The Meaning of Exodus (what rightfully belongs to the Jewish People in the Land of Israel?)

American Thinker ^ | 03/29/2010 | Moshe Dann

[SeekAndFind]

As if Jews needed a reminder about what a modern rendition of "Pharaoh's heart hardened," President Obama provides an example, emphasizing an important lesson: the Egyptian dictator/king was part of the process of liberation and, ultimately, of God's will and the destiny of the Jewish People.

Despite Obama's nasty treatment of Israel's Prime Minister and unreasonable demands, Sec of State Hillary Clinton's hysterical condemnations' despite suggestions that Israel is guilty of war crimes, human rights violations, apartheid, and hindering America's war efforts in Pakistan and Afghanistan; despite Israel's demonization at the UN and Arab/Muslim boycott and isolation, the Israeli government and the Jewish People are stronger and more united. Go figure.

In Egypt, three millennia ago, Hebrews (as Jews were then called) not only suffered as slaves, but believed that slavery was their lot. Not yet a people, they had descended to the lowest rung of human existence, spiritually as well as physically; powerless, they lived in a state of unconsciousness.

Moses and Aaron awakened Jewish awareness; but it took ten plagues to convince Pharaoh to allow the Jews to leave, a process of realization that involved suffering and destruction, especially for Egyptians. Had Pharaoh allowed the Jews to leave immediately, there would not have been a revelation of divine power, in contrast to Pharaoh's phony ego-trip.

Not only was it necessary for Jews to understand that Pharaoh was not God, it was also important for Egyptians. Only when the Egyptian army was engulfed and destroyed was the meaning of The Exodus revealed. But that was only the beginning of freedom.

The great Jewish Liberation Movement that inspired countless others to resist subjugation and oppression was connected to two objectives: the Covenant at Sinai, which was the beginning of the Jewish People, and the conquest and settlement of the Land of Israel as the fulfillment of divine commandments, the struggle towards Jewish destiny.

Galut (exile) is part of Geulah (redemption); both are necessary parts of the process of developing consciousness. Without a vision of Geulah, Galut is meaningless tragedy.

Obama's hard-heartedness towards Israel and the Jewish People is now obvious to all. As difficult as that seems, however, it is yet another omen of good things to come. That does not mean that there won't be hard times; there will be - for sure. But this is only a test.

It would have been nicer if Obama and Pharaoh had treated the Jewish People more kindly. But that would have obstructed the process of spiritual awareness.

Jewish liberation is not only physical, but is a creative process of self-discovery, as an individual, as part of a family, a nation and a People. Historical episodes are markers on a path towards a grander purpose. With miracles and tragedies along the way, we need to be attuned to both, and know where we are going, and why.

Pharaoh became obsessed with destroying the Jews, and, in the process destroyed his own country; many other tyrants followed his example. And the Jewish People are still around.

The story of The Exodus reminds us that there are no easy roads to self-discovery - as individuals and as a People. We eat "the bread of affliction" in comfort, thinking we are free and independent, yet, hesitant to be committed; full of accomplishments, we are paupers of responsibility.

Obama puts it to us: what rightfully belongs to the Jewish People in the Land of Israel?

Obama and his friends may not like Israel, and it's disappointing, but it may also clarify what is important for us, and for finding our integrity.

Passover/Pesach - the celebration of freedom - begins with an act of liberation, but evolves into an ongoing drama of immense proportions. Obama's wrath turns us back to meaning of The Exodus: we are in God's hands.

[Touch Not the Cat]

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[ncfool]

Dayenu (Hebrew:דַּיֵּנוּ)

Dayenu (Hebrew:דַּיֵּנוּ) is a song that is part of the Jewish holiday of Passover. The word "Dayenu" means approximately, "it would have been enough for us" or "it would have sufficed" (day in Hebrew is "enough", and -enu the first person plural suffix, "to us"). This traditional up-beat Passover song is over one thousand years old. The earliest full text of the song occurs in the first medieval haggadah, which is part of the ninth-century Seder Rav Amram.[1] The song is about being grateful to God for all of the gifts he gave the Jewish people, such as taking them out of slavery, giving them the Torah and Shabbat, and had God only given one of the gifts, it would have still been enough. This is to show much greater appreciation for all of them as a whole. The song appears in the haggadah after the telling of the story of the exodus

[ncfool]

Dayenu (Hebrew:דַּיֵּנוּ)

Dayenu has 15 stanzas representing the 15 gifts God bestowed. The first five involve freeing the Jews from slavery, the next describe the miracles he did for them, and the last five for the closeness to God he gave them. After each of the stanza, it is followed by singing the word "Dayenu" (it would have been enough) repeatedly in between stanzas. The 15 stanzas are as follows:

Five Stanzas of Leaving Slavery

1) If He had brought us out of Egypt. 2) If He had executed justice upon the Egyptians. 3) If He had executed justice upon their gods. 4) If He had slain their first born. 5) If He had given to us their health and wealth

Five Stanzas of Miracles

6) If He had split the sea for us. 7) If He had led us through on dry land. 8) If He had drowned our oppressors. 9) If He had provided for our needs in the wilderness for 40 years. 10) If He had fed us manna.

Five Stanzas of Being With God

11) If He had given us Shabbat. 12) If He had led us to Mount Sinai. 13) If He had given us the Torah. 14) If He had brought us into the Land of Israel. 15) If He built the Temple for us

[hecht]

Interesting post.

first our biracial president is half Luo who are a Nilo-Saharan people .NOT NEGRO. That half is genetically closer to ancient egyptians than to American blacks

Also it seemed that after Bibi foolishly made the settlement freeze, it only hardened Obama’s heart

[geologist]

PROPERLY THE BALFORD DECLARATION GAVE THEM A large block of land ... then they gave some to Jordan, then to Egypt, Then to Libya, etc. All the nations attacked them the days after they were declared the Nation of Israel in 1948. They have compromised again and again and it is never enough. They have never achieved peace from the surrounding nations attacking them.

It is an insanity to believe that there is a road to peace. ALL the concessions have been made by Israel to no avail.

Pray for the peace of Israel and Jerusalem.

[ncfool]

Israel should give back no more land. Enough is enough. You give them an inch and they want everything you have. This issue will never be resolved.

Should the USA give back Texas and New Mexico?

How about California?

[presently no screen name]

it only hardened Obama’s heart

His heart been hardened towards Jews, Americans and whites for a very long time!

[SeekAndFind]

It is an insanity to believe that there is a road to peace. ALL the concessions have been made by Israel to no avail.

The problem Arab nations have with Israel is NOT territorial, IT IS EXISTENTIAL.

Had it been about land, we would have seen goodwill from the Palestinians when Israel forcibly evicted their own people from the prosperous part of Gaza. Instead, what Israel got was a base for rocket attacks.

The Arab problem is and has always been Israel's EXISTENCE. The sooner America realizes that, the better.

[presently no screen name]

Israel should give back no more land

I agree but how can they 'give back' when that land was always theirs.

God bless Bibi and keep him safe and strong.

[presently no screen name]

The sooner America realizes that, the better.

I believe any American who is FOR Israel knows that; the rest don't care to know.

[painter]

Should the USA give back Texas and New Mexico?

Texas won it's independence from Mexico in the 1830s and was an independent country before becoming a state.

[Cacique]

btt

[ncfool]

American’s are dumber then a rock and it begins with Obama.

“The Arab problem is and has always been Israel’s EXISTENCE. The sooner America realizes that, the better. “

[ncfool]

But Obama’s JINO staff and JINO supporter would give up Israel in a heartbeat.

[geologist]

Good point.

[AliVeritas]

Re: Obama

He knows not Joseph.

[onedoug]

Genesis 12:2-3

[presently no screen name]

They must obey - his little slaves.

[teppe]

No reason for the Jews to feel like the Lone Ranger .... Obama doesn’t like the rest of us very much either!