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From: arig@cvl.UUCP (Ari Gross)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Re: % of "Non-Religious" Jews and Brass Tacks
Message-ID: <789@cvl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 30-Aug-85 12:27:11 EDT
Article-I.D.: cvl.789
Posted: Fri Aug 30 12:27:11 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 1-Sep-85 12:42:30 EDT
References: <549@bu-cs.UUCP> <3434@garfield.UUCP> <7@unc.unc.UUCP>
Organization: Computer Vision Lab, U. of Maryland, College Park
Lines: 43

> 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



Actually, we do give thanks for the killing of Egyptian firstborn,
not that we rejoice over it but because it was the straw that broke the
camel's (Pharaoh's) back.


" Lo, that He dealt with their (the Egyptian) G-d's , 
      and didn't kill their first born
  It would have sufficed (to praise G-d)

  Lo, that He killed their firstborn,
      and didn't give us their property
  It would have sufficed.
........
"
                                    Ari Gross