Three days ago, on November 9th, marked the anniversary of Kristallnacht, which in German means ‘the night of broken glass.’ This night refers to the violent anti-Jewish pogrom that took place on November 9–10, 1938, across Nazi Germany and parts of Austria. During Kristallnacht, over 1,400 synagogues were destroyed or damaged. More than 7,000 Jewish-owned shops and businesses were vandalized. Jewish schools, cemeteries, and homes were also defaced.
Approximately 100 Jews were killed, and 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Less than a year later, World War II began. Kristallnacht serves as a powerful reminder that antisemitism is often the first sign of larger dangers ahead. When hatred toward Jewish people is tolerated or ignored, it quickly spreads like wildfire, engulfing entire nations and civilizations. Every year around November 9, Jewish communities worldwide hold memorial services and candlelight vigils.
This is when they recall the Hester Panim, the “hiding of God’s face,” a powerful phrase in the Torah, representing a time when God’s presence appears hidden and evil runs unchecked. The idea comes directly from Deuteronomy 31:17–18: “Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face (הַסְתֵּר אַסְתִּיר פָּנַי) from them… and many evils and troubles shall befall them.” The rabbis linked this idea to periods of national tragedy, like the destruction of the Temple, exile, and persecution. Yet, the paradox is that Hester Panim also encourages believers to keep trusting God even when He is not visible, affirming faith in silence.
This year, as antisemitism continues to rise around the world, our prayer is that the observance of this day will help many realize that God is not only very present but also shares in the pain and suffering of His people, of all people.
This past week, the main news here in North America and also in Europe was the election of the new mayor in N.Y., Zohran Mamdani. Why are people so fixated on this election and on this man?
First, because he is a Muslim who is now the mayor of the largest city in the U.S. But what is particularly striking, however, is that he adheres to the same branch of Islam as Iran and Hezbollah, the Shia branch, specifically the Twelver sect. The term Twelver refers to the belief in twelve divinely appointed Imams, who serve as spiritual and political successors to the Prophet Muhammad.
Without getting into the details of their theology, they believe that from the year 600 until now, eleven Imams have appeared. The 12th is expected to emerge very soon: he is known as the Hidden Imam called the Mahdī, meaning “the rightly guided one.” They expect he will appear soon on Earth to convert the world to Islam, and many believe this will be through forced conversion. The Mahdi is not just a belief; it is the central pillar of Twelver (Ithnā ʿAsharī) Shia Islam.
The second reason this election is so significant is that Mamdani, an open antisemite, is now the mayor of the city with the largest Jewish population in the Diaspora, which is home to about 1.2 million Jews. Jewish communities worldwide are observing a major shift reflected in this election. Before his victory, over 1,000 rabbis from more than 30 U.S. states and Canada signed a letter warning about his candidacy. For the first time, Reform and Orthodox rabbis, along with members of both the Democratic and Republican parties, are working together against his election—a rare moment of different parties uniting.
What did this man say? To name a few things, Mamdani has refused to explicitly recognize Israel’s right to exist as a “Jewish state.” In the past, he encouraged the globalization of the intifada. Intifada is Arabic for “a shaking off.” It became the term used to describe uprisings against Israeli control, especially, and today intifada generally refers to a violent uprising, often against Israel or Western influence.
Regarding his views on Iran: Mamdani publicly criticized U.S. military action against Iran’s nuclear sites, calling it “unconstitutional military action.” He actually turned against the U.S. It is because of all these things that this election may represent a major turning point in the history of the Jews in the Diaspora.
But what is truly astonishing is that, according to a CNN poll, 33% of Jews voted for him. Many within the community are becoming increasingly liberal in their outlook. Yet one cannot help but ask: How could Jews cast their vote for someone who is openly antisemitic? It seems likely that their choice was driven more by fear than by faith or reason.
However, should a Bible believer be surprised by this news? No! This represents yet another aspect of the rise of antisemitism foretold in the Scriptures.
Beginning with Moses, who wrote 3500 years ago in Deut. 28:65, “Among those nations you shall find no rest, and there will be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul.” Prophets like Zechariah, Joel, and others tell us that all the nations of the world will increasingly turn against Israel. This will be until the return of Yeshua.
However, this is only one part of the prophetic picture. The other part shows that many, yes, a great multitude, will come to a saving knowledge of Yeshua in these very days as His coming draws near. And this is where we are called to act. Through prayer, our testimonies, and boldly proclaiming the Word of God, especially the prophecies about the end times, we can truly make a difference.
Click here for the Video: Israel and the Nations: Kristallnacht and the Mamdani Test