Class 2: How You Can Stand in Solidarity with the Jewish Community

Section 3–The Church and the Jewish People

Class 2: Standing in Solidarity with the Jewish Community

Teacher: Arielle Randle

Maria Weinstein, born in 1931 in a Polish village near Ukraine, came from a respected Jewish family.
When the Germans invaded, Maria’s family was sent to a Jewish ghetto.
With her mother’s blessing, 11-year-old Maria fled with her 8-year-old sister Valya.
Shortly thereafter, everyone in the ghetto was killed.
The girls hid in forests, surviving on small help from local villagers, but many of their companions were caught and killed.
Nearing despair, Maria and Valya tried to return to the ghetto to die.

The Yanyuk family, Gentile believers in Jesus, rescued Maria and Valya.
They risked their entire family’s lives to protect the girls.
When Nazis threatened to kill them if they didn’t hand over the Jewish girls, Mrs. Yanyuk stood firm: “These are all my children.”
Through this radical love and sacrifice, Maria and Valya came to believe in Jesus as the Messiah.
Maria’s descendants today are Jewish believers in Jesus, continuing the Yanyuk family’s legacy of faith.

October 7, 2023: More Jewish people were killed in one day by Hamas than on any single day since the Holocaust.
Aftermath: A 360% surge in antisemitic incidents worldwide.
Forms of antisemitism today:
- Verbal abuse, vandalism, physical attacks
- Online harassment, often disguised as “anti-Zionism”

Stay informed.
- Follow Jewish news sources (e.g., The Times of Israel).
- Stay updated on global and local Jewish community events.
Stand in solidarity.
- Participate in community support initiatives (e.g., placing menorahs in windows during Hanukkah amid antisemitism).
Speak out.
- Challenge antisemitic stereotypes and rhetoric.
- Call out antisemitism online and in person.
- Ask clarifying questions to counter prejudiced remarks.
Rally your community.
- Churches can take a public stand against antisemitism.
- Issue statements of support, include prayers for Israel, and educate congregants.
Reach out.
- Check in with Jewish friends and neighbors during difficult times.
- Offer prayers and support after antisemitic events.
Pray for the Jewish people.
- Psalm 122:6: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
- Pray for protection, wisdom, and open hearts.
Share the hope of the gospel.
- Some Christians avoid evangelizing Jewish people due to the church’s history of antisemitism.
- But withholding the good news of Jesus because someone is Jewish is itself a form of discrimination.
- Isaiah 40 calls believers to bring comfort to Israel through the message of redemption.

Christians have a responsibility to stand against antisemitism in both word and deed.
Active engagement in solidarity, advocacy, and prayer makes a real difference.
God’s providence is always at work—and He calls believers to be His messengers of comfort and hope.

Learn more about a Messianic Jewish perspective on this topic.