There is a small poem that is often quoted in Christian Bible studies that goes like this: How odd/ Of God/ To choose/ The Jews. Jews often use the word Goyim to refer to non-Jews. And so an unknown Jew with a biting wit responded to “How odd / Of God/ To choose/ The Jews” by writing these words: “Not odd / Of God / Goyim / Annoy 'im.”

I cite these little bits of creative poetry strictly in fun. Our Jewish friends are generally delightful people, and they have contributed to the advance of civilization far out of proportion to their numbers.

The New Testament is often called anti-Semitic, or anti-Jewish. I believe that is in error. There is no question that it has been used many times throughout history to justify persecution of the Jews. And that is unforgivable. After all, Jesus himsel…