Pesach


This weekend was the jewish Holiday Pesach or Pass Over.  For American Jews it is one of the most celebrated holidays, mainly because it does not consist of going to temple but rather having a seder, or a dinner.

This year I went to two seders, one at my house and one at my grandparents house.  A seder is basically a very ,very long dinner with only certain foods that must be eaten in a certain order while reciting certain prayers and telling the story of Pass over.

Pass Over is celebrating the jews release from bondage in Egypt.  It is the story of Moses freeing the Jewish slaves in which he proclaims the famous well-known line “Let My People go.”

During the seder the entire story is retold while we remember what our ancestors went through long ago.  We eat only unleavened bread to symbolize the jews frantic escape in which they did not have time to let their bread rise and rather put them on their backs and the sun cooked them into Matza.

Pass Over has much more significance to the world today then just being a jewish holiday.  On Pass Over we reflect on how blessed we are to live the lives we live and we thank our ancestors for enduring the harshness of slavery so that we may not have to.  We also discuss the world of today and how slavery is still very much alive today and what we can do.

Viva Revolution!

The age of Revolution is a period of time that took place during the 1700 and 1800s. Some would say that we have entered our own modern period of revolution. Lets take a look back at some of the revolutions that occurred during 2011. A revolution that started during 2011 and ended during 2012, is the famed Egyptian revolution. It began with peaceful protests — Egyptians were just trying to make Egypt democratic. Millions of citizens went on strikes refusing work until better treated. Before we know it Egypt’s corrupt president, Hosni Mubarak ordered the army to fire on unarmed protestors. Due to ever-growing pressure from his own people and the U.N, Hosni Mubarak resigned on February 11th 2012.

Another revolution is the Libyan revolution that started on February 15th 2011.  As early as 2010 the U.N. was receiving reports that Libya was the most censored country in the Middle East. Ruled by Muammar Gaddafi, a cruel dictator who seized power in the 60s, Libya received much attention from the international community. With an uprising from guerilla forces and support from the U.N, the rebellion ended on October 23rd 2011. The last of  “rebellions” on our list (more like civil disobedience) is Occupy Wall Street. It began in New York, people protesting   corporate greed and unfair taxation. The movements slogan “ We are the 99%” became a battle cry for many, for others it was a threat to their wealth. OWS soon spread around the nation with protest held in California, Louisiana, Alabama and many others. It did not only stop at a nationwide level it soon spread to London, Berlin, Sydney and many countries in Africa. The protests were splintered however and by fall of 2011 they were being shit down. Pepper Spray, riot shields, and flash bangs soon became commonplace. By December of 2011 the movement was effectively dead. History repeats itself; we may have entered a new age of revolution or just an insignificant period in human history. Whatever it is, whenever people are treated unfairly they will rebel.

Egypt’s potential to become Islamic State

With protests becoming more violent and the growing popularity of the Islamic brotherhood, Egypt is beginning to look a lot like 1979 Iran.

For Israel and the world as a whole this can only spell disaster.  One Islamic state is enough.  If Egypt were to become an Islamic state, Israel would be the most directly infected.

To start, Israel and Egypt have maintained a cold peace for over thirty years.  If Mubarak is overthrown, and the Islamic brotherhood takes power, not only would they not recognize Israel as a legitimate state, but also they would begin to openly fund Hamas in the Gaza strip, and at the least Israel would face a repeat in 2005 when over 10,000 Kasam rockets fell in Israeli towns and cities.

Putting Israel aside and looking at the interests of the US, pre 1979 Iran was a powerful ally ruled by the Shah who welcomed in western ideas.  Now Iran is not only one of the most oppressed and human rights void country in the world but also the most likely country the US will go to war with next.

Iran is a threat to the entire world, and Egypt is well on its way to stand beside its brother Arab country.  Yes, Mubarak is a dictator, but what Arab countries leader is not.  Is not the continued oppression of a small number of people better the rise of yet another Islamic state that threatens world peace?