“Germans! Defend yourselves! Don’t buy from Jews!” With this slogan, a nationwide boycott of Jewish businesses, physicians and lawyers began on April 1, 1933. Already in the mid-twenties, the anti-Jewish boycott movement had spread in Germany. After the seizure of power by the National Socialists, members of the party proceeded more and more violently against Jews. Usually, the police and the judicial authorities registered these offenses without taking action. What began as antipathy gradually became anti-Semitism, which reached a cruel climax in November 1938. On that November night, the country’s Kristallnacht (“Night of Broken Glass”), over 1,400 synagogues and thousands of businesses and homes of Jewish families were destroyed. Barely three years later, the pogroms ended in the Holocaust.

Today, in 2011, we hear like in 1933: “Don’t buy from Jews.” We have become accustomed to Israel being hated by her Arabic neighbors. We have known for a long time that the Iranian president Ahmadinejad would like best to throw Israel into the sea. And the Israel-euphoria which blossomed in many lands in 1967 has waned long ago. That solidarity is disappearing.

There were repeated calls for boycotts in the past, but above all in anti-Semitic and Islamic circles. What is new is that this happens in Western countries and is tolerated by the governments. “Don’t buy from Jews.” Not long ago, a similar national campaign was active in Switzerland. The boycott targeted products from Israel. It was especially surprising that in the otherwise so neutral-seeming Switzerland, prominent politicians consented in supporting this boycott. On one poster, it was written beside the portrait of the politician: “Products from Israel? I never buy them!” The politicians involved called the campaign harmless. But who would have thought in 1933 that such actions would have such catastrophic consequences?

On the territory of the Swiss Federal Railways, posters critical of Israel were displayed. It was written there (among other statements): “Israel: established by force on the soil of Palestine,” with the call, “Injustice demands resistance!” After the Swiss Federal Railways were made aware of the political content of the posters (not permitted according to their interior directions), they had them removed. The men behind the poster project opposed this and initiated an appeal to the Swiss Federal Administration Court. This court decided that the posters were to be displayed. However, the Swiss Federal Railways saw this as interference in their enterprise’s responsibility and appealed this decision to the Federal Court. That Court’s decision is still pending at this writing.

These examples let us ask: What will the situation be like in 5 years? Will the anti-Israel spiral keep expanding; will the hostilities increase? And will courageous clients of Jewish businesses then perhaps also be intimidated and threatened, as was the case in the 1930s?

It is no longer so opportune today to stand publicly with Israel. It is all the more important that we Christians do so anyhow without reservation. Not because Israel is better than other nations, but because she has something better: a special position. She has been chosen by God to be His property. “The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of any people—but because the LORD loved you” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). The choice of Israel by the Almighty God goes back to His covenant with Abraham (cf. Genesis 17). In addition, God promised Abraham that by him all the peoples of the earth should be blessed (Genesis 22:18). Yes, He even included the individual: “I will bless them that bless thee” (Genesis 12:3). By God giving Jesus for our salvation in Israel, His blessing came upon us! That is the reason why we love Israel! Do you love Israel? Stand for Israel!