Dear Ones,

The following article was written by Ron Cantrell, a good friend and believer in Yeshua – Ron lives in Israel with his wife Carol. If you would like to learn more about their ministry, please contact us for information on how to contact them. - Pastor Rick

“Will You Blow the Shofar for Us?”

This question came on one of my former trips to Poland. I was on a journey to speak at a conference held by two brothers who head projects that aid the Jews of the former Soviet Union. Their efforts are aimed both at rescuing Jews, who wish to return home to Israel, as well as feeding and clothing those who are too old or too ill to return.

These two brothers were born in Oswiecim, the Polish village across the river from Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp. Having grown up in the shadow of horror, the two have determined to live free of the stigma by actively demonstrating the love of God to the Jewish people who are still within their reach. It is an active determination to try to repair the chasm in the universe made by Hitler’s madness.

“Roman” questioned me about blowing the shofar, explaining that the participants at his conference had never heard one and would love to hear how the shofar sounded. I requested just a few minutes to tell what the shofar blowing meant to the Jewish people before sounding it. He readily agreed.

Shofar over Lublin – the Jerusalem of Europe

Before Israel declared statehood in 1948, Lublin was known as the Jerusalem of Europe. Due to the population, strength and vitality of the Jewish community there, it was considered the center of Judaism, and the

place for all answers to religious questions. Lublin no longer has even a minyan, the ten religious Jewish men required for a formal synagogue service.

I explained to the conference delegates that the shofar is blown on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. I also explained that there is a formula for the blowing:

   • One long blast – symbolizing that Israel was once whole
   • Three short blasts – symbolizing that Israel was broken
   • Nine staccato blasts – symbolizing the shattering of Israel.
   • One very long blast – symbolizing that Israel will be whole again in the end of time.

As I picked up the shofar to blow it, I had a vision of the Lord standing with His people in the death camp telling them that within less than 50 years, hundreds of these same people would be gathering at conferences to hear everything they could about the Jewish people and the God of Israel – and His plan for Israel in the end time.

It awed me to think that the city in which I was blowing the shofar was living proof of the very lesion I was teaching the delegates – Israel would be whole again. I was blowing the shofar in a city whose Jewish population had been destroyed and those who survived had left –most of them to the nation I had just come from, Israel.
Though I had demonstrated the shofar and explained the meaning many times before in other places, at that moment, it had meaning like it never had before.

Poland’s Jewish History

Poland’s early history is peopled with Jews who sought a shorter trade route to Europe across it’s land mass. The date of their arrival is unknown, but Ibrahim Ibn Jakub (a Jewish traveler, merchant and diplomat from Tortosa, Spain) in the account of his journey in 965, made mention of Krakow. Many Jews traveled through the Piast lands, the name of the land-tilling tribes. Some settled permanently with their families to make their livelihoods through commerce.

In later times, banished from many countries, victims of social and religious upheavals, intolerance and persecution, Jews looked to Poland for asylum and Poland sheltered her Jews for Centuries. Polish dukes and kings appreciated their talents and granted them privileges and conditions for a peaceful life. Poland became host over time to the largest concentration of Jews in Europe and the most potent hub for Jewish culture as well. There existed a wide diversity of various religious and cultural currents. A major role in the industrialization of the nation was played by eminent
groups of Jewish entrepreneurs, bankers, industrialists and merchants. Jewish citizens were prominent in the fields of publishing, photography and motion pictures.

A unique Jewish culture blossomed in pre-World War II Poland. Eminent writers and poets created classic works. The main Judaic Library and the Institute of Judaic Studies are located in Warsaw in what is now the Jewish Historical Institute Building.

Jews actively participated in national independence uprisings, which took place on Polish lands. Many Polish Jews were enlisted in the Legions, which fought for the independence that was finally achieved in 1918. About 100,000 Jewish soldiers found themselves in the ranks of the Polish Army at the start of World War II in September of 1939.

About thirty dailies and over 130 Jewish periodicals were in circulation just prior to the outbreak of the war in 1939. As you can see, Poland views herself as key in the restoration of the Jewish people to their homeland. In light of all of this, it is not surprising that Poland is rising again for the Jewish people. We want to be on-board with those who see this phase of history unfolding and are not merely reading about it.

Ron Cantrell