Presentation of Menahem Macinas e-books

Translation: milie Pcheul

1. Chrtiens et juifs depuis Vatican II - tat des lieux
historique et tholoique. Prospecti!e eschatoloique
By Menahem R. Macina
After centuries of the Teaching of Contempt and attempts to capture the
ecclesial promises of the prophets - considered fulfilled by Christ and now
ested in Christendom !Replacement theory" - a more positie attitude towards
#ews rose in Christendom. $hen the %econd &atican Council opened' in ()*+'
nobody e,pected the dramatic change that would occur under the leadership of
Cardinal Bea' assigned by the -ood .ope #ohn to deelop a schema on the
#ews. This pro/ect unleashed such hostility from conseratie prelates that it
also aroused a reerse reaction among the Council 0athers1 a positie change in
the Christian attitude toward the #ewish people.
$e read in chapter 2 of the 3eclaration Nostra Aetate that -od holds the #ews
most dear for the sa4e of their 0athers5 6e does not repent of the gifts 6e
ma4es and that the Council wants to foster and recommend that mutual
understanding and respect which is the fruit' aboe all' of biblical and
theological studies as well as of fraternal dialogues. And again1 the #ews
should not be presented as re/ected or accursed by -od' as if this followed from
the 6oly %criptures.
7er the following decades' the seeds sown at the Council bore une,pected
fruit. This is obious when .ope #ohn .aul 88' in a speech addressed to the
leaders of the #ewish communities in -ermany' !(9
th
of :oember ();<" states1
the people of -od of the 7ld Coenant neer reo4ed by -od. This would
hae been unthin4able before.
This boo4 retraces the steps of the long march towards the recognition of -od=s
plan for the #ews and the Christians' in which 8 see a typological aatar of the
two families chosen by -od' of which #eremiah !>>1+2" spea4s. 8t leads the
Christian reader into a spiritual reading of the %criptures' whose many passages
reeal their respectie prophetic ocation and the unity to which the Church
and 8srael are called. 8nter alia' the tale of the two stic4s of wood in ?@e4iel
!>91(9" A #oin them together into one stic4 so that they will become one in
your hand - or when .aul e,presses the same ideal in a theological formula
!?ph +1(2"1 0or 6e is our peace' 6e who made both one...
The boo4 ends with the statement of the global challenge the #ewish state is
confronted with' and the stumbling bloc4 it is for many Christians. The author
fears that the false prophets of anti-Bionism' who accuse 8srael of neo-
colonialism and apartheid' stir up hatred against the people' and might be
found opposing -od !cf. Acts C1>)"' ignoring 6is plans. This might pae the way
for the rise of hostile nations' announced' inter alia' by the prophets #oel
!21( ff."' Micah !21; ff."' and Bacharias !(+1>"' and in .salm +.
0irst published1 Chrtiens et juifs depuis Vatican II . tat des lieux historique et
thologique. Prospective eschatologique' Dditions 3octeur AngEliFue' 3ecember +<<)'
>9+ pages !.ostface par le .rof. Ges Chealier' 3irecteur de la reue Sens 5
.rEsentation de l=ourage on the AmitiE #udEo-ChrEtienne de 0rance=s website5
recensions by four e,perts1 #ean 3uhaime' online on the (st of #anuary +<(<' Michel
Remaud' AmitiE #udEo-ChrEtienne de 0rance=s website5 R... 3. Cerbelaud' in ulletin
d!tudes "uives et "udo#Chrtiennes$ %evue des Sciences Philosophiques et
&hologiques !R%.T"' Tome )* !+<(+" p. (<9-(>+' .rof. Ges Chealier pour la reue
Sens' +<(<' .aris' nH >C(' p. C*>-C*C !in 0rench".
e#pu'$ Editions Tsofim' Iimoges' +<(>.
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". #i les chrtiens s$enorueillissent. % propos de la mise
en arde de l$ap&tre Paul '(m 11) "*+
By Menahem R. Macina
The first two parts of this boo4 are an anthology of the horrors and of the
conseFuences of the multisecular doctrinal and religious conflict opposing both
confessions' clinched to each other in their mutual rialry.
?ntitled Gour brethren that hate you...' the first .art illustrates this mindset
with many e,tracts from anti-#ewish Christian te,ts' from the origins to the
mid-twentieth century. These e,tracts can be found in many religious education
manuals from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries' and in an anthology of
statements from popes' bishops' and the Catholic press' between (;9< and
()>;.
?ntitled Another ision1 The Church rediscoers the #ewish people' the
second .art retraces and analy@es the gradual discoery by Christians' between
()+< and ()C<' of the pre/udicial nature of their attitude toward the #ewish
people. This e,amination of conscience gae rise to informal meetings and
informal attempts to build positie relationships between Christians and #ews'
but stumbled on the formula outside the Church there is no salation.
8n the third .art' entitled Resistance to apostasy' the reader will discoer
that' far from being a negatie rant' this boo4 aims to show that through delays
and human resistance' the %pirit of -od irreocably accomplishes 6is design to
sae all man4ind' through the reconstitution of the people haing reached its
messianic completeness and through the merging' within 6is people' of the
Christian nations haing crossed faithfully the ultimate trial.
The author wishes1
A That Christian readers may discoer' in the biblical narratie of the cleaing
between the Jingdom of 8srael and the Jingdom of #udah' !( Jings (+"' a
prefiguration of the schism between the Church and #udaism.
A That' enlightened by the #ewish and Christian %criptures' they may understand
that the reunion of the sons of #udah and the sons of 8srael !6os. +1+"
propheti@es the reunion of Christians and #ews to create the 8srael of -od !-a
*1(*".
A That they immerse themseles within scriptural typology' asserting that both
wooden stic4s !#oseph and #udah" are reunited to ma4e one !?@ >91()"' and
that' KChristL has made us both one !?p +1(2"' and both hae access to the
0ather by one %pirit !. (;".
A That' supported by the rabbinic tradition' they beliee that M All 8srael
participates to the world to come N !Michna Sanhedrin (<' ("' and with .aul'
that All 8srael will be saed !Rm ((1+*".
0inally' the author wishes to heighten the Christians= awareness on the
trinitarian typology of the unity between #ews and Christians' that Christ ma4es
one as K6isL 0ather and 6imself are one !#n (91++"' without any modification
of the eternal design of the Creator' ontologically A first to the #ew' then to
the -entile. !Rm (1(*" A' and soteriologically A %alation is from the #ews !#n
21++".
0irst publication1 (es )r*res retrouvs. +e l!hostilit chrtienne , l!gard des juifs ,
la reconnaissance de la vocation d!Isra-l$ Dditions de l=Oure' .aris' March +<(('
>(9 pages5 Recension by prof. G. Chealier' in Sens $ nH >*+ A *>
Pme
annEe A septembre-
octobre +<((' .aris. Recension by prof. #ean 3uhaime' on the #ewish-Christian
RelationsQs website 5 and by R... 3. Cerbelaud' in Bulletin d=Dtudes #uies et #udEo-
ChrEtiennes de la Reue des %ciences .hilosophiFues et ThEologiFues !R%.T".
+
nd
publication' for.at e#pu' !e-boo4"' under the title #i les Chrtiens
s$enorueillissent. % propos de la mise en arde de l$ap&tre Paul '(m 11)
"*+, Editions Tsofim' Iimoges' +<(>. Recension by .rof. Ges Chealier' The RMystery
of 8sraelR and the Read/ustment of Christian Theology According to Menahem Macina '
published in 0rench in Sens' Reue de l=AmitiE #udEo-ChrEtienne' nH >;9' .aris' mars
+<(2' p. ++*-++9.
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,. Confession d$un fol en -ieu
By Menahem R. Macina
6istory in general and Church history in particular hae e,tensiely documented
the disorders caused' oer the centuries' by the so-called prophetic announces
of the impending end of times' stated by persuaded-to-be-instructed-by--od
preachers' to warn humanity and call it to repentance. These facts - which
often had serious religious and social conseFuences - proe that feror and
sincerity do not presere from error those who thin4 they hae this mission' or
listeners who gie faith to such announces.
6oweer' .aul' who was faced with and resisted to a premature eschatological
agitation' has not drawn the conclusion that the eents reported' incorrectly'
as imminent' would neer occur. 8nstead' he has confirmed the completion and
detailed the circumstances of these eents. And if he did not say what would be
appropriate to do in such circumstances' he has neertheless gien general
instructions that should not be oerloo4ed. 0irst of all' to eeryone1 stand firm
and hold to the traditions which you were taught' whether by word of mouth or
by letter from us. !+ Th +1(C"5 then' to Timothy1 4eep the deposit entrusted
to you !( Tm *1+<".
7ther passages from the :T gie clear instructions to belieers who are
preparing now for eschatological eents. 0our essential irtues reFuired in order
to not apostati@e or follow the Antichrist' are mentioned1 firmness' igilance'
patience' constancy. Christ himself duly warned 6is disciples to be igilant and
not to be surprised by the suddenness of the coming 3ay of the Iord. :ote also
the repetition in seeral passages of the :T !Mt +212+-225 ( Th C12-;5 + . >1(<-
(+5 Re >1>5 (*1(C"' of the iid metaphor of the thief' announcing the
sudden and unpredictable nature of the coming of the 3ay of Iord.
These Fuotes are a aluable anthology of :ew Testament te,ts on final eents
that will precede the final coming of Christ' and irtues which belieers must
show at all times in order not to get drawn into apostasy or follow the Antichrist
when the short' but terrible period of his eil reign comes. The Apostle warned
us1 0or the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching' but
haing itching ears they will accumulate for themseles teachers to suit their
own passions' and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into
myths. !+ Tm 21>-2".
The author inites belieers to enter' through meditation and prayer' in
communion with the numerous faithful who thin4 wrongly that they are alone'
li4e ?li/ah !cf. Rm ((1> ff." amidst a world increasingly torn apart from -od and
a dormant Christianity' The promise is for you and your children and for all
who are far off A for all whom the Iord our -od will call. !Ac +' >)".
0irst publication 1 Dditions 3octeur AngEliFue' 3ecember +<(+' (2+ p. !8%B: )9;-+-
)(;><>-<;-2"5 prEsentation sur le site de l=Editeur.
+
nd
publication' e#pu'$ !eboo4"' Editions Tsofim' Iimoges' +<(>. Recension by .rof.
Ges Chealier' The RMystery of 8sraelR and the Read/ustment of Christian Theology
According to Menahem Macina' published in 0rench in Sens' Reue de l=AmitiE #udEo-
ChrEtienne' nH >;9' mars +<(2' p. ++>-++2.
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.. /$apoloie qui nuit 0 l$lise - (!isions haioraphiques
de l$attitude de Pie 1II en!ers les juifs. %uii des
contributions des professeurs Michael R. Marrus et Martin
Rhonheimer.
By Menahem R. Macina
8n recent decades' many Catholic writers hae tried to /ustify the attitude of
the religious hierarchy against #ews oer the centuries' especially the attitude
at the time of the 6olocaust. The self-/ustification of the Church today is' in
the eyes of the author' aggraating circumstances. Among other te,ts' he
discusses the militant position of .ope Benedict S&8 supporting his distant
predecessor' in a homily dated 7ct. )' +<<;' for the C<th anniersary of the
death of .ius S88. 6e ino4ed the radio message of Christmas !3ecember ()2+"'
in which the wartime pontiff lamented the situation of Rhundreds of thousands
of people who' through no fault of their own' but only for reasons of nationality
or race' are destined to death or to a slow decline.R
The author beliees that this long and bitter controersy is largely responsible
for the e,acerbation of replicas of the defenders of the ecclesial institution and
its hierarchy' whose e,cessie apologetics often causes as much damage to the
cause of the Church as the strident and sometimes unfair charges of its
detractors. The author analyses a few cases' some of which may irritate or
offend' he warns' those who would li4e eerything to go for the best in the best
of religious worlds. The latter' to discredit any challenge' een sincere and
documented' of the ecclesiastical institution and its prelates' accuse their
authors to harm the Christian religion.
6e says his approach is in line with a nineteenth century .ope' writing1 The
historian of the Church will be all the more conincing to bring out 8ts diine
origin K...L that he has been more loyal to not hide anything of the trials caused
by 8ts children' and sometimes een 8ts ministers' to the bride of Christ in the
course of centuries K...L. 6e wants Christians' their dignitaries and their
pastors' to enter a process of penance and repentance' sincere and complete.
According to him' long centuries of e,cessie e,altation of the holiness of the
Church and its ministers helped forge the myth that theology has the potential
to shatter without undermining the dignity of the Church.
To do this' says the author' rather than honor' or grant awards to enthusiastic
apologists and hae little regard for the choice of eidence they bombard
their opponents with' the Church would benefit to stress and update the call to
penance present throughout the %criptures. The Church would also benefit' with
the faithful' to undergo a conersion of heart and to recogni@e publicly what
was wrong in the attitude of Christianity. This' according to him' is the only
way to touch the heart of -od and of our contemporaries.
(st publication' conentional format' May +<(+' Cerf' >(; pages T anne,es.
.resentation on the editor=s website. Recension by MichaUl de %aint-Cheron 1 M Vuand
l= D glise se taisait N. M I= D glise catholiFue face au gEnocide N' recension by Marc Riglet'
in (I%/#(!/xpress' #ulyWAugust +<(+. Recension by 0rEdEric Ie Moal' IelittEraire.com.
Reiew by 0ranXois %oulage' published in &.oignage Chrtien nH >C<2' 9 of
%eptember' +<(+ 1 M Dglise et %hoah 1 aprPs la shoah' le temps des historiens N' on the
web site www.temoignagechrEtien.fr. Recension by .astor Michel Ieplay' in (i're
Sens' Bulletin du Centre .rotestant d=Dtudes et de 3ocumentation' nH +<> de
septembre-octobre +<(+5 Recension by le prof. G. Chealier' dans Sens' Reue de
l=AmitiE #udEo-ChrEtienne de 0rance' nH >92 !dEcembre +<(+"' p. ;>*-;>;.
Also pu'lished in e#pu'$ Editions Tsofim' Iimoges' +<(>.
---------------------------------------
2. 3n !oile sur leur coeur. /e 4 non 5 catholique au
(o6aume millnaire du Christ sur la terre
By Menahem R. Macina
The author states that the millenarianism concept he dealt with in this essay is
referred to as Rpre-millennialism.R 8n this regard' he appealed to the definition
of an e,pert1 RThe pre-millennial adepts profess that when Christ returns' there
will be an actual 4ingdom of one thousand years of Christ reigning as 4ing on
earth. 0or pre-millennialists' the millennial reign of Christ is a present reality'
the number thousand is interpreted as a figure of speech in the form of a
synecdoche. 8n other words' the limited number thousand signifies
totality K...L
$hile noting that the belief in a millennial reign of Christ on earth' especially in
its pre-millennial form' fell into disrepute within the Catholic Church' the
author insists that it is not deemed heretic. 6e oluntarily limited the
e,amination of this phenomenon to two specific types of te,ts1 those from the
Catechis. of the Catholic Church related to eschatology' and a few papal
statements.
The imperfection or inadeFuacy with the gien reelation of some official
statements in this area reFuired' according to the author' a deelopment and in
depth e,planation. Aware that he might be considered a polemicist and
challenger to the ecclesiastical institution' he asserts neertheless that spiritual
and intellectual honesty compels him to reeal seeral cases of blatant bad
faith in some ecclesial te,ts and their subseFuent theological commentaries'
whose goal is obiously to gie reason at all costs to religious authorities.
Moreoer' he stresses the added difficulty of the age-old conflict between
Catholics and .rotestants' made een more acute by the fact that the belief in
a reign of Christ on earth before the end of the world is Fuite widespread in
?angelical and .entecostal enironments' in its most hated form for
Catholicity1 pre-millennialism.
The author concedes that theological controersies hae always e,isted in the
Church and that there is no need to worry too much about this' and een less to
worsen them1 time and reflection will do their wor4. But he does not deny that
the hostility and the hardness of the authorities= arguments create discomfort'
and suggests that something more fundamental and unspo4en is at sta4e.
6is boo4 has two purposes' one is historic and aims at outlining the genesis and
deelopment of this theological controersy. The second one is to warn pastors
and theologians against the spiritual damage that they cause to the faithful by
dierting them from a doctrine they do not understand or admit. By doing this'
they are disparaging the doctrine of the Church 0athers' among which authors
as significant and orthodo, as #ustin Martyr and 8renaeus' who in their time'
considered as heretics the Christians who did not accept this doctrine' coming'
according to them directly from #esus and to his disciples and presbyters.
)or.at e#pu'' Editions Tsofim' Iimoges' +<(>. Recension by .rof. Ges Chealier'
The RMystery of 8sraelR and the Read/ustment of Christian Theology According to
Menahem Macina' published in 0rench in Sens' Reue de l=AmitiE #udEo-ChrEtienne'
nH >;9' .aris' mars +<(2' p. ++*.
---------------------------------------
7. /e sine de #a8l - 9 propos du s!:re a!ertissement de
Paul aux chrtiens '(m 11) 1;-""+
By Menahem R. Macina
The author beliees that the indiidual and uniFue destiny of #esus Christ and of
the #ewish people are ine,tricably intertwined. 3espite the difference in nature
and e,cellence between the YniFue diine incarnation and its multiple
e,tension within each member of the #ewish people' they hae the same
historical destiny and are promised the same eschatological glory. 6e also
beliees that the suffering described and e,pressed in the %criptures is common
to both. To the ignominious death of the Messiah of 8srael' followed by his
resurrection' corresponds the horror of the 6olocaust of the #ews' followed by
their recoery' a fact that neither the nations nor the Church hae yet reali@ed.
6e is shoc4ed by the efforts of too many clerics' theologians' and spiritual
guides to deter Christians from ta4ing seriously into account the prophecies.
According to these people' #esus has accomplished the prophecies' therefore
they only relate to the pilgrim Church towards its eschatological triumph.
Their s4epticism leads to obscure the solemn warning against the one that #ohn
calls the Antichrist' while .aul gies him the name of 7pponent 1 Iet no
man deceie you by any means1 for that day shall not come' e,cept there come
a falling away first' and that man of sin be reealed' the son of perdition5 who
opposeth and e,alteth himself aboe all that is called -od' or that is
worshipped5 so that he as -od sitteth in the temple of -od' shewing himself
that he is -od. !+ Th +1>-2".
The author sees in the depraity and iolence plaguing our societies' harbingers
of what will happen when iniFuity shall reign supreme at the time of the reign
of the Antichrist. 6e responds to the ob/ection that eil has always e,isted and
that our time is neither worse nor better than the preious ones' indicating that
the problem is not only a Fuestion of degree' growing or not' of eil' but of
the time separating us from the trial' .aul saying that the time is short. !(
Co 91+)".
Considered a doomsayer by Christians for whom the greatest danger is not
that the loe of most will grow cold' nor the increase of wic4edness !cf. Mt
+21(+"' but what they consider religious hystery' the author thin4s that they
are the ones concerned with #eremiah=s prophecy1 They dress the wound of my
people as though it were not serious. Q.eace' peace'= they say' when there is no
peace. !#r *1(2 Z ;1((".
The author re/oices that others ta4e seriously the Apostle .eter=s warning 1
%ae yourseles from this corrupt generation. !Ac +12<". According to him'
-od will ma4e watchmen of them' they=ll warn the Churches of the coming of
the .rince of this world !cf. #n (+1>( and parallel te,ts"' and will e,hort the
persecuted to hope !cf. Col (1+>" until the end' as Christ said 1 $hen these
things begin to ta4e place' stand up and lift up your heads' because your
redemption is drawing near. !Ic +(1+;".
)or.at e#pu'' Editions Tsofim' Iimoges' +<(>. Recension by .rof. Ges Chealier'
The RMystery of 8sraelR and the Read/ustment of Christian Theology According to
Menahem Macina' published in 0rench in Sens' Reue de l=AmitiE #udEo-ChrEtienne'
nH >;9' .aris' mars +<(2' p. ++C-++*.
---------------------------------------
<. /a pierre rejete par les =>tisseurs - /$4 intrication
prophtique 5 des critures
By Menahem R. Macina
The author underlines a peculiarity of the biblical te,t which e,hibits an
analogy with a phenomenon highlighted by Fuantum mechanics. 8t seems - to
paraphrase a definition of the phenomenon in the world of the Fuanta - that'
under certain conditions' two biblical passages are in such a state of
entanglement that they form a uniFue system in a subtle sense. Therefore' any
measurement made on one of the passages affects the other' and this'
regardless of Ktheir literary differences and ofL the chronological distance that
separates them !see' for instance' 8ntrication FuantiFue".
This is the case in .salm *)1*' among seeral oracles prophesying the sufferings
of Christ' the words of the .salm apply to the #ewish people through this
prophetic entanglement1 7 -od' you 4now my folly5 the wrongs 8 hae done
are not hidden from you. 6oweer' according to Christians' the Christ has not
sinned. Another e,ample1 the prescription of the boo4 of ?,odus concerning the
.assoer lamb1 Gou shall not brea4 any of its bones. !?, (+12*5 :b )1(+"' the
-ospel of #ohn considered a prophecy which the performance ta4es place when
the centurion' noting that #esus was already dead' does not brea4 his legs !#n
()1>*".
The title of this boo4 demonstrates the radical change of perspectie induced
by this discoery. 0or Christians' #esus is the stone that was re/ected by the
builders' of whom .salm ((; !. ++" - followed by the :ew Testament !Mt +(1
2+5 !Acts 21(( ff." - says that he became the cornerstone. 6oweer' it is
possible that this erse has also an eschatological e,tent in the collectie
person of the #ewish people which' at a time 4nown by -od' will be' in its turn'
this stone' re/ected by the nations' facing the complicit indifference of
Christianity !cf. Mt C1(> and Rm ((1+<."' coninced that 8t carries the root'
beeing unaware that the root !the #ewish people" does carry 6im !cf. Rm
((1(;". 8t is written1 7n that day 8 will ma4e #erusalem a heay stone for all
the peoples. All who lift it will surely be hurt. And all the nations of the earth
will gather against it. !Ba (+1>".
8f this peculiar element is inherent to the prophetic scope -od has endowed
the %criptures with' it may well help Christians to enter into the mystery
Kthat...L has been made 4nown to all nations' according to the command of the
eternal -od' to bring about the obedience of faith !Rm (*1+C-+*". This is
perhaps' suggests the author' the obedience .eter is tal4ing about1 %o the
honor is for you who beliee' but for those who do not beliee' QThe stone that
the builders re/ected has become the cornerstone' and a stone of stumbling'
and a roc4 of offense=. !( . +19-;". 6oweer' Christians beliee that this oracle
only applies to the unbelieing #ews' while it also aimed to warn them not to
re/ect the plan of -od' 7therwise KtheyL too will be cut off. !cf. Rm ((1++"'
as it is written1 And in anger and wrath 8 will e,ecute engeance on the
nations that did not obey. !Mi C1(C".
)or.at e#pu'' Editions Tsofim' Iimoges' +<(>. Recension by .rof. Ges Chealier'
The QMystery of 8srael= and the Read/ustment of Christian Theology According to
Menahem Macina' published in 0rench in Sens' Reue de l=AmitiE #udEo-ChrEtienne'
nH >;9' .aris' mars +<(2' p. ++C-++*.
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?. /es lises et les @uifs '1;,,-1;.2+
By Menahem R. Macina
After discussing' in his preious boo4s' the arious aspects of the Catholic
ecclesiastical resistance to :a@ism' the author here e,tends his inFuiry to the
protestant world. 6e admits that he has long shared the opinion that the
Confessing Church of -ermany had stood up to the :a@i regime during the
war' een if it could only limit the damage of the cruel repression and the
sometimes deadly danger that faced the pastors and the faithful who defended
and helped their non-Aryan co-religionists. A more in-depth study of the
documents led him to Fualify his optimism.
6e Fuotes' among other e,amples' these lines written in ()>> by a pastor who
was faorable to the #ews' that the -erman people had a lot to endure
because of the influence of the #ewish people' so that the desire to be released
from this influence is understandable' adding daringly1 8t would be
inappropriate that a pastor of non-Aryan origin has a role in the administration
of the churches or a pre-eminent position in domestic missions.
6e also refers to a document entitled The ?angelical Church and its Christian
#ews' which focused on the responsibility of the Church towards them'
uttering these shoc4ing remar4s1 our Church is not able to guarantee Kto the
#ewsL legal rights5 but' in 8ts own sphere' K8tL will show brotherly loe and
compassion for those of our members who want to assimilate into the -erman
national character' that is' to the people and to the race. 7f course' the Church
e,pects that these foreign brothers and sisters of the same faith actually
abandon the characteristics inherited from their fathers - that are foreign to
what is -erman - to parta4e in the heritage of our national identity' and that
they e,ercise restraint in public life' so as to not impede the practice of
brotherly loe or to not throw the disorder in the community of life and faith of
today.
8n fact' there was then a denial of one of the ma/or initial commitments of the
Confessing Church - namely' the refusal to apply the e,clusion of pastors of
#ewish origin from the officials' according to the Aryan .aragraph. An important
protestant leader of #ewish origin - who was himself concerned with the Aryan
paragraph - ainly wrote on the ()
th
of 3ecember' ()>C' to the Council of the
Church of the Reich' imploring its members not to close KyourL eyes longer on
the growing internal distress of non-Aryan Christians affected by the new laws.
6is prophetic warning still resonates as a scorching rebu4e1 To shut up any
longer would load the ?angelical Church of an ine,cusable sin before the Iord
of the Church.
According to the 6istorian $olfang -erlach' who is ery seere towards the
attitude of his Church at the time' the Q#ews= topic had not only been ignored.
:umber of theologians treated the issue' and their reflections showed how the
theological mainstream of the time preented any solidarity with #ews. This
debate' wea4ening oer the years' finally focused only on the theological and
e,egetical aspects of the #ewish Fuestion.
The present boo4 shows that this focus allowed the Christians to abandon to
their sad fate their #ewish co-religionists' while uttering outraged speeches on
this inhuman in/ustice and lamenting the powerlessness of the religious
institution against %tate legislation to which it seemed impossible to oppose.
)or.at e#pu'' Editions Tsofim' Iimoges' +<(>. Recension by .rof. Ges Chealier'
The QMystery of 8srael= and the Read/ustment of Christian Theology According to
Menahem Macina' published in 0rench in Sens' Reue de l=AmitiE #udEo-ChrEtienne'
nH >;9' .aris' mars +<(2' p. ++2-++C.
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;. -ieu a rta=li son Peuple. Tmoiner de!ant l$lise que
-ieu a restitu au Peuple juif son hritae messianique
By Menahem R. Macina
0rom the outset' the author raises two Fuestions1 6ow to carry a testimony
that wants to be prophetic without fomenting a schism[ and how to ma4e
heard in the church a so-called Qpriate= reelation[ 6e bases his answer on
ecclesial authorities - including #oseph Rat@inger himself -' who recogni@es the
possibility of a prophetic testimony to the e,tent that it does not contraene
the deposit of faith nor leads the faithful in a reolt against the Church.
6oweer' the nature of this testimony does not facilitate the adhesion to its
content. 8ndeed' he proclaims that -od has restored the #ews in their original
messianic prerogaties' which is apparently against the Christian conception
that' because of its non-recognition of the messianic personality of Christ' the
#ewish people has disFualified itself and was replaced by the Church' which
sees 8tself as the new 8srael !Constitution (u.en 0entiu. 88' )"' and the new
people of -od !3eclaration Nostra Aetate' 2".
0rom an eschatological perspectie' the author of this testimony and the
faithful who adhere to it confess their faith in the historic achieement of the
prophetic oracles announcing the reolt of the nations against the re-
establishment of 8srael by -od' and solemnly warn Christians not to pactise with
them since in the end they will connie with those set themseles K\L against
the Iord and against 6is Anointed 7ne'!cf. .salm +1+".
$hile recogni@ing that the belief in the fulfillment of the prophecies is at the
heart of the message and the teaching of the :ew Testament and that many
theological wor4s address e,tensiely and learnedly this topic' the author
e,presses his ama@ement that many Biblical scholars and e,egetes brand as
literalists' or een fundamentalists all who ta4e seriously the oracles
prophesying the gradual gathering of the #ewish people on his ancient
homeland. !cf. #r >1(2".
According to the author' the %cripture is ensuring that the ultimate
culmination of -od=s plan will occur' and that the nations which already resist
to this perspectie' and will oppose to it still more iolently when arries the
hour of trial that is coming on the whole world' to try those who dwell on the
earth !Re >1(<"' until -od finally interenes to complete the eent. The
author admits' howeer' that it is for the less bold to try to glimpse the
practical refusal that' he foresees' the nations A among which' alas' many
Christians A who do not 4now the thoughts of the Iord and do not understand
6is counsel' will oppose to this une,pected uneiling of -od=s plan they had
not anticipated.
Basing his coniction on the surprising assertion which concludes the long
prophetic warning of .aul1 0or -od has consigned all to disobedience' that he
may hae mercy on all !Rm ((1>+"' the author urges Christians to not
stumble' in their turn' and to not refuse to beliee that -od is the origin of
this une,pected and' for many of them' inadmissible occurrence.
)or.at e#pu'' Editions Tsofim' Iimoges' 7ctober +<(>.