I first met Rabbi Klein in September 1973 when he officiated at the wedding of my father and stepmother. He performed the wedding in his study and it was a simple Jewish wedding with family present. My sisters and I had not wanted to go but my mother told us we should go.
I really did not have much contact with Rabbi Klein, and did not know him very well. In September 1976 one of my Christian friends at NTSU, who went to DBC and was praying for my salvation said she would like to go to a Jewish service. So I invited her along with my mother to Friday night Sabbath services at Temple Emanuel. We said hello to Rabbi Klein after the service. Usually following Friday night Sabbath services, there is an Oneg Shabbat, which is simply coffee and refreshments in the Temple social hall. Also, I noted at the service Rabbi Klein did not give the sermon, but the associate rabbi, Rabbi Bemporad did.
It was only a couple of weeks after attending that Sabbath service that I believed in Jesus.
My mother, being the typical Jewish mother asked me to talk to the Rabbi. Just so you know when a Jewish person comes to believe in Jesus, one of the first things the parents will do is ask him or her to see the Rabbi. Jews for Jesus has a primer for new Christians and their recommendation is that if your parents ask you to see the Rabbi, go and see him. The parents reasoning is that some fast talking Christian got hold of you and a Rabbi knows how to deal with the situation. So he will be able to show you you are wrong and talk you out of what you believe. JFJ also recommended that we go and see the Rabbi alone. It is very uncomfortable for both you and the Rabbi..for you because of you now believe the truth about Jesus, and for the Rabbi, because he does not believe in Jesus. As a matter of fact, JFJ said “remember, they wouldn’t let him keep being a rabbi if he believed what you believe. I read somewhere that there was a Rabbi who did come to believe in Jesus. But he didn’t say anything to anybody about it. He kept quiet because if he said anything he couldn’t be a Rabbi anymore. Then after he retired he told everyone. I’m not sure if that’s the best way to go about it.
JFJ also recommended that we do not get into an argument with the Rabbi over theology. We should tell him we are there because of the parents wishes, and it might also be a good time for us to share our testimony. But it should not be a debate over theology.
I also heard another Rabbi once speak to a gathering of Jews and Christians. He brought 17 NT”s with him. He said these were given to him by 17 people who tried to talk to him about Jesus being the Messiah. Rabbi Segal went on to say that he will give anyone 30 minutes of his time. Bill Ennis who directed the local chapter of Beth Sar Shalom, which is a Hebrew Christian organization, said “I praise God for the 17 people that cared enough about you to give you those NT’s and share the Messiah with you.”
This is beyond this message but I did have 2 very interesting meetings with Rabbi Bemporad. The meetings were 3 years apart. The first meeting didn’t really get anywhere, but the second one went very well with the Rabbi believing I have a good head on my shoulders, and to keep on believing what I believe. That is very unusual because most Rabbi’s won’t come to that conclusion. Just so you know, Rabbi Bemporad told me he no longer will try to talk someone out of their beliefs. He said they have to come to their own conclusions about what they did. He also told me Rabbi Klein still does try to talk someone out of believing in Jesus, and he will give them books to read.
I asked my mother if she had ever talked to Rabbi Klein before. She said she went to talk to him after her divorce, because people said he was very compassionate and a good person to talk to. An article in the Dallas Morning News quoted Rabbi Stern, senior Rabbi of Temple Emanuel as saying, “Rabbi Klein’s driving mission was to be present for people in compassion and humanity and humility at all the most important moments of their lives.” Rabbi’s are usually seen as respected in the Jewish community and one whom a Jew will turn to.
However Mom said, Rabbi Klein’s only remark was, “We all have to learn to live with these things.” Mom said he did not help her, and she left his study more depressed than when she came to him.
Rabbi Klein came to Temple Emanuel in 1952 after serving as Rabbi in another congregation. In 1988 he took the title of Rabbi Emeritus. As Rabbi Klein said, “ I never use the world retired. I never learned poker or golf. As ‘Rabbi Emeritus’ I cut out all the meetings and devote myself almost solely to life cycles…weddings, bar mitzvahs, conversions, baby namings and certainly more funerals. I’m a funeral man. I can’t help it. I’m here so long, I know four or five generations.”
Rabbi Klein was a funeral man. When I read the obituary column in the Dallas Morning News and saw there was a funeral of someone at Temple Emanuel, I would usually read, “Rabbi Gerald Klein officiating.”
Like I said early, I never had much in the way of personal contact with Rabbi Klein. The last time I remember seeing him close up was in September 1994. I went to High Holy Day services with my mother at Temple Emanuel. She knew most of the people there well, including the Rabbi’s. Rabbi Klein did some of the service, such as readings, but he did not give the sermon. After the service I went down to the front of the sanctuary with my mother. She introduced me to the Rabbi’s. One of the Rabbi’s Rabbi Robbins, said “I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m glad you’re spending the High Holy Days with us.” Apparently they did know a lot about me. When Mom took me to Rabbi Klein, I held out my hand to shake hands with him. He would not shake hands with me. As a matter of fact, he turned away, and would not even look at me.
His wife died in 1995 but he continued as Rabbi Emeritus. In 2002 there was a full article about him in the Dallas Morning News. I knew he was getting old, he was in his 80’s and like everyone else, he would face death. As a matter of fact, I drove my friend through Temple Emanuel Cemetery where Mom was encrypted. There is a section of the cemetery for the Rabbi’s. For example there were the graves of Rabbi David Lefkowitz and Rabbi Levi Olan and their wives and children. Rabbi Lefkowitz had been Rabbi at Temple Emanuel from 1920 to 1953. I saw the grave for Rabbi Klein’s wife, Dorothy. Right next to her, was the space for Rabbi Klein.
Just 3 months ago I was thinking about Rabbi Klein and wondered if he was still around. I did a web search and found this article about him.
The article went on to say that Rabbi Klein lived his last days in typical fashion. He dedicated a tombstone on Saturday and officiated at a funeral Monday. Even at age 85 his calendar was still full of life events in the weeks to come.
He died the following Saturday of a heart attack. As Rabbi Stern said, “This Rabbi died with his boots on.”
So here is my question today, which you are going to be giving me a message, where is Rabbi Klein?
You’re answer to that question tells me a lot about what you believe, or don’t believe. Now you might say, Rabbi Klein was a sincere man and a good man. I don’t question that. But sincerity and being good are not what gives you eternal life.
All along we have seen Jesus present Himself as the Son of God. He came to reveal the Father and to do His will. And as we have been listening to His last words to His disciples and His final communion with His Father, it is very clear that Jesus fulfilled the purpose the Father sent Him to do. He did not waver from it or get distracted. He knew what He would face, but He also knew that this was the plan of the Father to save the world through His Son. It is very important to understand the purpose why Jesus came and His mission. I’m a detail person. You’ve probably seen that as we have worked through this gospel. You will definitely see more details as we move into the events of Jesus arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection. And when you see all the events of Jesus final week, you might think that Judas Iscariot, Caiphas, Annas or Pilate are in control of things. We’re going to see that all the events that happened was Jesus fulfilling the plans of the Father.
Let’s look back at some of the words of Jesus. I won’t give a sermon on them because I already have. But we need to remember Jesus words as we move into His final week.
Remember Jesus’ words to Nicodemus?
John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
Jesus was saying, Nicodemus you cannot enter the kingdom by your own works or your own righteousness. Keeping the law won’t get you into heaven. No, you must be born again. Jesus went on to explain the new birth is a spiritual rebirth and is a work of God. I’ve been reading about those who propagate a false gospel. Like, there are many ways to God, or Jesus is not the only way to heaven. Friends if you have not been born again, you face judgment and eternal separation from God. I never did get into a discussion with Rabbi Klein about how to get to heaven. I don’t think he knew. Rabbi Robbins and Rabbi Kaiserman both said they do not know what happens after you die. Bill Rodenberg knows! I know! And hopefully so do you.
If someone tries to tell you there is another way to heaven than believing in Jesus, what do you tell them? How would you answer that question? Or better yet, what was Jesus’ answer to that question?
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Does that sound exclusive? Or do people accuse you of being narrow minded when you quote that verse to them? Just remember, their argument isn’t with you. It’s with Jesus. If you believe He is who He says He is then you also need to believe what He says.
Some of you might have heard this before, but I’m going to read to you what a friend emailed me. See if that doesn’t make it more urgent for us to understand the gospel message and share it with others.
Subject: Never doubt the Word of God!!!
It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7): "Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
Here are some men and women who mocked God:
JOHN LENNON:
Some years before during his interview with an American Magazine, he said:
"Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain.
Jesus was OK, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him" (1966)".
Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.
TANCREDO NEVES:
During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500 votes from his party,
not even God would remove him from Presidency. Sure he got the votes,
but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.
CAZUZA:
During a show in Canecão (Rio de Janeiro), whilst smoking his cigarette,
he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: God, that’s for you.
I can’t even explain how he died.
THE MAN WHO BUILT TITANIC:
After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be.
With an ironic tone he said: "Not even God can sink it"
The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic.
MARILYN MONROE:
She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show.
He is a preacher and Evangelist and the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her.
After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said:
"I don’t need your Jesus."
A week later, she was found dead in her apartment.
BON SCOTT:
The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang:
"Don’t stop me; I’m going down all the way, wow, the highway to hell".
On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his vomit.
CAMPINAS/SP IN 2005
In Campinas, a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend.
The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends
and she said to the daughter - holding her hand, who was already seated in the car:
"MY DAUGHTER, GO WITH GOD AND MAY HE PROTECT YOU",
She responded: ONLY IF HE (GOD) TRAVELS IN THE BOOT, COZ INSIDE HERE IT’S ALREADY FULL"
Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died,
the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the boot was intact.
The police said there was no way the boot could have remained intact.
To their surprise, inside the boot was a crate of eggs, none was broken.
Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name
that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus.
Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still alive. JESUS!!!
As a matter of fact, some time ago, I asked you all the question, what is the gospel? I think we can all remember what Paul said about it in 1 Corinthians 15.
1 Corinthians 15:3 ¶ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
That, in a nutshell is the gospel message. It is the message we need to be proclaiming.
And remember the fact that Christ died for our sins. I was reading in Leviticus this morning. Now I will agree with you that Leviticus may not the be most inspiring book to read. To be honest I sometimes find it boring. But I was reading about the different offerings for sin. Because in that time, there were very detailed procedures for dealing with sin. What stood out was that somebody had to pay for someone elses sin. The penalty was death, and in that time, an animal such as a sheep would be killed and his blood would be the payment for sin. There were different kinds of sin offerings. I remember Dr. T preaching through Leviticus several years ago and what stood out was that in comparing all those sin offerings with the sin offering of Jesus Christ, His offering for our sin was so much more superior because it was a once and for all offering for sin. Remember that someone had to pay the penalty of our sin which is death. In Leviticus, blood is the means of atonement. Jesus Christ’s blood was the atonement for the sins of the world. So it only makes sense to put our faith and trust in Him as the one who died for our sins and offers eternal life.
Moreover, Paul, who at one time, tried to destroy anyone preaching the gospel also said this for anyone who preaches another gospel.
Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
One of my seminary professors gave us his paraphrase of this verse, “let him go to hell.”
For the next several weeks we will be looking at the events leading up to the death of Jesus Christ. Like I shared last week, we are now in the season of Lent. Lent, if you remember is the 40 days beginning with Ash Wednesday and culminating with Easter Sunday. Very often we get into the Easter celebration with the excitement that Jesus has risen. Great, I’m all for it. But let’s spend some time reflecting on the events leading up to Easter Sunday. And remember that the salvation God provided for us didn’t cost us anything. But it cost the life of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Remember the overall plan of God as we get into these events. Because this was what God had to do to provide our salvation. And remind yourself that if there is another way to heaven, Jesus did not have to go through everything that He did. This is what I want you to see most of all. Because if I want you to get anything out of this gospel it is that you understand you can have eternal life by believing in Jesus. There is nothing you need to do except to believe in Him. And you also need to know that there is no other gospel by which we can be saved. Remember what Peter and John said before the council.
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
I don’t enjoy talking about the fact that Rabbi Klein will face a Christless eternity. Like I said earlier, I did not know him well at all. Most likely, he did not believe in Jesus. But it doesn’t matter. Closer to home, was a close personal friend and former co worker at AA who was killed 3 weeks ago in a car accident. I lost a friend. But even more so, I do not know if I will see her in heaven or not. I never personally brought up the topic of eternal life with her. It’s interesting because in August 2005 there was a big earthquake near Sendai. It was on the internet news sites about an hour later. So I sent emails to everyone I know back in the states to let them know I’m OK. My friend, I mentioned above, sent me back an email, and said, “I’d pack my bags and get out of there.” Just goes to show living outside of an earthquake zone doesn’t guarantee anything.
Let’s look closely at the events leading up to Jesus crucifixion. Picture all the details. Let’s not leave anything out. If you get a chance, watch the movie, “The Passion of the Christ.” It is very graphic. But watching it is the best way to understand what Jesus went through for us. Because when you do all this, I believe you will have an even greater appreciation for all Jesus did for us. And then we will truly be able to celebrate Easter Sunday.
Oh yes, please be sure to let your friends and family know about the free gift of eternal life they can have by believing in Jesus. There is a verse that says it better than you and me or any of us can say it.
John 3:16 ¶ "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
