I received the following email today:
Subject: "Seder in the White House-Oy Vey"
There is apparently bigger news this week than the historical Passover story, when millions of Jews freely walked out of Egypt amongst incredible G-dly wonders and miracles after 210 years of slavery. It is reported that US President Barak Obama, along with his family, attended the second night Passover Seder in the White House with staff and friends. This is believed to be the first White House Seder attended by an American president.
William Daroff, who runs the United Jewish Communities' Washington office, stated that this occurrence is "a testament to how far we have come as a Jewish people in America." Daroff continued his awe of this joyous event by noting, "Jews are a vital component in the mosaic that is American culture and society. This night is indeed different from all other nights."
For those of us whose memory is longer than a week, we recognize this act of brotherly love as not quite different at all. Jewish history tells us that when we are warmly welcomed into arms of countries in which we have been exiled, our downfall in those host cultures cannot be far behind.
Let's start with the Passover story itself. The Torah tells us about the miraculous rise of Joseph, the son of our father Jacob, into the house of Pharaoh. After 22 years in jail, overnight Joseph becomes the second in command of Egypt, the greatest nation at the time. Joseph saved from starvation during a severe famine all of Egypt as well as most of the world. In doing so, Egypt acquired incredible wealth and fame. Joseph was honored and beloved by all.
However, as the Torah then states, A new king arose over Egypt, who did not know of Joseph. (Exodus 1:8) It is explained that everyone knew Joseph. But it was convenient to ignore Joseph's monumental contributions to Egypt in order to enslave and humble the Jewish people. Pharaoh began the slavery of the Jews by deceiving them into showing their patriotism to Egypt by having them build cities to safeguard Egypt's wealth. We are told that Pharaoh, himself, joined the labor force in order to symbolize that everyone was considered equal. However, the situation for the Jews quickly deteriorated until they were completely enslaved and tortured.
In the 4th century B.C.E, the story of Purim takes place. King Ahashverosh makes an erroneous calculation based on prophecy that the time for the rebuilding of the Jewish Holy Temple in Jerusalem has passed. He is so happy that the Temple has not been rebuilt that he holds a 180-day celebration. Along with citizens from all or the King's lands and against the warnings of the great Mordechai, the Jewish people attend this party. Not only is there tremendous immorality but also King Ahashverosh displays the magnificent treasures and holy vessels looted from the destroyed Temple and adorns himself in the Jewish priestly robes. Soon after this, the decree to destroy the Jewish people is declared.
The Talmud asks, Why did the Jews of that generation deserve extermination? The answer given is that the Jews derived pleasure from the feast of King Ahashverosh. Perhaps they could not refuse the invitation of the King to his party. However, they did not have to feel proud and honored to attend the King's feast filled with the disgrace of its participants and, perhaps even more importantly, the dishonor of the items from the Holy Temple.
In 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain declared the Edict of Expulsion for all Jews. Not long before this, Rabbi Meir Melamed became the financier to the King and Queen and Don Isaac Abarbanel held an equally prominent position in the Spanish royal court. Although thousands of Jews either chose or were forced to convert to Catholicism in order to protect themselves from the inconceivable, their efforts proved ineffective, for their persecution and expulsion had already been decreed on high. Even Queen Isabella is known to have stated that the evil ordinance was arranged by G-d, Himself.
In Pre-Nazi Germany, the Jewish people created a similar fate for themselves. Jews fought side by side with the Germans in World War I and were praised as being one with the Germans and their cause. Intermarriage was rampant and Jews were free to enter cultural, political, and educational institutions as equals. They were proud to be more German than the Germans. In fact the German Jewish Reform movement went so far as to declare that, Berlin is our Jerusalem and Germany is our Zion. We all know how this story ends.
It is interesting to note that last year Obama's entourage was campaigning in Pennsylvania on Seder night. His team held a Seder at the Sheraton Hotel. When they reached the closing wish of the Haggadah, "Next year in Jerusalem", Mr. Obama and others jokingly added, "Next year in the White House." Has the White House now become our Jerusalem?
Let us not forget our history and let us remember that history has a way of repeating itself. (May G-d protect us.) How many American Jews are celebrating the fact of the White House Seder, just as the Persian Jews celebrated the feast with Ahashverosh?????
I couldn't help but reply:
I read with interest your email about the "Seder held in the White House (oy veh)" this Pesach. I certainly agree with you that just because there's a Pharoah in the White House at the moment who seems to be trying to honor the religions of all Americans, doesn't mean that his successor(s) will. After all, behind every teabagger who showed up for a party this week, there was surely a dominionist (someone who considers America a "Christian country" which should be ruled by Christian doctrine) right behind him.
No one doubts that HaShem could turn things around in a moment. Nonetheless, although we faced the Babylonians, the Assyrians, the Romans, the Spanish and the Nazis later in our history, we celebrate our exodus from Egypt. Just as despots have risen up one after the other to teach us this lesson or that, we express our gratitude to HaShem for giving us the zchut (merit) to be living in a beneficent environment.
Let's keep our eyes open on the future, but be sure to bless HaShem for His goodness now. Ha shana ha ba'a b'Yershulaim (next year in Jerusalem); but in the unlikely event that we don't get there, it's nice to know that we may just have another year of peace where we are.
No comments:
Post a Comment