Martin Luther’s Antisemitism (Protestantism)

Figure: Martin Luther (1532), whose later writings turned virulently against Jews. Early in his career Luther hoped to convert Jews to his reformed Christianity, but when they did not accept his message he became bitterly hostile jta.org. In his 1543 treatise “On the Jews and Their Lies,” Luther denounced Jews as “dishonest heathens” and “base, whoring people,” and he urged civil authorities to crush Jewish life jta.orgjta.org. He wrote that synagogues and Jewish homes should be burned, prayer books confiscated, rabbis forbidden to preach, and Jews exiled from Christian lands. He even argued that Jews be forced into hard labor (“earn their bread in the sweat of their brow”) or banished entirely jta.org. This extreme rhetoric was rooted in supersessionist theology (the idea that Jews lost God’s favor by rejecting Christ) and longstanding medieval motifs (the charge of deicide and blood libel) encyclopedia.ushmm.orgencyclopedia.ushmm.org. In Luther’s view, Jews “murdered Christ” and needed to be punished for their faithlessness encyclopedia.ushmm.orgjta.org.

These writings spread widely among German Protestants. Luther’s antisemitic tracts were reprinted and quoted for centuries jta.org. In the 19th–20th centuries, Nazi ideologues openly exploited them: Adolf Hitler and other Nazis admired Luther’s antisemitism, and Nazi propaganda drew on his language to justify racial persecution jta.orgen.wikipedia.org. Historians note that Luther’s writings helped create an intellectual climate in which the Nazi genocide could occur. For example, one scholar observes that Luther’s influence on German Protestant rulers “contributed to the expulsion of Jews from the German region of Saxony in 1543” jta.org. In modern times Lutheran churches have formally repudiated Luther’s antisemitism. In 1994 the U.S. Evangelical Lutheran Church declared the “catastrophes, including the Holocaust… suffered by Jews” were a burden on Lutherans and explicitly rejected Luther’s anti-Jewish writings as un-Christian jta.orgjta.org.

Catholicism and Antisemitism

Early Doctrine and Medieval Church

From its beginnings the (Catholic) Church developed anti-Jewish doctrines. Early Church Fathers (e.g. St. John Chrysostom) preached that Jews were collectively guilty of killing Christ, a charge known as deicide encyclopedia.ushmm.org. By the Middle Ages this became entrenched doctrine: as the Holocaust Encyclopedia notes, Christian leaders “developed or solidified” the idea that “all Jews were responsible for the crucifixion of Christ” and that their dispersal was divine punishment for persisting in Judaism encyclopedia.ushmm.orgencyclopedia.ushmm.org. These teachings underpinned centuries of hostility. Church councils and papal decrees then codified discrimination. For example, the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215 required all Jews (and Muslims) in Christendom to wear distinctive badges to mark them apart, forbade them from public office or intermarriage with Christians, and generally segregated them from Christian society en.wikipedia.org. Popes issued bulls to protect Jews from outright violence (Sicut Judaeis), yet simultaneously restricted Jewish religious practice (e.g. banning study of the Talmud and limiting synagogue privileges) en.wikipedia.org.

Medieval Christian society often viewed Jews through conspiratorial myths. Blood-libel legends (false claims that Jews murdered Christian children for ritual purposes) became widespread and were taught from pulpits encyclopedia.ushmm.org. These myths – tied to the charge of deicide – frequently incited violence: a blood-libel accusation “often led to pogroms, violent riots” against Jews, sometimes even with tacit approval of authorities encyclopedia.ushmm.org. Throughout the Middle Ages, Jewish communities in Catholic countries lived in ghettos or special quarters, paid special taxes, and were barred from many trades. When rulers wanted to placate popular antisemitism or confiscate wealth, they expelled Jewish populations entirely (notably from England in 1290, from France in 1306 and 1394, from Spain in 1492 by the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, and from Portugal in 1497) – though these events are documented in many histories beyond this summary.

Theologically, the Church’s stance painted Jews as spiritually “blind” and “in darkness” for refusing Christ. Until the mid-20th century even official liturgy reflected this prejudice. In the traditional Good Friday prayer (used from 1570–1955), Jews were explicitly called “faithless” and prayed for “the blindness of that people” to be removed so they might acknowledge Christ en.wikipedia.org. This prayer only began to be revised in the 20th century (with Pope Pius XII removing “faithless” in 1955 and Vatican II’s Nostra Aetate (1965) dropping all deicide language).

Twentieth-Century Catholic Church

By the 20th century, mainstream Catholic leadership was more cautious about public antisemitism – but anti-Jewish sentiment still ran deep in much of Catholic society. Pope Pius XI’s 1937 encyclical Mit brennender Sorge explicitly criticized Nazi racism as idolatrous, and Pius XII spoke against genocide in general terms. However, the Vatican’s diplomacy during the Nazi era was complicated. The 1933 Reichskonkordat between the Vatican and Nazi Germany was intended to protect Church rights, not to endorse Nazi ideology en.wikipedia.org. In practice, the Nazis quickly violated the concordat: they shut down Catholic schools and youth groups, imprisoned priests, and by 1936 had sent over a third of the clergy into concentration camps en.wikipedia.org.

In Germany the Catholic hierarchy mostly opposed Nazism from the start. Even before Hitler’s rise, bishops warned that the Nazi Party’s paganism and extremism were incompatible with Christian faith en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. For example, in 1930–31 Catholic leaders like Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber publicly forbade Catholics from joining the Nazis, saying that any Nazi policy irreconcilable with Catholic doctrine must be condemned en.wikipedia.org. Cardinal Adolf Bertram urged Catholics to oppose National Socialism “in its entirety” as fundamentally opposed to Christian truths en.wikipedia.org. Catholic newspapers and clergy frequently denounced Nazi ideology (often calling it a new paganism) and even banned Nazi uniforms from church events en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. In contrast to fringe claims, the Vatican never blessed Hitler’s war; on the contrary, many Church leaders spoke against Nazi policies. In Poland and other occupied lands, thousands of Catholic priests and nuns were murdered by the Nazis for resisting their anti-Christian policies en.wikipedia.org.

During World War II the Church’s position was one of reluctant opposition and protection of victims. Catholic clergy like Bishop Clemens von Galen of Münster openly denounced Nazi atrocities (such as the euthanasia of the disabled) from the pulpit en.wikipedia.org. The Vatican used its radio and diplomacy to aid persecuted Jews and others, condemning race murders in general terms (Pius XII called the invasion of Poland an “hour of darkness” en.wikipedia.org). Notably, in every Nazi-occupied country many priests did risk their lives to rescue Jews – by hiding them in convents, issuing false baptismal papers, or lobbying Axis officials on their behalf en.wikipedia.org. The war decor of Nazi Germany did feature a black Iron Cross (a historic Prussian medal) on its flags, but this was a secular military symbol long predating Nazism – Hitler’s movement itself adopted the swastika as its emblem, not a Christian cross. en.wikipedia.org

Historical Consequences of Christian Antisemitism

• Violence and Expulsions: Centuries of Christian antisemitic teaching fueled massacres and forced migrations of Jews. Medieval Crusades and local pogroms (often blood libel-driven) led to countless deaths encyclopedia.ushmm.org. Dozens of Christian kingdoms eventually expelled Jews outright (e.g. England 1290, Spain 1492, etc.), spreading Jewish refugees through Europe and beyond. Luther’s calls to hostility even helped drive a 1543 Jewish expulsion in Saxony jta.org.

• Legal Discrimination and Isolation: Church-backed laws ghettoized Jews in Christian lands. By the late Middle Ages Jews were legally segregated (badges, special taxes) and barred from many occupations. They were forbidden to hold public office or live among Christians, and at times (like the Spanish Inquisition) Jews faced conversion pressure or death. Such systemic exclusion was a direct legacy of Christian antisemitic doctrine en.wikipedia.org.

• Myth and Stereotype: Christian antisemitism cemented destructive stereotypes – that Jews are greedy usurers, Christ-killers, or ritual murderers – which corrupted cultural attitudes. These myths (blood libel, host desecration, etc.) persisted into modern times and provided pseudo-religious cover for hatred encyclopedia.ushmm.org.

• Modern Ideology and the Holocaust: The Protestant and Catholic churches’ long histories of anti-Jewish teaching provided ideological tools later used by racist movements. Nazis openly drew on Christian themes of deicide and villainous Jews in their propaganda. Scholars note that “ancient antipathies between Christianity and Judaism” helped prepare the ground for 20th-century racial antisemitism en.wikipedia.org. Luther’s writings, for instance, appeared in Nazi propaganda brochures jta.org. While antisemitism arose from many sources, this legacy was a contributing factor to the Holocaust.

• Post-war Repentance and Reform: After World War II both churches formally re-examined these traditions. In 1965 the Catholic Church’s Nostra Aetate decisively repudiated the idea that Jews are cursed as Christ’s killers, affirming a shared heritage with Judaism en.wikipedia.org. Protestant bodies have likewise apologized for past hatred; for example, in 1994 the Lutheran church formally renounced Luther’s antisemitic tracts and pledged respect for Jews jta.orgen.wikipedia.org. These statements (and ongoing interfaith dialogue) are direct consequences of confronting the historic sins of both Catholicism and Protestantism.

Catholic & Protestant Persecution of Nazarene Judaism, Hebrew Roots, and Torah-Observant Believers in Yeshua

1. Early Church Suppression of Torah-Keeping Believers

Nazarene Judaism in the 1st–4th Centuries

• The original Nazarenes (Acts 24:5) believed Yeshua was the Messiah, but they also kept the Torah — including Sabbath, feasts, and dietary laws.

• Church Fathers like Epiphanius (4th c.) condemned the Nazarenes for “still observing the Law” (Panarion 29).

• Justin Martyr, in Dialogue with Trypho, dismissed Jewish believers who followed Torah and insisted that true Christians must abandon Mosaic law.

• Irenaeus (2nd c.) and Origen later reinforced this, branding Torah-observant believers in Yeshua as “heretics.”

By the 4th century, Torah-observant followers of Yeshua were excluded from the institutional Church, labeled “Judaizers,” and sometimes excommunicated.

2. Catholic Councils and Inquisitions

Church Decrees Against Jewish Practices

• The Council of Laodicea (4th c.) prohibited Christians from keeping the Sabbath (Canon 29) and warned against “Judaizing.” (Judiazing is either keeping torah and the sabbaths, OR trying to earn salvation by works. https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/judaizers )

• The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) separated Easter from Passover explicitly to sever ties with Jewish roots.

• Catholic Canon Law outlawed Torah practices among believers, even those ethnically Jewish.

Spanish Inquisition (15th–17th c.)

• Jewish converts to Catholicism (conversos) were targeted if they were caught keeping Torah in secret.

• The Inquisition viewed Torah observance as evidence of relapsing into Judaism and often punished it by imprisonment, torture, or execution.

• Thousands of Messianic Jews and crypto-Jews were killed or forced to flee Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

⚠️ Torah observance among Christians was seen as a crime of heresy punishable by death.

3. Protestant Reformation and Rejection of Torah

Martin Luther

• As covered earlier, Luther viewed Torah-observant Jews (and Christians) as dangerous legalists.

• He rejected Torah for Christians entirely, calling the Law “a burden” incompatible with grace.

• Luther’s hatred of “Judaizers” extended even to Christians who wished to retain any Mosaic command.

John Calvin and Others

• Calvin dismissed Torah observance for Gentiles as “shadowy ceremonies.”

• Reformation theology adopted supersessionism — the view that the Church replaced Israel.

• Torah-keeping believers were excluded from churches and sometimes punished as false teachers.

Protestant leaders, though reforming Catholic abuses, did not restore Torah. They continued the accusation of legalism against any believer who kept Sabbath, feasts, or kosher laws.

4. Modern Marginalization of Hebrew Roots / Messianic Torah Believers

Mischaracterizations in Theology

• Hebrew Roots and Torah-observant Messianic believers are often labeled as:

  • “Legalists”

  • “Judaizers”

  • “Heretics”

• Mainstream evangelical seminaries teach against Torah observance, citing Galatians out of context.

• Believers who honor Sabbath, feasts, or wear tzitzit are accused of denying grace or “returning to the Law.”

Institutional Rejection

• Messianic believers are sometimes excluded from:

  • Christian schools

  • Church membership

  • Missionary and leadership positions

• Today in the United States and elsewhere in the world, Torah Observant people, both those who accept yeshua and who reject yeshua, have faced challenges with employment, housing, shelter, and other resources, as a result of antisemitism. In some countries and states there is no access to synagogues, Israeli consulates, or an Israeli embassy. antisemitism can cause anxiety, stress, poverty, physical injury, loss of life, and be very traumatic.
• In areas like and around the state of Idaho in the United States, there are Nazi groups such as Aryan Nations is a North American antisemitic, neo-Nazis and white supremacists, who are willing to shoot and murder torah observant people and those of Jewish decent. 
• Due to the theological roots of persecution that are still practiced, believed, and taught today, this radical antisemitism still has continued all over the world, even in the United States. 

5. Theological Root of Persecution: Replacement Theology & Antinomianism

• Both Catholic and Protestant traditions historically upheld replacement theology, teaching that:

  • The Church replaces Israel (see Ephesians 2. The ecclesia is israel, and is not a church, as the word church is not in the greek, hebrew, or aramaic bibles, and is used to describe catholic and protestant institutions, as well as Mormons, 7th day aventists, and others. The biblical word ecclesia means to be set apart. The word Catholic means to be unified or united, as we see Catholicism and Islam combined and unified today. The ecclesia is separate from Catholicism and protestants, historically and biblically. The root word of church is circe. We are not a circe.)

  • The Torah is no longer relevant (see Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 3:31…)

  • Jewish identity must be abandoned upon believing in Jesus (John 4:22 “You are worshiping what you do not know. We know what we are worshiping, for The Life is of the Jews.” Aramaic Bible in Plain English used with permission from glenn david bausher.  

• Antinomianism (“against law”) and dispensationalism contributed to the suppression of any effort to return to biblical Torah practices in the Body of Messiah.

Summary

Here is a thoroughly documented overview of current perpetrators targeting Torah-observant followers of Yeshua—including Messianic Jews, Hebrew Roots, and Nazarene believers—particularly in Protestant, Catholic, and broader religious settings both in the U.S. and globally:

1. Protestant Denominations & Individuals

While generalized Protestant persecution is less formal than state-sponsored actions, significant bias still affects Torah-observant believers:

A. Replacement Theology & Theological Bias

• Many Protestant theologies promote supersessionism (replacement theology), viewing Torah-observance as outdated; critics like John Piper argue that the church “inherits” biblical promises reddit.com+6crcna.org+6baptistpress.com+6mjmi.org+1ynetnews.com+1.

• Movements like Palestinian Liberation Theology deem Old Testament biblical teachings “racist” and advocate against Jewish land rights, thereby opposing Torah observance mjmi.org.

B. Social & Academic Hostility

• In churches and seminaries, Hebrew Roots and Messianic believers are frequently labeled “legalists”, alienated from leadership roles or fellowship.

• Even historically Christian family or church groups now often reject Messianic Jews — banned from online communities, ostracized as disloyal or cult-like reddit.com+2reddit.com+2ynetnews.com+2.

2. Catholic Opposition

Although the Catholic hierarchy officially repudiates antisemitism (e.g., Vatican II’s Nostra Aetate), opposition persists:

• In mix-religion families or communities, Catholic critics often deny the legitimacy of Messianic beliefs, labeling them Christian heresy disguised as Jewish identity jewcy.com+15jewsforjesus.co.za+15mjmi.org+15reddit.com+1reddit.com+1.

• While not formally issued by the Church, secular and cultural pushback occurs against Torah observance among people identifying as Jewish in Catholic-majority nations.

3. Secular & Online Hate

Beyond explicit religious persecution:

A. Digital Censorship & Hate Speech

• On platforms like Reddit and Facebook, Torah-observant believers face bans. Common accusations include: “Messianics are Christians cosplaying as Jews” and “they’re deceitful cultists” crcna.orgreddit.com.

• Jewish communities often exclude them from key public spaces, denying their identity and cultural participation .

B. Violent Extremism

• Instances of physical intimidation include arson attacks on Israeli meeting places, bombs disguised as gifts, and threats of spiritual harm, particularly during religious holidays .

4. Summary of Current Persecutors

Antisemitic Incidents in the Pacific Northwest

Below is an expanded overview of notable antisemitic acts in Washington, Oregon, Idaho (including Lewiston), and Spokane through mid-2025.

Washington (Statewide)

• 2022–2023 trend: Reported antisemitic incidents jumped from 65 in 2022 to 190 in 2023, per ADL data.
• November 2023: Suspicious white-powder letters sent to nine Jewish institutions in Seattle and Mercer Island.
• Summer 2023: “Shame on Israel” and “Stop Killing” spray-painted on Beth Shalom synagogue, Mercer Island.
• June 26, 2025: A 15-year-old Jewish student at Nathan Hale High hid in a locked classroom while classmates pounded on the door with antisemitic slurs; lawsuit alleges school ignored months of prior threats and graffiti【TJVN】.

Spokane, Washington

• January 24, 2024: Plymouth Congregational Church’s “GOD BLESS ISRAEL” sign defaced with an expletive and “Zionism” in orange spray paint.
• January 22, 2024: Spokane City Council unanimously condemned antisemitism and Islamophobia after pro-Palestinian protests challenged a prior resolution on Hamas war crimes.
• October 2025 (planned): Canceled Bob Vylan concert at the Knitting Factory after U.S. State Department revoked visas over “death to the IDF” chants, averting potential provocation.

Oregon

• 2022–2023 trend: Antisemitic acts rose from 40 in 2022 to 124 in 2023 statewide.
• February 2022: Two stained-glass Stars of David shattered at Congregation Neveh Shalom in Portland.
• May 2025: Swastikas and “Free Palestine” graffiti etched into a Jewish couple’s garage door in Portland’s Laurelhurst neighborhood.

Idaho

• 2022–2023 trend: Incidents modestly declined from 25 in 2022 to 22 in 2023, but targeted harassment persisted.
• February 2022: Antisemitic and racist graffiti defaced Hailey High School bathrooms in Blaine County.
• December 2024: Swastikas and Nazi slogans painted on private vehicles near Sawtooth Jewish Congregation in Ketchum.

Lewiston, Idaho

• Local Jewish residents cite harassing comments at school or work, and occasional vandalism on personal property.
• Lewiston hosts no synagogue or formal Jewish community center; congregants must travel over 170 miles to Spokane or 300 miles to Boise for regular worship and communal support.
• The absence of local Jewish infrastructure means harassment often goes unrecorded and unaddressed, leaving victims without immediate safe spaces or communal advocates.

Infrastructure Gaps Heightening Vulnerability

• Nearest Israeli Consulate: San Francisco (≈800 mi). Delays in emergency passports, visas, and legal aid when hate incidents spike.
• No Regional Embassy: Pacific Northwest Jews lack direct high-level representation to lodge formal protests or obtain rapid diplomatic intervention.
• Sparse Synagogue Network: Outside Seattle, Portland, Boise, and Spokane, many Jewish residents live hours from the nearest shul, reducing access to safe havens, rapid incident reporting, and on-site security support.

Other U.S. Regions Facing Antisemitism with Sparse Israeli Support

Across the country, several regions mirror the Pacific Northwest’s combination of rising antisemitic acts and a lack of nearby Israeli diplomatic posts or robust Jewish infrastructure.

Appalachia (West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee)

• Charleston, WV (2019): A local synagogue’s front door was spray-painted with swastikas and “Hail Hitler.”
• Morgantown, WV (2024): Jewish students at West Virginia University reported repeated slurs and online harassment during pro-Palestinian campus rallies.
• Eastern Kentucky (2023): A Jewish family’s rural home in Floyd County was egged and daubed with “Go home Jew.”

Deep South (Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana)

• Jackson, MS (2021): The Museum of Mississippi Jewish Heritage was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti and shards of broken glass.
• Birmingham, AL (2022): Swastikas were carved into gravestones in the city’s Jewish cemetery.
• Lafayette, LA (2023): Chabad of Acadiana received a threatening letter praising Hitler and demanding Jews leave town.

Rocky Mountain Interior (Montana, Wyoming)

• Missoula, MT (2022): Windows of the Missoula Jewish Community Center were smashed and “Free Gaza” tags scrawled on the facade.
• Billings, MT (2024): A local rabbi’s home was the target of a drive-by egging and shouted slurs.
• Cheyenne, WY (2023): A swastika was painted on the exterior wall of a small synagogue.

Great Plains (North & South Dakota, Nebraska)

• Fargo, ND (2023): A bomb threat forced evacuation of a Chabad House during Shabbat services.
• Rapid City, SD (2022): Swastika graffiti found on the side of a Jewish family’s car.
• Omaha, NE (2024): A Jewish student organization at Creighton University reported repeated antisemitic flyers on campus.

Southern Plains (Oklahoma, Arkansas)

• Tulsa, OK (2022): “You will burn” spray-painted on the exterior of a local Chabad center.
• Little Rock, AR (2023): Harassing phone calls to elderly congregants at Congregation B’nai Israel threatening violence.

Infrastructure Gaps Heightening Vulnerability

• No Nearby Israeli Consulates
  • Atlanta and Houston consulates are the closest for the Deep South and Appalachia—often 500+ miles away.
  • San Francisco and Los Angeles consulates serve the Rocky Mountain interior—distances exceed 800 miles.
• Only a Single Embassy in Washington, D.C.
  • No regional embassies mean communities must rely on distant national-level representation for diplomatic support.
• Scattered Synagogue Network
  • Many rural counties in these regions have no synagogue, Jewish day school, or community center within 100–200 miles.
  • Limited on-site security funding and sparse communal staff leave victims with few local advocates.

These overlaps of geographic isolation, few local Jewish institutions, and long distances to Israeli diplomatic posts leave vulnerable communities without rapid consular assistance, legal-advocacy channels, or safe havens when antisemitic attacks occur.

Protestant employers, landlords, and religious leaders in the United States, believe it is best for those in isolated areas without Israeli support or synagogues, to not be allowed to work or live in these locations; due to their torah observant faiths. In some of the testimony videos on this website, some have shared their stories about being shunned for torah observant faith. Those who are zealous for the Torah should be welcomed and appreciated, and given support; however without resources to comply with extra biblical man made legal requirements, it can be challenging to find a safe place to exist free form persecution for torah observant faith. 

Please pray for and support torah observant people around the world. It’s not enough to support the Aliyah Return Center, Nefesh B’Nefesh, and other groups who’s hands are tied by man made policies and man made laws. We must help the people who have fallen into the gaps, who are not eligible to receive help from these funded organizations, and who can not go through the hoops to meet the man made policies and rules that tie the hands of these groups.  

Sources: Scholars and historical records document these issues (e.g. Luther’s own tracts and their usage jta.orgjta.org; Church laws and councils en.wikipedia.orgencyclopedia.ushmm.org; wartime Church statements en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org; and Holocaust education materials en.wikipedia.orgencyclopedia.ushmm.org). The above synthesis is drawn from these records and analyses.