Israel Matzav

Obama sees the Passover message in Muslim uprisings, Palin says 'next year in Jerusalem'

And you thought he couldn't top last year's 'Passover message' in which he managed not to mention God, Israel or Jerusalem.... Here's this year's message.

In a signed letter, Obama noted that the story of Passover – "the passage of the children of Israel from bondage and repression to freedom and liberty" – applies to the "modern stories of liberation" in the Middle East.

"The Seder instructs each generation to remember its past, while appreciating the beauty of freedom and the responsibility it entails," Obama wrote. "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."

"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."

Obama wished Jewish families around the world a happy Passover and urged that the world must work to "alleviate the suffering, poverty, injustice, and hunger of those who are not yet free."

Once again, God gets no mention. Neither does Jerusalem despite the fact that Jews around the World ended their seder with 'next year in Jerusalem.' (What does that mean, Barack? Hint - no it doesn't mean a 'Palestinian state' nor Egyptian 'democracy). Israel gets a mention but only for the pipe dream of Obama's brand of peace with our neighbors.

Arutz Sheva comments.

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.”

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.”

Let me add what I said about this last year.

Obama's concept of the 'lessons from the Exodus from Egypt' is so obtuse, it must be answered lest silence be interpreted as acquiescence.

The lesson of the Exodus from Egypt is that God came and redeemed His people from bondage because, as the Rabbis tell us, "they did not change their names [to Egyptian names] and they did not change their language [to Egyptian]." Instead, the Jews maintained their unique identity throughout the 210 years of bondage in Egypt, and as a reward God gave them two mitzvoth (commandments) to perform (circumcision and the sacrifice of the Paschal lamb). Our reward for performing those mitzvoth was that God redeemed the Jews from Egypt.

There was no 'oppression to fought' or 'freedom to be won.' As the Hagaddah relates the story, God himself (not through an angel or a spirit or a messenger, but God himself) came to Egypt and redeemed our forefathers from Egyptian bondage. This had nothing to do with 'suffering and discrimination' in the sense that Westerners think of those words. The story of the Exodus from Egypt is a Jewish story and not a universal one. That's one reason why any Pesach message that omits God is false. It was God who took us out of Egypt. We did not take ourselves out.

Read the whole thing. Obama did hold a 'seder' on Monday night, although from the picture above, it is clear that it started before sundown (a no, no) and the New York Times reports that the seder was not Kosher (YNet was more politically correct and reported that it was not "Kasher l'Mehadrin").

The LA Times tried to help Obama save face by saying that his Passover message was 'similar' to Sarah Palin's Passover message posted on her Facebook page. Far from it. Here's Palin's message. Note what I've highlighted.

Tonight is Passover, the Jewish people’s celebration of their deliverance from bondage and their Exodus to the Land of Israel. Passover contains poignant spiritual and historical meaning for Jews, but it also reminds all of us of mankind’s universal aspiration to be free from bondage and oppression. Today, in the same region where the story of Exodus took place, Arabs suffering under despotic regimes are seeking their own freedom and self-determination. As Jews in Israel, the Middle East’s only liberal democracy, gather for Passover, we hope for the spread of freedom and peace throughout the region. On this Passover holiday, our family sends our best wishes to the Jewish community. Chag kasher V'Sameach. Happy Passover. And next year in Jerusalem.

Yes, she didn't mention God either. But in her case, if she did, she'd probably be accused of having someone else in mind.

More here (Hat Tip: Will).

Labels: Barack Obama, Jerusalem, Pesach, Pesach seder, Sarah Palin, Sarah Palin is a true friend of Israel

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:12 AM