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From: fsks@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: % of "Non-Religious" Jews and Brass Tacks
Message-ID: <7@unc.unc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Aug-85 18:05:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: unc.7
Posted: Wed Aug 28 18:05:34 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Aug-85 09:33:07 EDT
References: <549@bu-cs.UUCP> <3434@garfield.UUCP>
Reply-To: fsks@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann)
Organization: CS Dept, U. of N. Carolina, Chapel Hill
Lines: 23
Summary: 

In article <3434@garfield.UUCP> lionel@garfield.UUCP (Lionel H. Moser) writes:
>
>For example, Passover is a traditional occasion for the extended family
>to get together. It is also the one religious service I can enjoy for
>its own sake. I wouldn't get off on thanking the lord for killing
>the first-born children of Egyptians, but celebrating Freedom is not
>such a bad idea.
> [...]
>Disclaimer: My knowledge of Judaism, which I unabashedly brandish about,
>is rudimentary and probably error-ridden. Somebody may wish to correct
>any misconceptions I have about Jewish philosophy.
>	Lionel Moser

Permit me to correct just one misconception.  Nowhere in the Passover Seder
do we thank the Lord for killing first-born Egyptions.  We thank him for
having spared our own first born sons, but not for taking the Egyptions'.
We thank Him for delivering us from the Pharoahs soldiers, but not for
drowning them in the Red Sea.  In fact, the text of the Seder reminds us
of G*d's sadness over the deaths of the Egyption soldiers, and reminds us
not to celebrate their deaths, since the Egyptians are G*d's children,
just as we are.

	Frank Silbermann