Posted on 06/18/2014 8:31:15 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine
Is it a coincidence that countries with healthy Jewish populations tend to enjoy far greater economic success than those without? King Edward I expelled the Jews from England in 1290. For about two hundred years prior, England's economy had been growing dramatically with Jews playing a significant role in the development of silver mining, currency and banking. With their departure, the English economy went into decline.
In his wonderful book, History of the English Speaking Peoples, Winston Churchill explains that as bankers and lenders Jews held the mortgages on a great deal of English land on which they had loaned money to the crown or aristocratic landowners. Edward I realized he could transfer all those instruments to himself by expelling the Jews. He did exactly that. It may have helped Edward but it hurt the country.
Almost immediately, English economic vitality plummeted. Twenty five years later there was a terrible famine that decimated the population. For about 350 years England's economy languished, only to recover when Oliver Cromwell encouraged Dutch Jews to move to England.
A similar scenario played out when Spain expelled its Jews in 1492. After centuries of glittering economic prowess, Spain went into decline. Though the expulsion order was officially revoked in 1968, until very recently Spain never invited its Jews back and it remains one of the most conspicuous failures of the European Economic Union.
The truth is that when countries expel Jewish Biblical values by adopting socialism, either through revolution as in Russia, China, and Cuba or through a sad slide as in a number of European countries and perhaps even the United States, their economies fade and fail just as surely as did those of England and Spain.
Conversely, countries that reopen themselves, at least on some level, to Biblical values, inevitably see their economies begin to thrive. Think of South Korea. China has definitely become more open to Christianity with over a hundred million Christians and, not surprisingly, a rapidly growing economy. The jury is still out on Russia but I am seeing a new openness towards Christianity and Judaism in that troubled land so I expect to see their economy starting to improve quite noticeably.
However, for the purposes of this Thought Tool let's examine three characteristics that traditional Jewish values impart to the culture in which they live. Trust. Ownership. Being nice.
Trust:
When a Jewish merchant in Amsterdam shipped goods to a co-religionist in Paramaribo he could be confident that when the ship arrived, he would be paid. When Quakers established Barclays Bank in London at the end of the 17th century, people deposited money because Quakers who adhered to Biblical values were trusted.
Ancient Jewish wisdom teaches that the first question we will all be asked when we arrive in judgment before the Heavenly Throne is "Did you conduct your business affairs in a trustworthy way?" Trust flourishes among those guided by principles such as exact weights and measures from Leviticus 19, leading to prosperity.
Ownership:
The Torah has many laws that only make sense in a culture that allows individuals to own property. For instance, we are warned against infringing on the boundaries of our neighbors' property. (Deuteronomy 19:14). The Tenth Commandment prohibits us from even wanting other's property.
Though King Ahab angered the Lord greatly by worshiping the Baal idols he was stripped of his kingdom only after he stole Navot's vineyard. (I Kings 21:19)
Decency:
Admonitions that include being kind to the orphan and widow, not gossiping and being grateful are incumbent on each individual. Not surprisingly, people prefer dealing with others who treat them kindly, courteously and considerately.
Business means serving others in exchange for their payment and being in business incentivizes us to become a little more trustworthy, more aware of the importance of people's possessions, and a little more kind, courteous, and considerate. Truly, if we are faithful to God's system, doing well is proof of doing good.
Right now the most devastating obstacle to increasing your income is when you subconsciously buy into today's relentless cultural message that having a lot of money is evidence that you're not a good person. The only way to expiate your sins, they tell you, is for the government to take more of your money in an effort to introduce the fairness that your success violated. Unless you can extirpate this belief from your heart, your efforts will be handicapped.
same thing happened to Spain after 1492...
Spain never was a leader in the world again after they expelled the Jews ...
everything dried up for them..
Pretty starry-eyed article. Jews are human beings like everyone else. Healthy economics results from fair banking practices, and like most things works well when it is practiced honestly. Perhaps more than most through history (because it’s proper function ensured their livelihood), Jews were aware that their honesty must be trusted for the banking system to work. History shows, however, that this was the cover story for a system actually based on taking hostages, in the form of “collateral.” So really, the actual “honesty” inevitably boiled down to returning the collateral after the deal was properly concluded, and not just stealing everything.
Which, of course, is in fact a certain level of honesty.
One, for example, rarely practiced today.
Amazing how the banking industry started out with hostage taking back in the ancient days and look at how they run things today.
“Collateral” trailer
with Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx
(yeah, Tom’s being his usual ‘eccentric’ self!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BDx6ZPHV4w
Good movie in regards to Jamie Foxx’s character.
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