Israel the Decolonizer

Numerous countries, whose native origins have conveniently long been forgotten, have had their cultures gradually, and sometimes forcefully, replaced linguistically and religiously by other nations:

• The Arabs replaced the culture and languages of 24 sovereign countries. Many of those countries previously spoke Aramaic, Phoenician, Greek, and Latin.

• The French replaced the languages of 29 countries, including countries that spoke Swahili, Bambara, Malagasy, Taino, Cree, and classical Arabic amongst others.

• The Spanish replaced the languages of 20 countries, including Phoenician, Mayan languages, and languages of the Aztecs.

• The English replaced the languages of 88 countries, including Celtic, Latin, Old Norse, Norman French, Spanish, Dutch, German, Cree, Maori, and various Australian dialects to name just a few.

Islam is currently the dominant religion in approximately 52 countries, and virtually all those regions had different dominant religions or belief systems prior to the arrival of Islam. Lebanon, Yemen, Albania, Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, and Algeria were all previously Christian countries previously fully practicing their Christianity. Indonesia and Afghanistan practiced Buddhism and Hinduism, and Iran was previously Zoroastrian.

Christianity established itself as a dominant faith in well over 100 countries, nearly all of which previously practiced different pagan, polytheistic, Buddhist, or other belief systems prior to the Christianization of their countries. Christianity spread throughout Italy, Greece, Armenia, Ethiopia, Germany, Scandinavia, Germanic tribes, most of Europe, the Americas and parts of Africa and Asia.

And then there’s Israel-the one and only Jewish State in existence. Israel is the only country in the world where Judaism is the official religion and Hebrew the official language. Israel has its roots in the Land of Canaan, a land promised to Avraham and passed on through Isaac and Jacob some 3000 years ago. That land was soon after referred to as Israel. Throughout its long history of exile, the Jews never forgot their promised, eternal homeland.

Despite being scattered among the nations, G-d promised to eventually bring the Jews home.

“I will assemble you from the lands which you have been scattered therein, and I shall give you the land of Israel.”  Ezekiel 11:17

“Israel is the very embodiment of Jewish continuity. It is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3000 years ago.” Charles Krauthammer

Israel regained its independence and freedom following a long history of mostly harsh rulership by foreign imperial rulers, the last one being the British Mandate. The regained independence of the Jewish State does not fit into the category of a colonized land. A colonized country is one where a foreign nation or individual takes control of a foreign area and sends its people to live there, but there has always been a Jewish presence in Israel. The Jewish people are doing nothing more than returning more fully to their place of origin. The presence of vast numbers of Jews in the land shows that it has finally been decolonized from all its foreign overseers and that G-d’s prophecy has at last been realized.

And now that the Jews have reclaimed their homeland, they will never again be ousted from their terrain: “I shall return the captivity of My people Israel…I shall plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be plucked out of their land that I have given them, says G-d, your G-d.”   Amos 9:14-15

G-d chose the children of Israel and planted them in the land of Israel. A match literally made in Heaven. That’s not colonization, that’s a specific nation returning to their original homeland just as G-d predicted.

Jews don’t seek to dominate any country, race, religion, or creed, which is why, unlike other nations, there is only one Jewish State. They simply request that the world leave them alone so that they can respectfully be allowed to live in peace.

It is of significant note that certain commandments can only be carried out in this particular land by this specific people, such as terumah and misa , the agricultural offerings and tithes that are mandated by Jewish law; and the eventual reinstatement of the third temple and the sacrifices which can only be implemented in Jerusalem. Those teachings from the Torah testify to the ownership of Israel by the Jews, no other people are bound by those laws that were provided at Mount Sinai over 3300 years ago.

Thus the land was given to the Jews: “In order that they walk in My statutes and keep my laws.” Ezekiel 11:20

And when Jews perform the laws of the Torah in the holy land of Israel: “Your people shall be righteous, they shall inherit the land forever…”  Isaiah 60:21

Have a problem with that? I suggest you take the issue up with He who created the world in its entirety.