[Avodah] Drops of wine - also the Ten Curtain Calls

[David Wacholder]

   1. I hope this will clarify - or for the first time - express my
   thoughts.
   2. Generally I am recently weighing the assertions in David Birnbaum's
   "Crucifixion of the Jews Volume II "  irony intended by Birnbaum. Birnbaum
    asserts that the roots and basic tenets of Christianity were never
   intended to be a coherent belief system of any sort. Rather there was a
   fully intentional and well designed slander campaignagainst the most
   defensleless available victim.
   3. Quite intentionally, the murderous Pontius Pilate and his Roman
   backers  were fully exculpated and portrayed as  merciful Peacenicks,
   opponents of  Capital Punishment..All blame was passed to the entirely
   powerless Jews - just then being crucified by the thousands - were
    portrayed as the murderers of The God-Man, etc.
   4. Anti Semitism of Christianity was a conscious slander campaign
   against a weakling Philosopher-Nation, whom the Romans were seeking to
   destroy.
   5. Greek speaking power-grabbers in Antioch., far from Israel in every
   way, - concocted self-contradictory layers of hatred-incitement against
   Jews. It is a sort of religious Hate Bomb with intricate parts. He claims
   the hostility  was novel and concocted only then.
   6. As only some of the pieces were known to me, I am still trying to
   comprehend his approach.
   7. ===
   8. The debate  was regarding the proper way the Ideal Jew should look at
   the suffering inflicted on the Mitzriyiim Egyptians of that time. All
   possible points of view were expressed far better than this writer, and it
   was fitting for me to say nothing.
   9. Certainly I see no philosophical problem in the Ten Makkos - the
   Divine Wheels were turning to create a Reset in the hashkafa of the World
   Powers - that Hashem's Strong hand is here to stay, involved in the World.
   Krias Yam Suf would be an Exclamation Point of that theme. There was
   sufficient lead time for the Almighty to make sure that each individual
   charioteer and even the horses - had reached critical mass of Death That
   Day.  [compare - Ki lo shalem avon ha'Emori ad Heina]. That is only an
   obstacle - Red Ink on the balance sheet, which hashem took care of somehow.
   10. The main crux of the exercise - was to commit hashem to involvement
   in the Jewish People. Avraham came to hashem and made a partnership with
   him for Kidush hashem. That was - so to speak - initiated and perhaps
   credited to Avraham Ohavi.
   11. Based on Machzor Vitri end of Shabbos Piyutim - Pitron Nishmas -
   Hashem newly gave up his absentee landlord approach, and suddenly became
   vitally interested in each and every Jew getting visible and immmediate
   justice. Not that Par'oh was so many quantum levels more evil than his
   competition in surrounding countreis. Rather - he had oppressed Hashem's
   beloved and devoted People. His Rachamim - looking at the end result of
   Yaavdun Oti rather than their present "slumber" - was as unilateral as a
   mother bearing a child and bringing it up.
   12. as this was Priority - Ani v'lo Mal'ach - it was done completely by
   Hashem.
   13. indeed for us to pour out wine - smacks of Epikorsus and lack of
   trust on our part.  It would be indefensible according to these Mefarshim.
   14. If so - Why pour off wine?
   15. ==
   16. My suggestion based on the well-argued dialogue - Jewish People have
   a full rapport with Hashsem and would not make a public embarrassment of
   his decisions, no matter how minor.
   17.
   18. Rather the message is for us - aimed at those wishing to attribute
   the darkest impulses and motives to us, based on prior assumptions and
   negativity and hostility, as hinted above.
   19. The message is intended to put on record that never have the Jewish
   people been hostile nor have they been murderous
   20. The ultimate goal is that there be no Blood Libel based on
   "identification" with the Idol Worshippers of bygone days.
   21. ==
   22. The last piece in Rashb"a's Chidushim al Hahados - most clearly in
   the Mossad Harav Kook Blue skinny volume  addresses this issue - why
   Yetzias Mitzrayim "is not necessarily" an indictment of his contemporary
   Christian society. .
   23. = In short just like some said not to use white wine rather than
    blood-colored Red  wine - l'hotzi meichashad - just similarly - that is
   the intended result of the poured out and wasted drops of wine. .
   24. Please correct more of my errors - it is infinitely helpful in
   clarifying my thinking. .


Groups viciously attacked the Jewish People as being hostile and
> violent. Since the Seder is in a sense a victory celebration, it is
> important to stress that it is the Victory of Hashem's Glory which we
> are celebrating. We proclaim that our motives are not tainted.

Are you suggesting that hostility and violence are *always* tainted?  If
so, I have to disagree.

Lisa

-- 
David Wacholder
Cell: 917-742-7838
Email: dwacholder at gmail.com
dwacholder at optonline.net
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