HE
was not yet 20 when he became a Rabbi, and after officiating for
several years in different communities in northern Hungary, Isaac
Lichtenstein finally settled as District Rabbi in Tapio Szele,
where he remained for nearly 40 years, laboring ceaselessly and
unselfishly for the good of his people.
Early in his career a Jewish teacher in the communal school of his
district casually showed him a German Bible. Turning the leaves,
his eye fell on the name "Jesu Christi." He became
furiously angry and sharply reproved the teacher for having such a
thing in his possession. Taking the book, he flung it across the
room in a rage; it fell behind others on a shelf where, dusty and
forgotten, it lay some thirty-odd years.
About that time a fierce wave of anti-Semitism broke out in
Hungary, culminating in the now historic "Tisza Eslar
affair". In that picturesque little Hungarian town, situated
on the Theiss, 12 Jews and a Jewess were thrown into prison,
accused of having killed a Christian girl in order to use her
blood for ritual purposes — the most tragic part of the case
being that a little Jewish boy, who had been kept some time from
his parents by the police commissary, was prevailed on by threats
and cruelties to appear as the chief witness against his own
father (the synagogue sexton) and recite a concocted, false tale
of the supposed murdered girl.
As in every other case in which this diabolical charge was ever
brought against the Jews, the blood accusation in Tisza Eslar was
ultimately demonstrated to be false and baseless. It remains to
the glory of true religion that a number of prominent men who were
believers in Jesus, notably Dr. Franz Delitzsch, a Biblical
scholar and Professor at Leipzig University, rose to the occasion not
only to defend the Jews, but also to tear the mask from all who by
their acts scandalized Messiah in the eyes of Jewry.
The mental state of Rabbi Lichtenstein at this time is best
revealed in his Judenspiegel (Jewish Mirror):
" 'Often have they oppressed me from my youth, may Israel
say' (Psalm 129). No long explanation is needed to show that in
these few words the Psalmist sums up the bitter experiences and
sorrows which we, at least of the older generation, have suffered
from our youth up at the hands of the Christian populations
surrounding us.
"Mockery, scorn, blows, and all manner of humiliation, have
been our portion even at the hands of Christian children. I
remember still the stones which were thrown at us as we left the
synagogue, and how, when bathing in the river, and powerless to
prevent, we saw them cast our clothing, with laughter and insult,
into the water.
"Once with sorrow and weeping, I saw my father felled to the
ground without the least hesitation by a nobleman, so-called,
because he had not quickly enough made room for him on a narrow
path. But these sad experiences are known well enough to need no
dwelling on; and would to God that such persecution of the Jews by
the Christians were altogether a thing of the forgotten past!
"As impressions of early life take a deep hold, and as in my
riper years I still had no cause to modify these impressions, it
is no wonder that I came to think that Jesus Himself was the
plague and curse of the Jews — the origin and promoter of our
sorrows and persecutions.
"In this conviction I grew to years of manhood, and still
cherishing it I became old. I knew no difference between true and
merely nominal Christianity; of the fountainhead of Christianity
itself I knew nothing. Strangely enough it was the horrible Tisza
Eslar blood accusation which first drew me to read the New
Testament. This trail brought from their lurking-places all our
enemies, and once again, as in olden times, the cry re-echoed,
'Death to the Jew!' The frenzy was excessive, and among the
ringleaders were many who misused the name of Christ and His
doctrine as a cloak to cover their abominable doings.
"These wicked practices of men wearing the name of Jesus only
to further their evil designs aroused the indignation of some true
Christians, who, with pen on fire and warning voices, denounced
the lying rage of the anti-Semites. In articles written by the
latter in defense of the Jews, I often met with passages where
Jesus was spoken of as He Who brings joy to man, the Prince of
peace, and the Redeemer; and His Gospel was extolled as a message
of love and life to all people. I was surprised and scarcely
trusted my eyes when I espied in a hidden corner the New
Testament which some 30 years before I had in vexation taken
from a Jewish teacher, and I began to turn over its leaves and
read. How can I express the impression which I then received?
"Not the half had been told me of the greatness, power and
glory of this Book, formerly a sealed book to me. All seemed so
new, arid yet it did me good, like the sight of an old friend who
has laid aside his dusty, travel-worn garments, and appears in in
festive attire, like a bridegroom in wedding robes, or a bride
adorned with her jewels." For two or three years Rabbi
Lichtenstein kept these convictions locked in his own breast. He
began, however, in his synagogue to preach strange and new
doctrines which both interested and astonished his hearers. At
last he could contain himself no longer. Preaching one Sabbath
from Jesus's parable of the whited sepulcher, he openly avowed
that his subject was taken from the New Testament and spoke of
Jesus as the true Messiah, the Redeemer of Israel. Ultimately he
embodied his ideas in three publications appearing in rapid
succession which created a tremendous sensation among the Jews,
not only in Hungary, but throughout the continent of Europe. And
no wonder; for here was an old and respected Rabbi, still in
office, calling upon his people in burning words to align
themselves under the banner of the long- despised Jesus of
Nazareth, and to hail Him as their true Messiah and King.
As was inevitable, no sooner did official Jewry realize the
significance of Rabbi Lichtenstein's position and writings than a
storm of persecution broke loose upon him. From the Jewish pulpit
and in the Press anathemas were hurled at his head, and he who but
a few weeks before was classed among the noblest leaders and
teachers was now described as a disgrace and reproach to his
nation — all because he dared pronounce the hated name of Jesus.
The falsehood was spread that he had sold himself to the
missionaries. Some even asserted that he had never written the
pamphlets himself, but had only been bribed to affix
his name to them. He was cited to appear before the
assembled rabbinate in Budapest. On entering the hall he was
greeted with the cry, "Retract! Retract!"
"Gentlemen," said the Rabbi, "I shall most
willingly retract if you convince me I am wrong."
Chief Rabbi Kohn proposed a compromise. Rabbi Lichtenstein might
believe whatever he liked in his heart, if he would only refrain
from preaching about Jesus. As to those dreadful pamphlets which
he had already written, the mischief could be undone by a very
simple process. The Synod of Rabbis would draw up a document to
the effect that the Rabbi wrote what he did in a fit of temporary
insanity and all that would be required of him would be to add his
name to this statement. Rabbi Lichtenstein answered calmly but
indignantly that this was a strange proposal to make to him seeing
that he had only just come into his right mind. Then they demanded
that he should resign his position and be formally baptized to
indicate that he was leaving the Jewish people, but he replied
that he had no intention of joining the state appoved church. He
had found in the New Testament the true Judaism, and would remain
as before with his congregation, and preach it in the synagogue.
He did so, and this in spite of many persecutions and reproaches
which were heaped upon him. From his official place as District
Rabbi he continued to teach and to preach from the New Testament.
This was a touching testimony to the strong attachment of his own
community, which alone had the power to make request for his
dismissal, Judaism being a state religion in Hungary. As a matter
of fact much pressure was brought to bear upon them, and some
members of the congregation and the relatives of his wife were
completely ruined by loss of trade; but still they clung to him.
By this time Rabbi Lichtenstein and his writings had become widely
known, and different church and missionary organizations sought
his services. The Papacy soon learned of the existence and
significance of the man, and a special emissary from the Pope
visited Tapio Szele with tempting offers if he would but enter the
service of Rome. To all he had but one reply: "I will remain
among my own nation, I love Messiah, I believe in the New
Testament; but I am not drawn to join Christendom. Just as the
prophet Jeremiah, after the destruction of Jerusalem, in spite of
the generous offers of Nebuchadnezzar and the captain of his host,
chose rather to remain and lament among the ruins of the holy
city, and with the despised remnant of his brethren, so will I
remain among my own brethren, as a watchman from within and to
plead with them to behold in Jesus the true glory of Israel."
At last, however, after losing his all in the endeavor to save
some of the members of his congregation from ruin, and with his
health much impaired by the many trials and sorrows which fell to
his lot in consequence of his bold stand for the truth, he
voluntarily resigned his office as District Rabbi. He settled in
Budapest, where he found ample scope for his talents, but the
opposition to him was relentless. He was shadowed and even
physically attacked on the street. His barber was bribed to
disfigure his beautiful beard. His landlord kept a close watch on
everyone who visited him 'and reported to the rabbinical
authorities. But as a stream stemmed in its course forces for
itself new channels, so he was continually interviewed and drawn
into discussion by Jews from every walk of life.
"Wisdom cries without and causes her voice to be heard in the
street," he wrote to his friend, David Baron, a Messianic
Jewish Scholar. "Doctors, professors and officials, as also
educated ladies, come to my house. Many families of position also
visit us who condemn the harsh conduct of the rabbinate here in
relation to me. Many foreigners also visit me. I have often very
grave, important discussions with Talmudists and Rabbis from a
long distance, who wish to bring me to a compromise; and it is
worthy to note that many who had formerly no knowledge of the New
Testament, and stared blankly and incredulously at me when I
quoted its sublime doctrines, have afterwards begged to possess
one."
In a letter to his son, a doctor, Rabbi Lichtenstein wrote
"From every line in the New Testament, from every word, the
Jewish spirit streamed forth light, life, power, endurance, faith,
hope, love, charity, limitless and indestructible faith in
God."
For over twenty years it was given to Rabbi Lichtenstein to
witness in many parts of Europe to the truth as he saw it in
Messiah. At last the storms of controversy, of misunderstanding
and antagonism, began to tell on him. His spirit, however,
remained undaunted. About this time he wrote: "Dear Jewish
brethren, I have been young, and now am old. I have attained the
age of 80 years, which the Psalmist speaks of as the utmost period
of human life on earth. When others of my age are reaping with joy
the fruit of their labours, I am alone, almost forsaken, because I
have lifted up my voice in warning, '0 Israel, turn to the Lord
thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take these words
and turn thee to the Lord thy God.' 'Kiss the Son, lest He be
angry, and ye perish from the way.'
"I, an honoured Rabbi for the space of 40 years, am now, in
my old age, treated by my friends as one possessed by an evil
spirit, and by my enemies as an outcast. I am become a butt of
mockers who point the finger at me. But while I live I will stand
on my watchtower, though I may stand there all alone. I will
listen to the words of God, and look for the time when He will
return to Zion in mercy, and Israel shall fill the world with his
joyous cry, 'Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He that
cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest''"
Quite unexpectedly he was taken ill and lingered only a short
while. As he realized that his end was approaching, in the
presence of his wife and the nurse, he said:
"Give my warmest thanks and greetings, to my brethren and
friends; goodnight, my children; goodnight, my enemies, you can
injure me no more. We have one God and one Father of all who are
called children in heaven and on earth, and one Messiah who gave
up His life on the cursed tree for the salvation of men. Into Thy
hands I commend my spirit."
On the morning of Friday, October 16, 1909, at the age of 85,
Rabbi Lichtenstein entered into the presence of his Lord. |