The Sincere Commitment of Friends

Shabbat Hol Moed Pesach

Exodus 12:21 - 12:51 & Numbers 28:16 - 28:25

Précis: On the Shabbat which occurs during the intermediate days (chol hamoed) of Passover, we read these two excerpts from the Torah, relating to the celebration of Passover. The first recounts the celebration of Passover on the last night in Egypt, while the excerpt from Numbers describes the Passover sacrifice made at the Tabernacle and (later) in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Exodus 12:43 “God said to Moses and Aaron: "This is the law of the Passover offering: no foreigner shall eat of it.”

The Targum translated the phrase to mean not "foreigner" but rather "apostate" - meaning one who had abandoned Judaism. Why, then, would we exclude the sinner from Passover, but welcome the sinner to join with us at Kol Nidre on Yom Kippur? Midrash says that if sinners come to atone, they are welcome; if they come only to rejoice and eat, they are not welcome.


We know many people who are all too willing to “eat and rejoice” with us, without making the emotional commitment to share the difficulties and sacrifices a family (or a congregation or even a society) needs from time to time. Jewish tradition values those who make a sincere commitment to each other and to Judaism.


This may be an opportune time for a segue in a political area (politics alert!). In recent weeks, the relationship between Israel and the United States seems to have hit what the Israeli ambassador to the US called a “flap” and what some others are calling a “crisis.” The cause was the Obama Administration’s reactions to the Netanyahu government’s announcement of new building in East Jerusalem during Vice President Biden’s visit. This “impolite” or “rude” action was apologized for by Netanyahu, and Biden appeared to accept the apology. However, both Secretary of State Clinton and President Obama kept the issue alive by pressing Israel to stop building in East Jerusalem, and seeming to make such an action a pre-requisite for the next round of negotiations with the Palestinians (so-called “proximity talks.”). As has been the case many times before, US pressure on Israel resulted in the Palestinians backing away from negotiations, sensing that the outcome might be better if they allow the US to do the “negotiating” for them. On the other hand, some might suggest that the “flap” was a calculated effort of the Netanyahu government to put off negotiations they don’t really want, and that the Palestinians took advantage of the “crisis” because they don’t want to negotiate either.


As I mentioned before, our tradition values those who make a sincere commitment to each other. Given the United States’ support for Israel (in political risk and in financial support), it is difficult for me to understand the rancor and hatred being expressed by some supporters of Israel against the Obama administration. Even the Netanyahu government has urged critics of the Obama administration to tone down their criticism.


Perhaps during this Festival of Freedom, friends of Israel who are sincere in their support for the Jewish State and demonstrate that support repeatedly can do what is needed to ensure the long-term survival of Israel.