothing but her own interests in mind. She shares nothing with us. I’ve no doubt but that she believes in “the rapture” – I have every doubt that she is a true friend to Israel.

By: Gina-Anchorage, Alaska

Gina-Anchorage, Alaska — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:58:00 +0000

Palin is NOT for jews, nor is she for Israel. In fact the church she attends in Alaska, which is where I also live, is very-very anti-israel, very anti-jews. She and her church support the jews for jesus. Meanwhile she has spent years letting all us jews know that we are inferior and wrong. When our rabbi, Greenberg attempted to address the church in response to the jews for jesus, he was told ”it is n not necessary”.. ALL of her “NOW” support for jews and Israel is fake!!!!!!!! big time fake!!!!! She has been very vocal on such issues,but now all of a sudden she has her eye on D.C she is all about kissing up to us. IT IS WAY TO LATE. ALASKAN JEWS KNOW HER TRUE “”VALUES”" or lack there of.

By: Jennifer Krieger

Jennifer Krieger — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:52:53 +0000

I’m not intellectual but I am liberal and I don’t believe in God. I do believe Sarah Palin is charmed in the way Reagan way, and I don’t like or trust either of them or their politics.
I am a secular lapsed Christian, married to a secular Jew, grew up with fundamentalist Christians. Unfortunately, nice as religious people are, unless they are learned they are not capable of governing.
Why can’t a PhD spell or punctuate?

By: Raymond

Raymond — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:46:28 +0000

Cool down Jon. You are out of place. Are you one of those intellectual liberal idiots like Maher that does not believe in the existing of God?? If so, how come you exist on this world?? If you just believe in the evolution of man, then how come evolution exist if there is no powerful being that started such evolution. The lefts like Karl Marx and Lennin always said the end justifies the means and the means justify the end; however these crazy left wing nuts do not believe in the existence of God. Deep in their minds and hearts, they do believe, but they are just being idiotical hypocrites like YOU!!! I am PHD with majors in nuclear engineering and do not force me your idiotic principles. Go and preach the leftwing street boys, at least, these parasites of the federal tax budget can listen to you!!

By: marc

marc — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:57:52 +0000

Is Patrick trying to paint a pretty face on American evangelicals or has he really never listened to Pat Robertson or a host of other evangelicals who absolutely promote an agenda to move the world towards a biblical end days scenario. There are in fact many Christians who pray for a hurried return of Jesus and all that goes with it. I do not know if Palin is a “True Believer”, but she certainly goes out of her way to make these people feel as if she is one of them.

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:52:15 +0000

You guys who believe in the end days are evil freaks. You think the world is going to end because the BIBLE SAYS SO, or so you claim, without any proof, or even any discussion as to whether it’s right or wrong.

I’ll give you this- you may be able to start WW3- but Jesus will NOT swoop in and save you- you’re gonna be ON YOUR OWN.

Religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, are evil. The are the problem, not the solution.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:38:30 +0000

“However, a belief in the Rapture as an historic event toward which history is rapidly moving, is a belief with potentially catastrophic political implications. Do the American people want a believer in such a fantasy to hold in her hands the nuclear power to destroy civilization?”

This is quite simply a piece of petulant schoolchild logic, and blatant stereotyping. I appreciate Seth’s pragmatic take one it.

Any evangelical Christian with a modicum of savvy for their scriptures knows that accepting what may happen from prophecy, and trying to facilitate it are two completely divorced things.

Lawrence, Goldberg et al clearly think they know about Christian belief when they actually don’t. That makes them twice as ignorant as they otherwise could be. They certainly know nothing about Christians.

Some of the weightier supernatural overtones in Christian theology (Rapture, events leading to it, etc) might seem a little spooky to these commentators but quite frankly that’s their problem. No mainstream Christian group is out there trying to rustle it all up. There might be predictions of war in the OT/NT but Christians don’t go around praying that one happens.

Judeo-Christian prophetic writing implies future global governance at some point (which, examining current machinations, is highly plausible). But I for one will be acting and praying against such a thing as I believe it is my utmost duty!

That these academics would imply anything other of Christians is the spookiest thing of all.

Mike @9.28, believes in a re gathering of Israel because it’s what G-d says, not what people say. This is the healthiest way to think.

By: apodoca

apodoca — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:18:24 +0000

We Christians are not Muslims. Nothing we do can bring about the Second Coming of Christ. He will come when He will come, and nobody knows the time or the hour of His coming. That is likely Sarah Palin’s position. This rapture? God does what God does, and let’s leave it at that. Palin’s ideas on Israel might be sourced similarly to mine: I look around the world and see, even in America, an ascendant anti-Semitism. Look at the Democrats, for goodness sake!!! Where will Jews go but Israel if the global trends increase? Where will Jews flee but to God?

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:28:27 +0000

Jews shouldn’t be worried about the Christians think regarding Israel.

They should be worried about what G-d thinks of them as individuals.

The long term growth of Israel and the eventually coming of Moshiach will unfold just as it says in Tanach and Talmud and as commented on by our Sages.

Jews should emigrate to Israel because they are Jews and not because of some Christian ideology.

For a Jewish Israel support Moshe Feiglin

By: Leigh

Leigh — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:10:39 +0000

A few years back, a photograph was taken of Sarah’s governor’s office…in the background, in the window, was the flag of Israel. During the campaign, the picture surfaced, and, for some bizarre reason, it briefly became an “issue”…not too long after that, the internet began to buzz with the “secret” that Sarah’s maternal great-grandparents were Jews from eastern Europe (she does look Jewish, they would say), and so on and so on…Sarah and her relationship with Israel took on, like most things Palin-related, a life of its own.

And this “Rapture” issue and Israel appears to be a continuation of the brou-ha-ha from the campaign.

It is clearly stated in the New Testament of the Bible, though, that those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed. Conservative Christians accept that biblical decree with their whole heart and soul, and I expect that is the foundation of Sarah’s bold pro-Israel position.

By the way, thank you for writing an article about Sarah that does not demean, degrade or ridicule her.