“Perspectives: Bess Truman and the Jews” by Marcia Segelstein
In an excerpt from Michael Beschloss’s new book Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America 1789-1989, there is a brief, but striking anecdote relating to Harry Truman which should give all Christians serious pause.
The late talk-show host David Susskind was spending time in Independence, Missouri, interviewing Truman shortly after he left office. Each day, Susskind would appear on Truman’s doorstep at the appointed time. They would then make their way to Truman’s office nearby to talk. One day Susskind asked Truman why he was never asked to come into the house, even while waiting. Truman replied, “You’re a Jew, David, and no Jew has ever been in the house. Bess runs it, and there’s never been a Jew inside the house in her or her mother’s lifetime.”
Almost sounds as though it was a point of pride with Bess and her mother. A tradition handed down from one generation to the next. One wonders how Bess would be have reacted had, say, Jesus, or his mother Mary, or St. Paul decided to pop in for tea.
Call me naive, but I have never understood the disconnect between Christians and Jews. How could Christian thinking and teaching have devolved to the point where Bess Truman would not allow Jews inside her home? How have we managed to set aside the rather critical point that Christ was a Jew? And that Christianity was founded by Jews? How is it that Christian children aren’t taught that in the time following Jesus’ death and resurrection, an issue arose in the early Church over whether the gospel should even be preached to Gentiles? And in case you’re wondering, that would be me, most of you reading this — and oh yes, Bess.
Maybe a little history lesson is called for here. The tenth chapter of Acts addresses the very issue of Jews entering the homes of Gentiles, for in those days it was a real and serious issue. In fact, Jews were forbidden from entering the homes of Gentiles because they were considered unclean. It was part of the Law, handed down not by mother, but by God. Peter had a vision, however, which changed that –
“[H]e fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.” (KJV)
The vision prepared Peter for a visit from three men, who sought him out on behalf of Cornelius, a Gentile described as “A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.” The three explained that their master, Cornelius, had been instructed by an angel to request Peter’s presence at his home. When Peter arrived, he addressed the many who had gathered: “Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” As Peter preached the gospel, telling of Jesus’ death and resurrection, “the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished … because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
The message of Peter’s vision was clear. Much to the astonishment of the (Christian) Jews present, Gentiles were no longer to be considered unclean. God’s offer of salvation was, and is, for all mankind, even if it was first for the Jews. That’s right: first for the Jews.
If Bess Truman were alive today and I had the opportunity, I hope I would have the courage to confront her. Certainly it would be my obligation as a Christian to do so. Once the dust settled, I might recommend to her a book by Roy Schoeman called Salvation is from the Jews. (For the record, Schoeman didn’t invent the title. It’s John 4:22.) Schoeman is a Jewish convert to Christianity.
He writes about the role of Judaism in the salvation of mankind. Ultimately, God’s revelation of himself was in the person of Jesus Christ. “In order to make sense of the Incarnation,” Schoeman writes, there would have to be people “prepared for it beforehand through prophecy, so that they would be able to recognize, acknowledge, and understand it, at least to some extent, when it happened.” There would have to be a people with some understanding of God, who had been purified from the influence of false “gods” and idols. “There would have to be a family, and more specifically, a mother to whom the God-man would be born; she would have to be of sufficient purity and virtue not to make the Incarnation itself a sacrilege. Since God relies on man’s prayer to bring about his plans, this people would have had to have been taught for generations to pray and beseech God to send the Messiah.”
The Jews prayed for the Messiah’s coming. Their prayers were answered, and — thanks be to God — enough Jews understood and believed that — thanks be to them — the good news was spread throughout the world. Do we Christians, by the same token, humbly, respectfully and lovingly pray for the conversion of the Jews who don’t believe?
Whatever gave rise to Bess Truman’s aversion to Jews — anti-Semitism, small-mindedness, prejudice, her mother’s example — she is sadly, but clearly, far from alone.
How sad to think of the opportunities she missed to demonstrate by kind deed or thoughtful word the true meaning of Christianity. How sad to think of the opportunities we all miss, either in our role as Harry by allowing such behavior, or as Bess by engaging in it. How unspeakable the very idea of restricting from our homes, and thereby our hearts, a race of people from whose lineage comes Jesus, Mary, and the very founders of the Church.
Shame on us.
Marcia Segelstein (mvsegelstein@optonline.net), a former producer for CBS News, is a freelance writer and mother. She resides in Weston, CT, and is active in her church, The Anglican Church of the Advent in Greenwich,CT.Opinions expressed in ‘Perspectives’ columns published by OneNewsNow.com are the sole responsibility of the article’s author(s), or of the person(s) or organization(s) quoted therein, and do not necessarily represent those of the staff or management of, or advertisers who support the American Family News Network, OneNewsNow.com, our parent organization or its other affiliates.
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July 19th, 2007 at 1:36 am
Thanks for posting this, it was a good read. How sad it is that there are people who continue to think like Bess Truman.
July 19th, 2007 at 6:20 am
Thanks for the comment. Please stop by often and feel free to comment.