a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster (google)The Jews who left Egypt weren't refugees, because they weren't Egyptians. They were descendants of a foreign tribe, different religion and culture who had been invited to stay in Egypt during a time of extreme famine in their own land. One can say that when they arrived in Egypt they had been refugees at that time. But then, once there was a new ruler/Pharaoh policy towards them changed and they became enslaved, and they were denied all civil rights, including the right to go back to their homeland.
That is the Passover Story. It's about a People trying to return home to their Homeland. It's not about people aka refugees looking for better economic conditions, educational opportunities or security in a foreign land.
The Passover story is more like that of North African Jews being forced to hike thousands of miles to the Land of Israel or the European Jews on clandestine aliyah ships trying to sneak past the British forces that aimed to keep Jews out of the Holy Land.
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| The Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum |
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| Aliyah Bet Naval Museum |
Despite it all, the Jewish People did manage to return Home and establish a modern state, the State of Israel. There is no other people in the world that has done anything similar, especially after a two thousand 2,000 year expulsion.
The State of Israel is miraculous, and that is proof that we are Gd's People.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Pesach Sameach!
Have a Peaceful Shabbat and a Joyous Passover Holiday!
3 comments:
Ezekiel 36:16-38
16 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 17 “Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity. 18 Therefore I poured out My fury on them for the blood they had shed on the land, and for their idols with which they had defiled it. 19 So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and their deeds. 20 When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name—when they said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they have gone out of His land.’ 21 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went.
22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. 23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 29 I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 Not for your sake do I do this,” says the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!”
33 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. 35 So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.”
37 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a flock. 38 Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the Lord
John, what's the point? This has nothing to do with my post.
Batya, the essential message of the Passover and the miracle still being worked out in modern Israel, is the incredible measure of God's grace given to the undeserved.
In this world that blatantly promotes self worth, we should all be fleeing our vain hope of good works, to lay hold of the hope that is found only in God our one and only refuge.
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