The letter “Regime Change is Reminiscent of the Old Testament” (Jan. 28) reminded me of my mother’s advice not to talk about religion (or money or politics) with strangers. Someone’s eventually going to get offended. The letter contains a few misconceptions about Jews that I can’t let sit.  

Jewish people don’t (as the letter first suggests) “follow the ‘Olde Testament’ or Five Books of Moses” without many changes and meeting the demands of modern life. Some Jews follow many of the laws while some Jews follow very few.

No Jews live as the Hebrews did 2,500 years ago — no more than do modern Christians live like the small communities led by the apostles and St. Paul 2,000 years ago.

The letter also contains a troubling cliche: the idea that Jewish people split up the world into “Jews” and “goyim.”  “Shush, don’t tell the goyim” ends the letter. The accusation that Jews set themselves apart from and oppose themselves to non-Jews has often been used to justify hostility to Jews: if the Jews are out to get you, then it’s okay for you to get them first.

Your Jewish neighbors and friends don’t see the non-Jews in their communities as outsiders or reject them as “goyim.” They see them as neighbors and friends.

Of course, many Jewish people do believe (as the letter reminds us) that Jews are the “chosen” people of God. The Bible says so. And, of course, their enemies have often used that belief as an excuse for attacks. But it is just one belief among many, and some Jews take it to heart more than others.

Christ, in contrast, makes salvation available to everyone in the world. But Christ also fulfills the promises God made, in the Old Testament, to His chosen people.

David Perry
Bristol