HiddenMysteries: It's the Week of Pesach

In my view it is proper to question, discuss, even condemn the State of Israel for its political manuverings, it's reactionary tactics to suppress the Palestinians, and it's interference in the USA's political and government processes.

But it is not fair or humane to condemn, maltreat, or discriminate against 'Jews' as a race for the actions of a few Jewish Elitists. To be anti-Semitic is suicidal, not that there will be a Jewish uprising to quell anti-semitism, but no one knows to what extent that Semite blood flows through the veins of all the people of planet earth. It should be noted that 'other' Semitic blood, including Egyptian blood flows through the Hebrew race, and are historically intertwined. Remember two of the Hebrew tribes were half-Egyptian bloodlined.

It really sickens me to hear people talk or write, without thought, that Jews are a race of people unto themselves. Modern Jews are many different races that revere, adopt, convert, or were born into the religion of Judaism. Hebrews are a subset of the Semitic race of people. Israelis are people of many races that are citizens of modern day Israel. Israelites were those people who were citizens of, or had historic roots back to the ancient Israeli Kingdom. Judahites were those Israelites and Hebrews that chose the Kingdom of Judah when the Israeli Kingdom split.

Israelis, Israelites, Judahites, Jews, Hebrews - these are/were distinct and separate identities, of which a person could belong to one, two, or three groups at the same time and all are inter-related to each other, if only historically.

History shows that Judea, under Roman rule, was a 'forced' state of the Roman Empire that included the ancient lands and peoples of Judah, Edom, Moab, Petra, and others. The term "Jew" -- actually "Yu' was used to denote all citizens of the Roman State of Judea. The Judahites (Yudahites) lost some of their 'distinct' identity through history due to the co-mingling of the identities of the other peoples under the name of Jews.

Due to the Roman occupation of Judah and incorporating it into their Roman state of Judea, several peoples all became Jews. Moabites became Jews. Edomites became Jews. Judahites became Jews. The line of separation between these peoples for the most part has been lost over time. Just because these people were 'Jews' of Judea, did not mean that they worshipped the God of Judah or had any connection to Judaism. Even the lines of Semite-Gentile became confused under the tag of being a 'Jew'.

When Rome destroyed Jerusalem around 60 CE it dispersed the freedom seeking peoples of Judea. These Jews were scattered over all the Roman Empire, and these "Jews" were not all Hebrews or Judahites. If Saint Paul or the apostles existed, it was easy for them to find an ear to hear their 'new' religion, since not all these "Jews" were followers of the God of the Hebrews, but were probably acquainted with the religion.

I have researched ancient writings, (the best I can), looking for the anti-Semitism origins. None of the records of Egypt, Babylon, Lebanon, Persia, etc. show any ire against Hebrews, except as a nation to conquer or do business with. There was no inference to their 'race' being a factor. The earliest record I found was that Julius Caesar probably created anti-Semitism. His dispute with "Jews" was over their purchase of silver for thier manufacturing, jewelry, coinage, etc.

Old JC, Julius Caesar wanted a monopoly over the silver trade within his empire and wanted total command over coinage. The "Jews" were able to trade internationally with Indian businesses for silver at prices below the 'established' price of Roman silver. JC started a campaign against these "Jews" as disloyals, cheapskates, thieves, cheats, dishonest, etc. This anti-Jew (Semite) campaign was launched through the government officers AND the Temples of Caesar, all over the empire.

However, the real growth of anti-Semitism, as we know it today, has its roots in the Christian Church, (it being the extension and continuation of the Caesar's Roman Church). Even Islam adopted the same old rhetoric to promote anti-Jew sentiments that were developed by the Christian Church.

If we must define the real enemy of Islam and Judaism, it is Christianity. Christianity is divisive. Their own preachers cannot even decide what is 'truth' among themselves, thus there are thousands of denominations, each with their own dogma.

Islam and Judaism have many more parallel doctrines and observances than either with Christianity. The doctrines and practices of Islam and Judaism are more related to each other than Christianity. Islam and Judaism must wake up and realize that it is Christianity and it's interferences that keep them divided.

Islam and Judaism worship 'ONE' God, the God of Abraham. Christianity has a sliced and diced god, a small pantheon, from its roots in Caesar's Roman Church.

I have fond memories of Passover (Pesach). In the About Us article I mention that one of my favorite mentors was a Rabbi that loved teaching Gentiles. I went to several of the Seder services and he would patiently teach us what each part of the seder meal represented and what the Haggadah was for, where it came from, and why it was important to Jews to observe and obey.

He had great respect for Moslems and even purchased many of his Kosher meats and foods from Palestinians that live a few miles away from him. More truth and insight would issue from his lips in five minutes, than five thousand Sunday sermons from Christian preachers. Rabbi Gilnair had no ill feelings towards Christians or Christianity, for he was wise enough to look at the broader picture, and understood that they did not understand.

He gave me a respect for Pesach and the Haggadah. I can remember his children eagerly and anxiously waiting for the 'blessing' from the father to the sons. Christians now spout their useless rhetoric about 'family values', and they'll never know what family values are until they experience the 'family' within an orthodox Jewish family- the traditions that hold the family together - the love and forgiveness given to each other at every Sabbath.

That same 'family' model exists within true Moslem families too. The Israeli government knows this, and an attack on a family is the worst kind of terrorism. It is a pain that Christian families, with the exception of the Amish or Quakers, will never know. The roots and the traditions within Islam and Judaism help define their 'family.'

This is why the Khristian Krusades of Bush and the Khristian missionaries will never convert observant Jews and observant Moslems to Christianity. Christianity to them (and me) is the epitome of hypocrisy. They hear what Christians say, then they see what Christians do -- and the hypocrisy is evident to everyone (except the hypocrite Christians).

Christianity is the Sword in the Middle East. Moslems and Jews lived together in peace, side by side in the past. They can do it again, but they will only achieve that kind of peace when Christianity removes it's divisive sword from their lands. Hebrews, Arabs, Palestinians, Egyptians, are brethren through a common ancestry. Christians are the Roman outsiders, the conquerors and destroyers of Jerusalem - the Holy City of Peace for Judaism and Islam. The Christians never had any claim to the City of Peace.

So with this in mind, I implore Christians to re-evaluate their doctrines and practices, and this begins with learning the doctrines, practices and traditions of Judaism and Islam --

A good start is with Passover. The God of the Hebrews did not condemn the Egyptians in the story of Pesach. He punished the Pharoah in the story, but He later punished Israel and Judah, with the hand of Babylon (Iraq) and then the restoration by the hand of Persia (Iran). Zionists should be in awe and fear of the parallels here.

L. Savage
HiddenMysteries.net

As an introduction:

The Passover Seder

The Passover seder (meaning order) is probably the most celebrated and beloved of Jewish home rituals. Most Jews have cherished memories of past family times spent at a seder. It is believed that the obligation to tell the story of the Exodus was observed by Jews' ancestors ever since the actual Exodus itself. The scriptural command (Exodus 13:8) to tell the story of the exodus to our children is interpreted as a positive commandment (mitzvah).

One of the four names for Passover--and sometimes the aspect most emphasized--is Hag ha-Herut (The Feast of Freedom). Freedom is the primary theme of the seder, with numerous other recurring themes and motifs. The seder permits Jews to worship God through prayer, study, and learning by taking part in what is essentially a lesson of Jewish history, literature, and religion. Participation in the seder lets one symbolically and vicariously relive the Exodus, where past and present merge.

There are some essential elements to the seder that underlie the retelling of the Exodus. The three fundamental patterns of the seder are the family, the individual, and the nation. As a home event involving the full family as well as guests, the seder draws together all age groups. It requires the participation of the old and the young. On the individual level, the seder requires every participant to feel as though he or she personally left Egypt. The national pattern of the seder symbolizes the first step toward the final redemption from the slavery and the formation of the Jewish nation that did not exist as a nation before Exodus from Egypt.

In order to tell the story, Jews have created an ingenious work of pedagogy. The "script" for this central ritual of Passover is the Haggadah (literally, "telling"). It contains questions and answers, stories, show and tell, song, food as reward and symbol, pathos, and suspense. The creation of this script took place over hundreds of years at the beginning of the Common Era. There is evidence that parts of the seder were in a fixed format by the time of the Mishnah (second to third century CE). Midrashim were added and the current traditional version was fixed soon after.

Because every generation has managed to find its own significance in this wonderful teaching tool, there is now a plethora of Haggadotwith added stories, songs, games, and pictures, to suit every political, spiritual, and religious point of view. You can now find liberal, mystical, feminist, ecological, children's, and even atheist Haggadot.

The seder takes place following the Passover evening synagogue service on the first two nights of Passover (or just the first night in Israel and among liberal Jews worldwide). The seder is supposed to take place with everyone in a reclining position. This is because slaves ate hurriedly; the affluent and free were able to recline on cushions. On erev Pesach (Passover eve), rich and poor are indistinguishable and all are free and thus privileged to recline. Many families have the tradition of placing pillows on each chair or at least having the seder leader follow this practice of reclining. It is also customary for the chief celebrant to wear a white robe called a kittel.

There are a number of symbols that occur throughout the seder, but perhaps the focal point of the whole event is the seder plate. It contains a roasted shankbone, symbolizing the Pesach sacrifice in the Temple, a roasted egg symbolizing either the spring season or mourning (for the destruction of Jerusalem), maror (bitter herbs) to represent the bitter experience of the Hebrew slaves, haroset (a mixture of apples, nuts, raisins, spices, wine) symbolizing the mortar the Hebrew slaves used to build for the Egyptians, and karpas (parsley, celery, or another green vegetable) symbolizing the green of spring. The table must also have three pieces of matzah, each piece used for a different purpose, usually held in a special pouch made to be used during the seder.

The seder service has a clear order, with each of 14 steps representing a different phase of the seder. Together, they serve to teach the lesson of the Exodus, God's saving the Jewish people from slavery. Much of the seder discussion focuses on God's might and the Divine role in redemption.

There are many instances of the number four throughout the seder: four cups of wine, four sons, four matriarchs, four names for Pesach, four Aggadot, four blessings, four types of food on the seder plate. The most well-known example is the Arba Kushiyot, or four questions. These questions, usually recited by the youngest person at the table, are meant to highlight the main differences between this meal and all other meals of the year. They are also a brilliant way of keeping young people interested and involved in the events of the seder. They include queries about why we recline, why we dip food, and why we eat certain types of food.

Another special part of the seder is the extra cup of wine left on the table for Elijah. The suspense and excitement engendered by sending a child to open the door for the prophet who will be a harbinger of messianic times is almost electric. The chanting of the song Dayenu ("it would have been enough"), a joyous recognition of God's numerous gifts to us in the course of the Exodus, is another highlight. Every Jew will have his or her own special memories of a past family seder, but it is unquestionably among the greatest of our yearly rituals.

http://www.myjewishlearning.com

I am not an expert on Pesach. I only have those fond memories...

Much more can be found on these links

The Meaning of the Seder (Part 1)
From the first cup of wine to the breaking of the matzah
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Passover/TO_Pesach_Seder/Seder_Steps/Zion_SederMeaning1_903.htm

The Meaning of the Seder (Part 2)
Recounting the story
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Passover/TO_Pesach_Seder/Seder_Steps/Zion_SederMeaning2_1456.htm

The Meaning of the Seder (Part 3)
After the meal until the end
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Passover/TO_Pesach_Seder/Seder_Steps/Zion_SederMeaning3_643.htm

PASSOVER HAGGADAH
A Complete Haggadah
http://www.jewishfreeware.org/downloads/folder.2006-01-07.0640323187/5767HaggadahMaster3-20-07HebrewEnglishTranslitPDF.pdf

Next Year, Jerusalem

It's the Week of Pesach

Tuesday, April 03 2007 @ 02:14 AM CDT