tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875449047910840041.post9201773701941260483..comments2023-10-16T04:49:49.454-04:00Comments on The Fragrance of Sweetgrass: PassoverPrairie Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02470135432748627058noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875449047910840041.post-23447475158084666832007-04-18T10:53:00.000-04:002007-04-18T10:53:00.000-04:00I wouldn't say the good times in Egypt are the *mo...I wouldn't say the good times in Egypt are the *most* important part - but I would say they and the slavery times teach the same lesson, and it's one of the oldest: "Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you." (Christians say it without those two "nots". )<BR/><BR/>Do you know about the <A HREF="http://www1.yadvashem.org/righteous/index_righteous.html" REL="nofollow">Righteous Gentiles</A> project at Yad vaShem"? They seem to be calling it "Righteous Among the Nations" now, which is a better translation. It honors those who saved lives during the Holocaust.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875449047910840041.post-28552253383206088782007-04-11T18:31:00.000-04:002007-04-11T18:31:00.000-04:00Paula, of course you don't consider it as missing ...Paula, of course you don't consider it as missing anything. :) I know that Passover is a time to remember God's deliverance of the people of Israel out of bondage from the Egyptians, and I know that in and of itself is enough to celebrate about! <BR/><BR/>Obviously I fully agree that Christians and Jews alike should be responsible for preserving others from suffering, but relating this to Passover is new to me. Also the idea that backtracking to when times were good for Jacob's offspring in Egypt and what responsibility that would subsequently place on Jacob's offspring now would be considered the MOST important part of the Seder is new to me. Obviously it's very true and is consistent with true Christianity as well, but I always thought the focus of Passover was on the later period, when arose the Pharaoh who knew not Joseph, and the Israelites were enslaved and treated cruelly, and then God delivers His people and takes them back to the Promised Land at long last. <BR/><BR/>To consider that because of being treated well in Egypt during the famine, so ought we also to harbor others in such situations is a beautiful lesson for the Passover to be a reminder of. I think of the Christians who gave their lives to do exactly that for the Jews during WWII. May we today do the same for anyone who is being persecuted.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for sharing. I appreciate your respectful thoughts.Prairie Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02470135432748627058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875449047910840041.post-69944267393936207992007-04-11T04:41:00.000-04:002007-04-11T04:41:00.000-04:00Of course, we Jews don't consider it as "missing" ...Of course, we Jews don't consider it as "missing" anything! I understand that from a Christian perspective we have missed the boat, but we have to be allowed our own judgement as well -- and while we may well believe that Jesus had some good things to say, we don't believe that he was Moshiach. Although we do wait for the Messiah, Judaism is much more focused on this world, and on our behavior herein, than on the world to come. To me, the most important part of the Seder is the memories of the past and the consequent responsibility they lay on us. We were originally treated well in Egypt, given shelter during times of famine; we have a responsibility to do the same for those seeking shelter with us. We were made slaves by a later Egyptian dynasty and became free: we have the like responsibility to preserve others from the sufferings inflicted on us and to celebrate and share our freedom. <BR/><BR/>Despite the differences between Christians and Jews, this is all part of our common heritage and a responsibility I would like to see us all acknowledge and share. (No aspersions intended; there are plenty of Jews who do not see things this way, and plenty of Christians who are extremely conscious of their obligations to the strangers within their gates.)<BR/><BR/>Oh, and I'm here via the link from Kiwiria :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875449047910840041.post-35132718993481653882007-04-09T04:03:00.000-04:002007-04-09T04:03:00.000-04:00Wow... Thank you for posting this. That was so int...Wow... Thank you for posting this. That was so interesting to read. I knew bits and pieces of it, but not the entire thing. Would you mind if I linked to it in my LJ?Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14280854114229038266noreply@blogger.com