It was a known fact that Johnson, as a young Democratic Party politician in Texas, did a lot of unsavory things in order to get elected to various positions. Too, there has always been a question as to his personal salvation and trust in Christ. However some new evidence has come out that would make us think he was a Christian, though a weak one. One thing for sure, from his early spiritual raising he had a love for the Jewish people. In a practical way he would exercise that concern for them when he became President following the death of John F. Kennedy in Dallas in November 1963.
Johnson's fundamental ties to Judaism and Israel sprang from a profound emotional impulse that was not directly noticed in his first term in office as President. It started in his childhood roots. He absorbed from the Bible a deep understanding and love for the Jewish people. Raised in a pious Christian family, he always felt the Jews had a tie to the land of Israel that was special and important. His family was a "Bible Believing People" who loved both the Old and New Testaments and who looked for the return of the Jews back to the Land.
The teaching Johnson received as a young man included the teaching of Christ, the Apostles, but also the leaders of the Old Testament, Moses and all the prophets. The Jews, the "People of the Book," would someday be re-gathered in the Land of Israel and the Second Coming of Christ would follow.
In a family album, Johnson's grandfather had written: "Take care of the Jews, God's chosen people. Consider them your friends and help them any way you can." After his grandfather's death, Johnson's aunt took over his position and kept the family faith together. She often pounded on the fact of the importance of helping the Jews. She would sometimes say in the hearing of young Lyndon, "If Israel is attacked the end of the world is near!" After he had become President, Johnson in speaking to Jewish groups would often tell them of his "Jewish" heritage. Before a B'nai B'rith meeting he said:
He added: "Our society is illuminated by the spiritual insights of the Hebrew prophets. America and Israel have a common love of human freedom and they have a common faith in a democratic way of life." Hosting Prime Minister Levi Eshkol at his Texas ranch, he quoted by memory Ezekiel 37:26 and said:
In 1938 Johnson had just been elected to the House of Representatives from Texas. Hitler had also annexed Austria to Germany. Those who were thinking knew this was bad for the Jews of both countries. Hitler could now have his way in persecuting the Jewish citizens. About the same time, a Jewish businessman who had supported Johnson financially for election came to his office and told him he was planning a trip to Palestine. On the way, he was planning to travel through Germany and Poland. Johnson urged him to get as many Jews out as he could. He said: "They're all going to be killed, get as many Jewish people as possible out of both countries."
Johnson moved quickly. He gave his friend, James Novy, immigration forms and phoned the U.S. consul in Warsaw and asked for full cooperation in signing the forms. Four of Novy's relatives were able to escape before the iron door closed. Thousands and millions were trapped and most died in the concentration camps during the war years.
Johnson went further. Many ships were sailing up and down the Mexican and Texas coasts with boatloads of Jews trying to escape from Hitler. Johnson behind closed doors brought many into the country through Galveston in what was secretly called "Operation Texas." Over five hundred Jewish refugees were saved. In 1963 a new synagogue was being dedicated in Austin with the Johnson's attending as special guests of honor. Four hundred of the five hundred were there and were called "Johnson refugees." Novy explained his gratitude: "We can't ever thank him enough for all those Jews he got out of Germany during the days of Hitler." Lady Bird Johnson later wrote: "Person after person plucked at my sleeve and said: 'I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for him. He helped get me out."
There is a strange footnote to the story of Johnson's friend Novy. During the war, 1942, he was sent on a secret mission to Europe. When he returned he was given a Purple Heart medal that is given only to military personnel wounded in combat. What the mission was all about was never revealed by Novy or Johnson.
While Johnson was President it was talked about that the Israelis were attempting to make an atomic weapon. Johnson never confronted Israel about this as some wanted him to. He refused to put any obstacle in the way of them doing so. He knew they needed it as they were surrounded by so many Arab nations who wanted the demise of the Jewish State! When Kennedy was President he allowed defensive Hawk surface-to-air missiles to be sold to Israel but not offensive weapons. That "secretly" changed when Johnson became President, no matter what Congress said.
God put President Johnson in place for His work at just the right time. Within a few years the Six Day War broke out. It was touch and go for Israel! But Johnson made sure the Jews were well armed for that conflict and others to come! He was driven to help the Jews by his biblical premillennial faith in what the Bible said about prophecy and the nation of Israel!
Johnson's fundamental ties to Judaism and Israel sprang from a profound emotional impulse that was not directly noticed in his first term in office as President. It started in his childhood roots. He absorbed from the Bible a deep understanding and love for the Jewish people. Raised in a pious Christian family, he always felt the Jews had a tie to the land of Israel that was special and important. His family was a "Bible Believing People" who loved both the Old and New Testaments and who looked for the return of the Jews back to the Land.
The teaching Johnson received as a young man included the teaching of Christ, the Apostles, but also the leaders of the Old Testament, Moses and all the prophets. The Jews, the "People of the Book," would someday be re-gathered in the Land of Israel and the Second Coming of Christ would follow.
In a family album, Johnson's grandfather had written: "Take care of the Jews, God's chosen people. Consider them your friends and help them any way you can." After his grandfather's death, Johnson's aunt took over his position and kept the family faith together. She often pounded on the fact of the importance of helping the Jews. She would sometimes say in the hearing of young Lyndon, "If Israel is attacked the end of the world is near!" After he had become President, Johnson in speaking to Jewish groups would often tell them of his "Jewish" heritage. Before a B'nai B'rith meeting he said:
Most if not all of you have very deep ties with the land and with the people of Israel, as I do, for my Christian faith sprang from yours. … The Bible stories are woven into my childhood memories as the gallant struggle of modern Jews to be free of persecution is also woven into our souls.
He added: "Our society is illuminated by the spiritual insights of the Hebrew prophets. America and Israel have a common love of human freedom and they have a common faith in a democratic way of life." Hosting Prime Minister Levi Eshkol at his Texas ranch, he quoted by memory Ezekiel 37:26 and said:
That is our intention in the Middle East and throughout our world. To pursue peace. To find peace. To keep peace forever among men. If we are wise, if we are fortunate, if we work together—perhaps our nation and all nations may know the joys of that promise God once made about the children of Israel: 'I will make a covenant of peace with them … it shall be an everlasting covenant.'"
In 1938 Johnson had just been elected to the House of Representatives from Texas. Hitler had also annexed Austria to Germany. Those who were thinking knew this was bad for the Jews of both countries. Hitler could now have his way in persecuting the Jewish citizens. About the same time, a Jewish businessman who had supported Johnson financially for election came to his office and told him he was planning a trip to Palestine. On the way, he was planning to travel through Germany and Poland. Johnson urged him to get as many Jews out as he could. He said: "They're all going to be killed, get as many Jewish people as possible out of both countries."
Johnson moved quickly. He gave his friend, James Novy, immigration forms and phoned the U.S. consul in Warsaw and asked for full cooperation in signing the forms. Four of Novy's relatives were able to escape before the iron door closed. Thousands and millions were trapped and most died in the concentration camps during the war years.
Johnson went further. Many ships were sailing up and down the Mexican and Texas coasts with boatloads of Jews trying to escape from Hitler. Johnson behind closed doors brought many into the country through Galveston in what was secretly called "Operation Texas." Over five hundred Jewish refugees were saved. In 1963 a new synagogue was being dedicated in Austin with the Johnson's attending as special guests of honor. Four hundred of the five hundred were there and were called "Johnson refugees." Novy explained his gratitude: "We can't ever thank him enough for all those Jews he got out of Germany during the days of Hitler." Lady Bird Johnson later wrote: "Person after person plucked at my sleeve and said: 'I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for him. He helped get me out."
There is a strange footnote to the story of Johnson's friend Novy. During the war, 1942, he was sent on a secret mission to Europe. When he returned he was given a Purple Heart medal that is given only to military personnel wounded in combat. What the mission was all about was never revealed by Novy or Johnson.
While Johnson was President it was talked about that the Israelis were attempting to make an atomic weapon. Johnson never confronted Israel about this as some wanted him to. He refused to put any obstacle in the way of them doing so. He knew they needed it as they were surrounded by so many Arab nations who wanted the demise of the Jewish State! When Kennedy was President he allowed defensive Hawk surface-to-air missiles to be sold to Israel but not offensive weapons. That "secretly" changed when Johnson became President, no matter what Congress said.
God put President Johnson in place for His work at just the right time. Within a few years the Six Day War broke out. It was touch and go for Israel! But Johnson made sure the Jews were well armed for that conflict and others to come! He was driven to help the Jews by his biblical premillennial faith in what the Bible said about prophecy and the nation of Israel!
