HOW DID THIS CURRENT ANTISEMITISM HAPPEN?
Having spent my teen and adult years learning and working among a large Jewish population, and as a daily reader of the Old and New Testament, I'm naturally interested in Jews and their relation to gentiles. When I traveled to Germany with a Jewish friend in 1982, we stayed with an elderly couple who lost their son at the Russian front in WWII – his portrait hung in our bedroom. Despite their own grief, they kept apologizing to my friend about the Holocaust, saying they were unaware of what was happening to Jews. Whether or not that German couple was truly unaware, their guilt was still very strong. I don't want to feel the same shame if there is something that can be done to support our Jewish citizens.
I always recall what the Apostle Paul said about Jews, “What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew… Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God” (Romans 3:1–2) and "For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings” (Romans 15:27).
One way the Nazis promoted Jew hatred was to remove the Jewishness of the Bible: "Rejecting Christianity outright, the Nazis changed the Bible to fit their ends. First, Jesus was rebranded as Aryan...Nazi-era Bibles removed chunks of the Old Testament and edited the Gospels to eliminate references to Jesus’ Jewish heritage, his missional prioritisation of the Israelites, and his fulfilment of Hebrew scripture" (The Good Report).
I wonder if the Nazis also removed this comment made by Jesus: “...salvation is from the Jews.” (John 4:22).
Still, I wondered how on earth could German citizens get so brainwashed and violent against Jews in the 1930-40s. Now, however, ever since the Hamas torture and rape of Israel citizens on Oct. 7, 2023, I've seen it here, evidenced by the open celebrations at my apartment complex that very day. Regarding the resurgence of antisemitism, Mike Huckabee, U.S. Ambassador to Israel, explained it when he said, "Reckless and irresponsible reporting by major U.S. news outlets are contributing to the antisemitic climate that has resulted in the murder of two young people at an Israeli Embassy event in Washington ...Without verification of any source other than Hamas and its collaborators...[Hamas] continues to terrorize and intimidate..." (Media Misinformation on Gaza, 2025).
As a donor to Hillel (a Jewish campus organization), I recently read the following quote from a student in their newsletter: "Lately, some of my classmates and even my friends from public school posted nasty comments on social media about Jews and Israel. It made me so uncomfortable. It was a relief to...get involved with Hillel. Finally I was around people who accepted and supported me. I’ve been forming friendships with Jews of different backgrounds and learning a lot more about my heritage.” When I was a staff writer at Rockland Community College, I enjoyed participating in traditional Jewish celebrations with the students sponsored by Hillel.
For years, I've watched movies about the holocaust, always wondering if I would be brave enough to overcome fear of Nazis to do what was right. Some of my WWII heroes who worked to save Jews include Winston Churchill and a Holland Bible study leader, Corrie ten Boom.
Now, I think it's time to follow the lessons taught by WWII German pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who said, "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act" (documentary, Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Story of Courage and Faith).
Other than speaking to Jews and showing your support, you might also want to consider asking your legislator to support one the antisemitism bills listed below my signature.
Thanks
Lisa Saunders
Below is my letter of support to my New York legislators regarding the NY antisemitism bills. You are welcome to copy and paste any portion of it and send it to your own representatives. To find ALL of your elected officials, plug in your address here: https://www.commoncause.
NY LEGISLATORS: PLEASE SUPPORT THE ANTISEMTISM BILLS:
As a Christian, I listen in unbelief to the fear expressed by Jewish students. The day after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israeli citizens, I felt afraid of my neighbors as they shouted celebratory remarks at our apartment complex. One friend tells me she can no longer visit her grandchildren in their Jewish preschool because of strict security.
As a donor to Hillel (a Jewish campus organization), I received their newsletter and read the following from a student: "Lately, some of my classmates and even my friends from public school posted nasty comments on social media about Jews and Israel. It made me so uncomfortable. It was a relief to...get involved with Hillel. Finally I was around people who accepted and supported me. I’ve been forming friendships with Jews of different backgrounds and learning a lot more about my heritage.” When I was a staff writer at Rockland Community College, I enjoyed celebrating traditional Jewish holidays sponsored by Hillel.
When I traveled to Germany with a Jewish friend in 1982, we stayed with an elderly couple who lost their son at the Russian front in WWII–his portrait hung in our bedroom. Despite their own grief, they kept apologizing to my friend about the Holocaust, saying they were unaware of what was happening to Jews. Whether or not that German couple was truly unaware, their guilt was still very strong. I don't want to feel the same shame if there is something that can be done to support our Jewish citizens. Therefore, I ask that you sponsor/pass any of the following antisemitism bills:
- S.6842: “protections against antisemitism in the human rights law and the hate crimes statute” [Assemblymember sponsor needed!]
- S.7034A/A.2139: Enacts the "Honoring Our Pledge to Eliminate Antisemitism (HOPE) act
- S.531/A.3951: “Enacts the New York state antisemitism vandalism”
- S1752/A2376: “requires mandatory sensitivity training that includes the topic of antisemitism”
When I visited legislators in Albany on May 11, I learned that on May 5, 2026, the Senate Higher Education Committee “advanced legislation ...aimed at increasing accountability in addressing antisemitism on college campuses..." The sponsoring senator said, "'While I am encouraged that my bill, S.1752, was advanced ...the work is far from finished...it must come to the floor for a full vote so we can ensure our higher education institutions are held fully accountable. Our Jewish students deserve to feel safe and respected, and I will continue pushing until these protections are enacted'” (Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick).
Please do what you can to stop the rising open hatred of Jews. None of us wants to suffer guilt for remaining silent in these perilous times. (There is also a national Antisemitism bill still in committee: Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025 (S558/ HR1007).
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Lisa Saunders
ABOUT THE CURRENT NATINIONAL BILL
National: Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025 (S558/ HR1007). It is "To provide for the consideration of a definition of antisemitism set forth by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance for the enforcement of Federal antidiscrimination laws concerning education programs or activities, and for other purposes." To support this bill, click into it, and look to the right of the page where you will see "Give Feedback on This Bill." Click on Contact Your Member.
Israel and Bible end-time prophecies, such as:
“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’”(Matthew 24:3) Jesus said, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places...Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world…and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:7-14).
When Israel became a nation again on May 14, 1948, I believe it kicked off the end of the end times: “Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day?...For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children (Isaiah 66:8). "’I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them...they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,’ says the Lord your God" (Amos 9:14-15).
Yet, nations will continue to attack Israel: “It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” (Zechariah 12:3).
A Jewish podcaster about Israel shares why he believes current events indicate the end times: "NOW! Israel Is Ushering In The Messianic Era!!! (End Times Prophecy)" (J-TV: The Global Jewish Channel).
Ever since Oct 7th, I've felt like I'm living in conditions similar to Nazi Germany -- except now, instead of the propaganda proclaiming Jesus was not Jewish, but Aryan, a Times Square billboard recently advertised, "Jesus is a Palestinian" (Forward, Dec. 26, 2025).
More on Israel:
- UNDERNEATH the Real Location of the Second Temple, What We Found Is ASTONISHING (Yishai Fleisher).
- Son of Hamas Goes to Hebron (Yishai Fleisher).
- If interested in how Israel is featured in end time prophecies, I suggest watching, "Amir Tsarfati: What's Next for Israel?"
- If interested in Jesus and the Old Testament, I suggest "Amir Tsarfati: Jesus in the Old Testament" or reading the transcript.
- Whose Land Is It? Jewish Claims Explained (The 700 Club, CBN, 2023)
- The Israel-Hamas War: Frequently Asked Questions (The Washington Institute)
- "NOW! Israel Is Ushering In The Messianic Era!!! (End Times Prophecy)" (J-TV: The Global Jewish Channel).
- "The True Story of Hanukkah: The Secret History You Were Never Taught" (Holiday History).
NOTE:
Some friends have asked me how to get a law passed about their particular cause, so I created the PowerPoint, "How to Get a Law Passed – even if you're not thin and famous!" You are welcome to click through the slides in case you find it helpful.
