04/22/08:

JOHN McCAIN "GETS" WHAT PASSOVER MEANS: And guess who doesn't?

Hillary Clinton's statement sounds as if it were written by a serious and slightly old-fashioned Reform rabbi, full of the spirit of earnest liberal advocacy. Obama's message has the feel of a slightly New Age, somewhat hip, multicultural, dialogue-friendly, college-town pulpit.

Not John McCain. He understands Passover as a time for reflection about sacrifice: "As families gather together for Seders, members of the Jewish faith reflect upon the painful sacrifices made by their ancestors, the joys of freedom, and the triumph of inherent goodness over evil."

Sacrifices for the sake of freedom, the triumph of good over evil—if John McCain was at a Seder this past weekend, he surely would have liked this passage: "In all ages they rise up against us to destroy us; and the Holy One, blessed be He, rescues us from their hands."

McCain's statement is also the only one to mention current assaults on Jews. He asks us to reflect on three young Israelis—Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser—who were kidnapped in the summer of 2006 by Hamas and Hezbollah, and "who will celebrate this occasion, once again, in captivity." McCain recalls his meetings with the families of two of these men in December 2006, reiterates his commitment to seek their swift release, and urges others to do the same.

So if Clinton's Passover message is liberal, and Obama's is multicultural, one might call McCain's Zionist. There's a clear choice of worldviews here—and not just for Jews, but for all Americans.

I might add that both Democratic campaigns missed an opportunity last week. They seem not to have noticed that the date of the first Seder, April 19, was also the 233rd anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord. So, a few days before Pennsylvanians vote, the candidates could have commemorated not just the Exodus from Egypt but also "the shot heard round the world," thus identifying themselves all at once with political liberation, religious freedom and—yes!—the right to bear arms.

Amen, and Chag Pesach Sameach!

Posted by Deb on

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[Jim Wilson]

May G-d continue to bless you as you continue to provide quality and informative substance to your posts. G-d Bless - Rev. Jim Wilson