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Order Josh Hammer’s new book, Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West: HERE.
For a brief window this coming week, Passover and Holy Week, the sacred observances of Jews and Christians, respectively, will overlap. Jews around the world will gather this Wednesday and Thursday evenings for the Seder, which recounts the Exodus from Egypt and God’s redemptive hand in history. And after Good Friday and Holy Saturday on Sunday, April 5, Christians will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal salvation. Two biblical traditions, distinct but from the same Abrahamic family tree, will thus find themselves marking holy seasons at the same time.
In this fraught moment, this calendar convergence feels like quite a bit more than mere serendipity. It is a visceral reminder of the shared moral and theological inheritance that undergirds Judaism and Christianity — the common foundation that has molded and shaped what we know today as Western civilization.
At their core, both holidays tell a story of redemption. For Jews, Passover is the story of a people delivered from bondage, divine justice meted out against tyranny, and covenantal purpose eventually forged after national liberation. Likewise for Christians, Easter is a story of redemption — of sin confronted and overcome, of sacrifice and renewal, of life triumphing over death. The theological particulars certainly differ and Judaism’s heavier emphasis on particularism contrasts with Christianity’s universalist orientation, but the underlying message is still strikingly similar: Hope springs eternal.
Equally central to both traditions, and both springtime holidays, is the idea of repentance. In Judaism, the concept of teshuvah — returning to God through repentance and righteous action — is a cornerstone of religious life. Jewish tradition teaches that in addition to the fall High Holiday season’s well-known focus on repentance, the springtime season of Passover is also a perfect occasion to atone and confidently step closer to God. Christianity, of course, also places repentance at the heart of spiritual renewal, calling believers to turn away from sin and toward charity and grace. The searing imagery of Christ’s crucifixion is ensconced in the West’s collective memory, perhaps more than anything else, for its emphasis on atonement for mankind’s sins.
These shared values — redemption, repentance, moral accountability — help constitute the bedrock of Western civilization today. Zooming out from the overarching themes of this season’s calendrical overlap, consider some of the West’s other defining principles: the rule of law, the dignity of the individual, the sanctity of life, the pursuit of justice. The fingerprints of the ecumenical biblical inheritance are ubiquitous. This is our common inheritance. This is who we are.
And yet, at this very moment when the alignment of Passover and Easter should prompt reflection on that shared inheritance, bad-faith actors on the home front are seeking to tear Jews and Christians apart at the seams. The timing of this subversion could not possibly be worse. The West finds itself under unprecedented strain. The threats are multifaceted and very real.
There is the challenge of Islamism — a totalitarian political ideology, historically beyond America’s borders but increasingly also found within, which seeks not peaceful coexistence but dominance. There is the rot of woke neo-Marxism, which rejects objective truth, undermines meritocracy, and seeks to replace individual responsibility with collective grievance and a debilitating victimhood culture. And there is the ever-insidious force of globalism, which threatens to erode national sovereignty, dilute cultural identity, and promote homogenized technocratic governance over the democratic accountability that only the nation-state can provide.
Against these challenges, Jews and Christians must not stand apart. We simply cannot afford to. The symbolic overlap of Passover and Easter this year should serve as a moment of reflection that, despite real theological differences, we are bound together by an overwhelming common inheritance and an inescapable common destiny.
This does not mean erasing distinctions. But it does mean acknowledging that we are allies in a broader civilizational struggle. It means recognizing the values we share are far more significant, at this juncture in history, than the doctrines that divide us. Loud provocateurs notwithstanding, the Judeo-Christian tradition has long been a powerful unifying force in the United States — a framework that transcends denominational lines.
Now is the time to build on that foundation. As families gather around the Seder table and for Easter services, there is an opportunity to reflect not only on the past but also on the future. What kind of civilization do we want to preserve and leave to our children? What values, customs and ways of life are worth defending? And who will stand together in that defense?
The story of the West is, in many ways, a shared story. It is a story rooted in the belief that man is made in God’s image, redemption is possible, repentance is necessary, and human beings are called to something higher. It’s up to us, ultimately, to take that message seriously — and to lock arms and stand shoulder to shoulder like never before to preserve our inheritance for many more generations to come.
The Jesus depicted in Islam is NOT the Christian Jesus, at all. He is not the incarnation of Yahweh, he never dies or resurrects, or ascends into Heaven.
The Jesus of Islam is just another ordinary prophet. Islam makes a mockery of the Christian Jesus.
Just as the Almighty Creator in Islam, Allah, is NOT Yahweh. Allah and Yahweh are two different gods.
“In accordance with the principles of America and of capitalism, I recognize your right to hold any beliefs you choose — and, on the same grounds, you have to recognize my right to hold any convictions I choose. I am an intransigent atheist, though not a militant one. This means that I am not fighting against religion — I am fighting for reason. When faith and reason clash, it is up to the religious people to decide how they choose to reconcile the conflict. As far as I am concerned, I have no terms of communication and no means to deal with people, except through reason.” – Ayn Rand
“As to those on the “right” who seek to combine reason, individualism, and individual rights with the religious faith and the primordial view of man as an object of sacrifice, Rand was clear: “In any compromise between food and poison, it is only death that can win. In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that can profit.”…
To those who seek such a compromise, we say: if you think you can reconcile reason and faith in your personal life, go ahead and try. But we urge you not to base your support of freedom and capitalism on religion: to say freedom stems from faith is to say that reason is on the side of dictatorship.
The enemies of freedom could hardly hope for a bigger boost.” – Harry Binswanger
Because when I need an explanation of Jesus the first person I turn to is definitely not Ayn Rand and her familiar Harry Binswanger. We must be getting close to Easter.
THX’s anti-Christian vitriol is ramping up
The moral legitimacy of Israel is not that that it is a Jewish homeland or a Jewish safe-haven, though those two things are morally legitimate considering what happened during the Holocaust. The Jews do need a safe-haven.
The moral legitimacy of Israel, just like America’s, is that it fundamentally respects and defends individual rights, the individual rights of every Israeli citizen regardless of their religion or lack of religion. So long as the individual is peaceful and respects the rights of others.
This does not mean that there are no bigots in Israel, of course there are, including Jewish bigots, just as there are bigots, of every stripe, in every country, including here in America. So long as men have free will there will be some bigots.
“Ayn Rand on Israel (Ford Hall Forum lecture, 1974)
Q: What should the United Sates do about the [1973] Arab-Israeli War?
AR: Give all the help possible to Israel. Consider what is at stake. It is not the moral duty of any country to send men to die helping another country. The help Israel needs is technology and military weapons—and they need them desperately. Why should we help Israel? Israel is fighting not just the Arabs but Soviet Russia, who is sending the Arabs armaments. Russia is after control of the Mediterranean and oil. Further, why are the Arabs against Israel? (This is the main reason I support Israel.)
The Arabs are one of the least developed cultures. They are typically nomads. Their culture is primitive, and they resent Israel because it’s the sole beachhead of modern science and civilization on their continent. When you have civilized men fighting savages, you support the civilized men, no matter who they are. Israel is a mixed economy inclined toward socialism. But when it comes to the power of the mind—the development of industry in that wasted desert continent—versus savages who don’t want to use their minds, then if one cares about the future of civilization, don’t wait for the government to do something. Give whatever you can. This is the first time I’ve contributed to a public cause: helping Israel in an emergency.”
Yes… I don’t believe Josh Hammer is good for FPM… I’m shocked FPM brought him on board…
A lot of people would say the same thing about you. I’ll fact check my statement…people are ignoring you.
Because argumentum ad populum is not a logical fallacy? Because all the junior high girls think Sumsrent isn’t cool?
Not a good argument.
I.m shocked your mother brought you on board….
I’m shocked that you actually still breathe oxygen.
At least Josh Hammer has a career. He writes for Townhall and American Thinker. Where do you write. On a comment board, loser.
The one fact you overlooked is… the fake god allah is NOT the same God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob… the Father of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus…
Although… as Christians we understand that the Dry Bones would be raised by God and create Israel in a day… we support the existence of Israel and that God is still using Israel…
However; the ONLY way to be a Christian is to believe Christi Jesus is the Son of God who was Crucified for our sins and accept Him as our Savior.
Otherwise… there is NO redemption for sins… none.
Uh, Israel exists. You are only about 5000 years off with the Dry Bones theory.
Can I have a Dry Bones martini on the rocks, please? Your doctor called with your prescription.
Wrong again Intrepid…
The earth is only 6000 years old… and the Great Flood was 2000 years after creation.
The Book of Ezekiel, mentioning the “Dry Bones” was written about 600 years BC…
Now then… people upvoting you for making a mockery of Holy Scriptures… shows the sick minds of people…
You fail constantly Intrepid…
“The earth is only 6000 years old”
Unfortunately, Mr. Rent, you’ve missed about 200 years of scientific evidence. As I understand from my readings, already by the early nineteenth century, scientists were coming to the conclusion that the earth was much, much more ancient than the prevailing biblical view would allow. And then, the Origin of Species was published which of course caused a huge amount of anguish and consternation to those wedded to the religious view.
In reaction to these findings, it is, of course, possible to retreat into Biblical literalism as you have done. I understand the impulse, because I am also quite aware of the damage that a strict scientific, materialistic world-view has caused to Western Civilization and to our own human amour propre, as the French say. There are some who would claim that Darwinism and materialism have resulted in the appalling anti-human ideologies of Naziism and Communism that ravaged the 20th century. That being said, it is not intellectually honest to just say “The Bible says the world is 6,000 years old, and I’m sticking to that story!”
So… we’re left with anguish, doubt, and a great longing for some religious ground for our existences.
Hey Clown…
So you’re saying… the intellectual humankind should blame Nazism and communism on Darwinism? <<< And that's being intellectually honest?
Well… you can lean on your own understanding…
As far as myself… Create in me a clean heart Lord… and renew a right spirit within me…
I'll stick with what Holy Scriptures and what Biblical Prophecy says…
Until then… you'll suffer with your anguish for sure…
“…scientific evidence…already by the early nineteenth century, scientists were coming to the conclusion that the earth was much, much more ancient than the prevailing biblical view would allow…”
That’s assuming the best of mankind. Unwise.
1 Corinthians 1:21 “…the world by wisdom knew not God,..”
Romans 1:28 “…they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind,..”
And this needs to be factored in, too:
2 Corinthians 4:4 “…the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
As far as the age of the earth, it’s possible it could be more than 6000 years old. “Millions?” I don’t know.
Some Bible believer’s, including myself, think there is a gap of time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. That could possibly account for an undetermined of time.
Many Bible believer’s don’t think there is a gap there, and some.of these get upset and angry with those believer’s who do think there is a gap between Gen. 1:1 and 1:2, because these irritated folks think that that’s our way of conceding some ground to the evolutionist’s claims.
But, that’s not true. If there is a gap of time there, then there is a gap of time. We’re not worried at all about the claims of evolution.
Besides that, the Creation Research people like Ken Ham, are not understanding something extremely important regarding Genesis chapter one and chapter two. The intent of these chapters IS NOT to “chase the monkey.”
There is an entirely different and very, very important point to understand from these chapters regarding what the Creator’s purpose.
The earth is only 6000 years old? Who knew?
Golly gee A-Wipe, what accounts for the dinosaurs that died out some 65 million years ago. What accounts for the fossils carbon dated before the dinosaurs and after the dinosaurs
The earth is at least 4 billion years old. Num nutz. The universe is at least 15 billion years old.
What is your source for your idiotic claim? Google AI?
Dinosaurs were called dragons before 1841. Man and dragons lived together. You have to be an absolute idiot to listen to that millions of years ago religion. The religion of atheism.
Intrepid:
It’s an exercise in futility to argue with people like that. As far as they’re concerned, without a single shred of evidence, earth is the only planet in the universe where life as we know it exists.
Never mind the fact to know that beyond any doubt, one would have to had to visit every rock in the universe to confirm that life only exists here on earth.
I have pictures of the earth and the moon taken from the orbit of Mas and beyond. Perhaps if such people looked at those pictures, it would give them reason to rethink what they think they know.
I often wonder if such people think the moon is real. Those same people would also argue that the earth is flat. I’ve ran into those types. Most of them have a low 2-digit IQ.
Man, you’re insane as fuck.
Think whatever you want…
From creation to the Great Flood… was 2000 years…
From the time of the Great Flood to Christ Jesus was 2000 years…
From the time of Christ Jesus to now… almost 2000 years…
Now then… a day with the Lord is like 1000 years…
6000 years have passed… which puts us at almost the 7th 1000 year day…
Remember… God created the Heavens and earth in 6 days and rested on the 7th… which is why we keep the Sabbath Holy…
What happens on the 7th 1000 year period? <<< The Millennial Kingdom. Where Christians rule and reign with Christ Jesus for 1000 years before the Great White Judgement Throne…
Also… the Behemoth is mentioned in the Bible…
And… I'm not insane as your foul mouth…
If any comments need to be deleted… it's your foul mouth comments Jeff…
The rent is too damn high!
You do realize how much it is going throw my calculations off on the number of human copulations that have occurred if the Earth is only 6000 years old.? You’ve wrecked my magnus opus. A number as important to science as Avogadro’s and infinity to philosophy.
No one was mocking Scripture they were mocking you.
Now you get to spew whatever bible babble you want and claim what ever you want.
What’s it like to always be seen as a clown.
Thanks for mentioning all of my upvotes. I call that a victory and your endless pile of downvotes the big time fail
Can I have a martini with my dry bones? Shaken not stirred s’il vous plait.
Only 6000 years old. Imagine that. This coming from the clown car that assigned himself the elect of God title.
Way to rack up those downvotes, loseria.
We can always count on you for your over the top ‘elect of god” tribulation stupidity, and of course your “young earth” cristianity timeline.
Hey does that mean the other 7 planets are also 6000 years old along with the sun? Or is it just earth? Or is just you? Earth according to sumsrent……….
“The earth is only 6000 years old… and the Great Flood was 2000 years after creation. ”
That statement is the epitome of self righteous ignorance. Are you familiar with the element plumbum (Pb) aka, lead? Lead started out as Uranium (U). Uranium’s nucleus is heavy and thus unstable and therefore undergoes spontaneous radioactive decay (alpha, beta and gamma radiation) to achieve a stable configuration.
After approximately 4.5 billion years, that stable state is the element Lead. It’s the reason why lead and Uranium are always found together.
If your claim is fact, then the element Lead should not exist.. I’m interested in hearing your explanation for why it does.
Rob A…
Well first… you prove to me that it takes 4.5 billion years to produce lead. <<< Which you won't be able to do in this lifetime…
“Muslims have reverence for Jesus.”
Without getting too deeply into attempting to refute your series of statements whose effect is certainly anti-Jewish, let me just say that the above statement tells me all I need to know about you.
You have made your choice, Greek Dog. May you live to see the full effects of it. If you live in Europe, then most of that continent (including Greece) will end up soon enough being consumed by Islamic darkness and totalitarianism. May you enjoy that.
And as to that “Criticism is not hatred, neither is it incompatible with love” shtick… please… spare us. You lifted that horse manure right out of a unctuous Tucker Carlson segment where he assures us how his Christian faith requires that he love everyone, all the while he exudes hatred against Zionists, and above all Christian Zionists.
Does God hate anyone? The answer is yes.
Psalm 5:5, “The boastful shall not stand before Thine eyes; Thou dost hate all who do iniquity,”
Psalm 11:5, “The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and the one who loves violence His soul hates.”
Lev. 20:23, “Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I shall drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them.”
Prov. 6:16-19, “There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, 19
A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.”
Hosea 9:15, “All their evil is at Gilgal; indeed, I came to hate them there! Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of My house! I will love them no more; All their princes are rebels.”
…
GotQuestions Reports:
When the Bible does speak of God’s hatred, the object of His hatred is sin and wickedness. Among the things God hates are idolatry (Deuteronomy 12:31; 16:22), child sacrifice, sexual perversion (Leviticus 20:1–23), and those who do evil (Psalm 5:4–6; 11:5).
Psalm 5:5 says about God, “You hate all evildoers” (ESV). Psalm 11:5 is even harsher: “The wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.”
…
The fact stands… hatred is not a sin… now your job… understand the Truth…
“ hatred is not a sin… “
Hang on a second, now. I thought you Marcionists were only about love, love, love!!, and that the New Testament God was one of LOVE, while the Old Testament God was all about hate?
(If you don’t think your stance on Jews and Judaism and the Jewish scriptures was NOT considered 1900 years and then discarded as heresy, then your relationship to “The Truth” is even slighter than I thought).
Hey Clown…
“Marcionists” ??? <<< You assume too much…
As far as the "discarded heresy.".. you're delving into the Paul is Savior Doctrines of the devil… otherwise known as Dispensationalism… <<< I'm not a follower of that garbage either…
Maybe you' like to explain yourself further…
Try again…
My guess is God hates you and that he is sick and tired of your ignorant B.S.
It’s interesting to see comments from anti-Semitic readers who are now foaming with anger at Mr. Hammer’s article. It’s certainly masochistic of them to read any FPM article dealing with Jews and Israel, because
Mr. Hammer, as well as all the journalists at FPM, believe in the ‘Judeo-Christian ethic’, which I think is a term unique to America, because America is unique.
This hateful readership uses FPM to preach their gospel……and to create and to spread new libels, such as the revolting, actually stupid remark about Chabad and ‘animal souls’. In Judaism, animals do not have souls; only human beings have souls. How you deal with your soul is your choice. And be prepared for the consequences. Don’t hang it, or nail it, on somebody else.
Oh my… now it’s time to pull the “antisemitism” card… as always… everything is antisemitism… aye?
Google AI Reports:
“Antisemitism is prejudice, hostility, or discrimination directed at Jews as individuals or as a group, based on stereotypes, misconceptions, or hatred.”
…
Our hatred of Josh Hammer is NOT because he is a Jew… but instead… of what he’s done in life to others and his willingness to go along with the FBI’s narrative on Charlie Kirk’s murder…
My personal attitude would be towards anyone that has pulled and spewed the garbage that Josh Hammer and Ben Shapiro have done…
They are both untrustworthy…
On a side note: Many in this world are getting sick & tired of the antisemitism card being played. What is right is right… and what is wrong is wrong. <<< That's NOT antisemitism !!
How many dicks have you sucked today?
Dude nobody does that
Oh no, not that Lenny Piehole film from ’86 again.
Hey T, Rand and you have been pounding the Aristotle thing for years. How’s that dead space coming along these days?
Lots of bumps and bruises, but I’ve finally found the Judaeo Christian way. Reading Moses’ Law and finding myself to be a sinner, I turned to Christ to find redemption and genuine spiritual life in Christ, the Messiah.
His resurrection life in abundant supply from Heaven is my unlimited resource for the life I live through Him. The sin and death of the ‘first Adam’ has been turned to real righteousness and life through the Second Adam.
Seeing the human catastrophe around me, I can only say, “There but for the grace of God go I.”
You stinking not see POS liar. Chabad teaches that Jews also have an animal soul, but that is not consistent with your not see agenda.
Sadly FPM has no way to flag not see commentators like yourself. Not see comments always get approved, but I look forward to finding out that my rebuttal is “under moderation”. Well done ad0|f.
Wow, congratulations, you got all the not see talking points in one comment, you vile POS.
Your response is telling about you.
This website is just disgusting. There is no way to report or block anti-Semites, and those of us who respond are put into moderation. I see no point in coming back. Well done, hope David Horowitz is happy with how you have handled his legacy.
Wrongthink needs to be confronted, not suppressed in a free speech society.
We don’t have a sophisticated commenting system, but when you let bad people drive you out, that just leaves them in charge.
The vile attacks on Christianity and Judaism have been deleted along with the Islamic propaganda of the Tuckerites.
Daniel, FPM should get a better commenting system, one that allows the user to block who he/she deems to be idiots and edit posts with typos.
“Tuckerites?” Is that a thing now? I hope it’s not contagious.
Seriously Tuckerites? Snap out of it. They exist?
I figure when they took the survey, one guy overheard a bunch of the people being polled communicate how repulsive they find him, if not downright retching. He’s the type that likes pissing off people so he announced that he likes tucker but has a limit of how far he’ll go and would never quote Aynn Rand repetitively in an adoring mastabutory trance.
Shocked at all the hate for such an article.
The Time IS Near…
“Tuckerites”
With your permission, I’d like to adapt that term!
There are people who echo Tucker’s arguments and his dishonest, sock puppet, strawman style of arguments.
Thank God they just looked for the son.
The subject under discussion was “anti-semitism.” Prejean was attempting to discover whether disapproval of political zionism was anti-semitic. The answer, which was hard to get, was “yes.”
My inchoate studies reveal Judaism is divided into different sects. Zionist Jews have made Zionism synonymous with Judaism. So the failure to approve of political Zionism is anti-semitism. BUT NOT ALL JEWS ARE ZIONISTS, and these Jews greatly resent zionists attempts to speak for them.
Every historical liturgical church has rejected political Zionism – not just the Catholics. Modern evangelicals have been misled to embrace political Zionism as a Christian duty. Zionist Jews have noticed this absolutely fantastic opportunity to exploit us.
You nailed it Josh. Great article.
Jews and Christians stick together against Marxist dogma, intolerant religion and globalism. They’re out to get the unwary.
“There is the challenge of Islamism” Naively and automatically applying -isms and -ists and radical- to Islam is part of the problem. So is the widespread use of the euphemism ‘antisemitic’ instead of saying Jew hatred.
It should be remembered that some of the vilest most evil Jew haters were semitic Arabs such as the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem who collaborated with Hitler in formulating the ‘final solution’.
Jews and true Christians have always been persecuted. For this reason true Christians and Jews need to stand together for mutual support. After all, Jesus Christ the author of Christianity, was a Jew by birth and the Jews were chosen by God for the purpose of Christ’s lineage.
We are part of the Judeo-Christian civilization, for ever inseparable. The rest is just pilpul.
FWIW:
I’m not a religious person at all (I eschew religion) but I thank God everyday that we live in a Judaeo-Christian culture and not the barbaric savagery and tyranny of Islamic culture.
“This does not mean erasing distinctions.”
Interesting. God is not making distinctions today between Jew and Gentile as He did in “time past.”
In “time past” it was the following:
Ephesians 2:11-12 “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;”
“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”
However, in “But now,” since the conversion of Saul of Tarsus*, this has been the state from Gods view (no distinctions):
Romans 11:32 “For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.”
“This is not “Paul is savior” “doctrine,” Sumsrent. Who exactly said “Paul is savior, anyway? Can you provide that quote?
If you’re aware of the Pauline Doctrines… I’ve renamed them… to the ‘Paul is Savior Doctrines of the Devil’…
That was years ago…
Those that believe in the Pauline Doctrines… have been duped into believing what should more adequately be called… ‘The Paul is Savior doctrines of the devil’…
Arguing with someone that you consider to stupid, ignorant or mentally unstable gives them credibility and wastes your time. If these people were ignored, they would stop commenting here and probably look for another forum.