September 14, 1930 was Election Day in Germany. Adolf Hitler, through the aid of his campaign manager Joseph Goebbels, had master minded one of the most infamous political campaigns in history. The timing was perfect; the people were in the grip of crisis and wanted fast solutions at any cost. Hitler gave the people a tangible target for the cause inciting a unified response of the people. Their economy was thrown into the Great Depression along with the rest of the world as a result of Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, when the markets collapsed on Wall Street. Winning 107 seats in the German Reichstag; these newly elected Nazi deputies entered the Reichstag for the first time marching in together. Wearing Nazi uniforms. When the role was called they answered, “Present! Heil Hitler!
From his first ranting speeches after the Great War along with the release of his book, Mein Kampf in 1925, Adolf Hitler turned German sentiment against the Jewish People in jealousy and anger. What many don’t understand is that the Jewish people have always lived as one big family (descendents of Abraham) and they hold their wealth among themselves. Orthodox Jewish People tend to buy only from Orthodox Jewish People, although they will sell to Gentiles. Today, many Americans have a similar sentiment for any foreign nationality that sticks together and helps their own from their country. Resentments can run deep against people who are willing to come to our country and sacrifice to help their own people to get established in America. We forget that America is a melting pot of nations and there is truly no indigenous American except the Native Americans. We are jealous of the Hmong, the Mexican; people from India and Pakistan, Africa and Asia; who pool their resources, sacrifice and buy businesses. There is strength in helping your own people and sticking together; it is profitable and it is good. The blessing of unity is precious.
Psalms 133:1-3 ESV A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! (2) It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! (3) It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
The Germans of the Great Depression era had such sentiments of jealousy toward the Jewish People. One young orthodox Jewish man named Waldstein saw the proverbial hand writing on the wall and could foresee only trouble and possible atrocities that lay ahead for the Jewish People, and he decided to take his family and flee Germany in 1931.
Praying three times a day is expected of orthodox Jewish men and so it was a routine for young Waldstein. On a train that was also transporting Nazi soldiers; he knelt down and prayed with Nazi officers across the aisle. He didn’t just knell and pray, he wore his yamaka (small Jewish skull cap) and his tallit (Jewish prayer shawl). His wife and two sons were with him; one which was just an infant. They ultimately reach their destination in America and found their way to Chicago where they had relatives. Throughout his life he lived close to the Temple and practiced his orthodox faith.
To his disappointment, his son’s were too young to remember or understand the peril of their escape. The pursuit of riches in America left little time for Temple services. But as adults the two sons honored the old man on the Jewish High Holy Days and would go to temple, even though they would sit in the back where they could lean against a wall and sleep. They changed their name to Wald trying to hide their heritage. The old man just shook his head.
First their mother passed away in her early eighties. It was then that the old man began to spend most of his days at the Temple, until he suffered a heart attack and ended up in the hospital. With oxygen, heart monitors and IV lines attach, the old man insisted on getting out of bed to knell on the floor and pray three times a day in honor of the three great patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. His faith was firm. The hospital staff would fight with him, but he would yell at them and say, “If the Nazis didn’t keep me from praying, you sure won’t!” And so the staff relented in honor of his age and conviction. He was soon released and went home. One day, he quietly died in his sleep.
The greed of the wealthy suppresses the needs of the poor and working class people. The top 3% on the income scale own 97% of all of the wealth of our country. This disproportion of wealth, in pre-war Germany allowed a mad man with radical ideas; to rise to power because the people were in fear financially. They needed a scapegoat for national and world problems. Hitler targeted the Jewish people.
Luke 10:7 KJV And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
Jesus Christ said that the worker is worthy of his wage. As we celebrate this Labor Day weekend; let us count our blessings of abundance. Let us also examine our own attitudes and life styles. Do we promote unity that builds our community? If we are a supervisor, manager or business owner; are we fair in our dealings with our subordinates? Are we cultivating an environment that nurtures people and spurs them on to be their best; rewarding their accomplishments?
When we are greed driven and selfish; it effects those around us and especially if we are in an authoritative position. Conflict starts with one person and spreads like a cancer. When the Great Depression hit, people failed to pull together. The results led to a world in conflict with hatred and jealousy. Peace and unity starts with one person as well. We each need to take responsibility to build the community around us.
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