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, the Messianic
Jewish Professor of 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, but he replied that he
had no intention of joining any 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 win 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. |