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joshwritingTwo Pesachs ago, I wrote the following to Sheroes Central:
The story of Passover is simultaneously one of redemption from servitude by G-d, and an explanation of what is wrong with slavery, to begin with.
The notion of people not being able to choose where to live, not being able to decide whether to remain to gether or not if maried, not being able to KNOW that if they have a child that that child will be left with them, not being able to decide what to do or whether or not to do anything at all - without fear of punishment... not being allowed to have property - but being property - these are all notions that are offensive, to the point of physical illness to me.
In the seder that we celebrate, we mourn, as all Jews do, the Egyptian dead from the 10 plagues visited upon the Pharoah's people - but we, as MANY Jews do, also mourn the so-called MODERN plagues: The making of war, the teaching of hate and violence, despoliation of the earth, perversion of justice and of government, fomenting of vice and crime, neglect of human needs, oppression of nations and peoples, corruotion of culture, subjugation of science and learning and human discourse, and the erosion of freedoms.
That there is still slavery on this planet is an afront to me. To you. To all of humanity.
That we allow - ALLOW! - children to starve in this country (US) goes beyond afront, because even the folks who do not want us to intervene in foreign affairs do not have that argument in this case. They can only argue "It is better that that child starve than that we make the effort to prevent it."
There is a passage in almost every haggadah that I have seen: "Let those who are less fortunate than us join us at this time and also at other times."
Do we? Did you?
Passover reminds me of how much work I have ahead of me. It reminds me of how little time I have in which to do it.
It reminds me of the hypocrites that we have in our political offices - and I do not mean just George Bush, and I do not mean just the Republicans or Just the Democrats, or Just the United States. I mean almost every government on the face of the planet.
It reminds me of the hypocrites in our houses of worship - both leaders and followers.
It reminds me of my own hypocrisy - the gaps between what I believe and what I do.
I am not saying that I am not a good person, please don't misunderstand. I am not saying that I do not do worthwhile things. I am saying that there is more. That I have not done growing. That I have more to do.
Please join me.
*****
There is also a command to reflect on the meaning of the story. All too often, as I see it, the story is told with as little exploration as possible, the goal is to tell the story and get on to the VERY sumptious meal.
So... reflect.
The story of Passover is simultaneously one of redemption from servitude by G-d, and an explanation of what is wrong with slavery, to begin with.
The notion of people not being able to choose where to live, not being able to decide whether to remain to gether or not if maried, not being able to KNOW that if they have a child that that child will be left with them, not being able to decide what to do or whether or not to do anything at all - without fear of punishment... not being allowed to have property - but being property - these are all notions that are offensive, to the point of physical illness to me.
In the seder that we celebrate, we mourn, as all Jews do, the Egyptian dead from the 10 plagues visited upon the Pharoah's people - but we, as MANY Jews do, also mourn the so-called MODERN plagues: The making of war, the teaching of hate and violence, despoliation of the earth, perversion of justice and of government, fomenting of vice and crime, neglect of human needs, oppression of nations and peoples, corruotion of culture, subjugation of science and learning and human discourse, and the erosion of freedoms.
That there is still slavery on this planet is an afront to me. To you. To all of humanity.
That we allow - ALLOW! - children to starve in this country (US) goes beyond afront, because even the folks who do not want us to intervene in foreign affairs do not have that argument in this case. They can only argue "It is better that that child starve than that we make the effort to prevent it."
There is a passage in almost every haggadah that I have seen: "Let those who are less fortunate than us join us at this time and also at other times."
Do we? Did you?
Passover reminds me of how much work I have ahead of me. It reminds me of how little time I have in which to do it.
It reminds me of the hypocrites that we have in our political offices - and I do not mean just George Bush, and I do not mean just the Republicans or Just the Democrats, or Just the United States. I mean almost every government on the face of the planet.
It reminds me of the hypocrites in our houses of worship - both leaders and followers.
It reminds me of my own hypocrisy - the gaps between what I believe and what I do.
I am not saying that I am not a good person, please don't misunderstand. I am not saying that I do not do worthwhile things. I am saying that there is more. That I have not done growing. That I have more to do.
Please join me.
*****
There is also a command to reflect on the meaning of the story. All too often, as I see it, the story is told with as little exploration as possible, the goal is to tell the story and get on to the VERY sumptious meal.
So... reflect.
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no subject
Date: 2005-04-24 07:34 pm (UTC)Life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
Every whisper
Of every waking hour I'm
Choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up
Consider this
The hint of the century
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
That was just a dream
no subject
Date: 2005-04-25 12:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-26 11:07 pm (UTC)Saving the World - Brooke Fraser
Didn't I tell you everything's fine?
If there's a good and bad we're somewhere in between
Often I feel like we're all navigating blind
Could we get a change of pace to set the scene?
We could stay another day in this confusion
Let it permeate us 'til we can't move on
But while we're waiting we could try saving the world
Or are we storing that up for a rainy day?
I'm anticipating the time when it'll be my turn
It could be fun to try
I think that I'll save the world as a fun afternoon activity
Seventy thousand things to ponder today
The most significant are bottom of the list
Forty five million recipes and ways
To exaggerate and compound the stress
We could stay another day in this apathy
Let it permeate us 'til we're numb through
And while we're waiting we could try saving the world
Or are we storing that up for a rainy day?
I'm anticipating the time when it'll be my turn
It could be fun to try
I think that I'll save the world
no subject
Date: 2005-04-27 10:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-25 08:25 pm (UTC)Also feeding everyone snacks while the story is told helps a great deal to bring focus on to the story.