Passover recalls the bondage and suffering of Jews in Egypt and the miracle of the Exodus, but U.S. President Barack Obama says its message is reflected in Muslim uprisings.
In his annual message, prior to his third straight participation in the Passover Seder, President Obama stated, “The story of Passover…instructs each generation to remember its past, while appreciating the beauty of freedom and the responsibility it entails. This year that ancient instruction is reflected in the daily headlines as we see modern stories of social transformation and liberation unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa.”
On Tuesday, Glenn Beck took to his Fox News program with criticism of Obama’s message and its apparent slight, calling it a “slap in the face” to Israel:
Barack Obama seems to think that attending a Passover seder once a year will fool Jews into thinking he likes them.
From Israel National News:
In his annual message, prior to his third straight participation in the Passover Seder, President Obama stated, “The story of Passover…instructs each generation to remember its past, while appreciating the beauty of freedom and the responsibility it entails. This year that ancient instruction is reflected in the daily headlines as we see modern stories of social transformation and liberation unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa.”
Did you notice the conspicuous omission? No, Barry, the haggadah doesn’t “instruct each generation to remember its past.” It instructs each generation of Jews to remember its past. And it’s not just about “the beauty of freedom,” but rather, it’s about deliverance of the Jews by God so that He could make His covenant with them at Mt. Sinai, establishing them as the Chosen People.
Unfortunately for the Jews, for thousands of years, the idea that God would choose one particular people to be His instrument of blessing to the world has really bothered a lot of non-Jews — and it’s bothered them enough to attempt genocide time and time again.
All over the Middle East and North Africa right now, radical jihadists are on the move. The Muslim Brotherhood — which is calling for war against Israel — has largely shut down the secular freedom movement in Egypt. Al-Qaeda is gaining territory in Libya. Thanks to all the unrest, anti-terrorist efforts and cooperation with U.S. intelligence have been disrupted and/or shut down all over the Middle East and North Africa.
It’s bad enough for Barack Obama to be celebrating these developments. But to celebrate them on Passover — the central, defining event of Jewish history — is beyond despicable.
[He gave a H/T to Atlas Shrugs who had more to say on the subject.]
In his annual message, prior to his third straight participation in the Passover Seder, President Obama stated, “The story of Passover…instructs each generation to remember its past, while appreciating the beauty of freedom and the responsibility it entails. This year that ancient instruction is reflected in the daily headlines as we see modern stories of social transformation and liberation unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa.”
Having constructed a link between the Arab uprisings and Chosen People's experiencing the miracles of the Creator that led them out of Egypt and towards the receiving of the Ten Commandments, the President concluded, "As Jewish families gather for this joyous celebration of freedom, let us all be thankful for the gifts that have been bestowed upon us, and let us work to alleviate the suffering, poverty, injustice, and hunger of those who are not yet free.”
For good measure, he also added the Hebrew term “Chag Samayach,” which means “Have a happy holiday.”
President Obama chanced into a Seder during his presidential campaign in 2008, when the polls were not in his favor. At the end of the Seder, when Jews chanted, "Next year in Jerusalem,” Obama responded, “Next year in the White House.”
His attendance at the Seder resulted in his meeting with Eric Lesser, one of his Jewish backers, according to Lauren Salkeld, writing for the epicurious.com website.
Despite the heavy campaign schedule, Lesser and two friends organized a makeshift Seder in a hotel basement.
As they began, Obama popped in and asked, “Is this a Seder? Can I join?”
After having made it the White House, President Obama held another Seder last year, complete with all of the Jewish customs, and plans to do so again this year in the White House’s Old Family Dining Room.
The phenomenon of non-Jews arranging and participating in Seders in the United States has spread so much that Diane Cole wrote in The Wall Street Journal this week, “Is Passover the new Christmas,” referring to the dilution of Hanukah by detached Jews and non-Jews who try to mix the two holidays together as part of “brotherhood.”
Cole wrote that even many churches today hold their own Seders, despite the exclusive Jewish concept of remembering slavery and Exodus.
“What makes Christians' embrace of Passover all the more unusual is that for centuries—even into the 20th—the holiday's proximity to Good Friday and Easter routinely sparked violent anti-Jewish riots and pogroms, especially in Europe,” she wrote.
However, the fight for the end of segregation in the United States in the 1950s led to the black community’s adaptation of “Let my people go.”
The slogan now is a favorite banner of leftists, who twist it around to apply it to Palestinian Authority Arabs.
Cole also noted that the high rate of intermarriage in the United States has led to a dilution of Passover customs at the Seder, which is held at home and gives intermarried families an opportunity to mix their faiths and sometimes even Christianize the Seder, particularly at churches.
GLENN BECK, HOST: I was fascinated by the president's Passover message. I thought it was interesting. It's basically this year the ancient instruction is reflected in the daily headlines as we modern stories of social transformation and liberation unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa.
Most of us know the basic story. The Hebrews had been in bondage for 400 years and then came Moses. [video footage from the movie, The 10 Commandments] I don't think this is an actual videotape of the actual event but it's close enough. Moses went to the Pharaoh, a brutal dictator, enslaving the Hebrews. And he tried to convince them to set the Lord's people free. The Pharaoh's heart was hardened. God sent in plagues, final plague, angel of death to take on the first born of every Egyptian family in Egypt. So the Hebrews paint the doorframe with lamb's blood so the angel will pass over their homes, spare their children.
As the angel visits Egypt, the Hebrews have dinner with a ceremony and it is a symbolic dinner. Food to remind them of the trials in Egypt and what the Lord was doing for them then and what the Lord is doing for them now. It's the Seder that is still commemorated today. Finally, Pharaoh told Moses, OK, get your people and get out.
Obama issues this message regarding Passover and said, this year, the ancient instruction that happens at tables like this last night and today is reflected in the daily headlines we see in modern stories of social transformation and liberation unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa. Against the backdrop of change, we continue to pray for peace between Israel and her neighbors, while reaffirming our enduring commitment to Israel's security.
Really? Really?
At this sacred event bringing up social transformation and liberation of the people who have vowed to go to war with Israel as soon as they're free who have sworn to destroy them, to annihilate them, to kill every last one, to shoot them from their wheelchairs. People who have expressed their intense hatred for Israel and the Jews and America during that transformation this, to me -- this statement is at the very least amazingly insensitive. By the way, his next sentence was, as Jewish families gather together for this joyous celebration, let us be thankful for the gifts that have been bestowed upon us and let us work to alleviate the suffering, poverty, injustice and hunger of those who are not yet free.
Is it a stretch to think that the president is referring to the Palestinians there? He just referred to Egypt whose leaders are promising war. I don't think it's much of a stretch. The world wonders why it is that most Americans sympathize with the Israelis and their continual battle with the Palestinians in the Arab world. Well, I don't think it's that hard to understand. Israel is a democracy. It's the closest thing to what we understand as freedom in the entire Middle East. We relate to that. But maybe more importantly we share common values.
The pilgrims -- this is one of the best books ever. "America's Prophet." It's about Moses. The pilgrims settled here and believed that they were finishing the Moses story, coming to the promised land. They had to cross the sea, arrive in an untested wilderness built -- build their homes and their lives in a promised land. On the Atlantic, their leader, William Bradford, proclaimed their journey to be as vital as Moses and the Israelites when they went out of Egypt. And when they got to Cape Cod, they thanked God for letting them pass through their fiery Red
Sea. Read this book.
The story is the same for America and Israel and all over the world. But the pilgrims didn't want to destroy and kill the Jews. With Israel, Americans have a shared culture, shared history and values. We have been close allies since their inception. Actually Israel was born because Harry Truman stood alone and suggested that England should keep their word -- something they promised the Jews that they would have a homeland since -- I believe it was World War I, wasn't it?
There have been occasional bumps in the road with our relationship with Israel, but we have stood by them when no one else would. But now I fear that seems to be changing. For an American president to bring up Muslim nations whose liberties -- who their revolutions have brought -- brought out leaders announcing themselves as sworn enemies of Israel and Jews -- at a Seder, to me, goes beyond insensitive. Beyond insensitive.
It's a slap in the face especially when you know the history of this administration and what we have already done to Israel.
Posts
