“Hello from the Other Side … Free at Last in the Sinai”

“Hello from the Other Side … Free at Last in the Sinai”

First Night of Passover

Tonight is the First Night of Passover, in which we celebrate the Exodus from Egypt.

My favorite passage from the traditional Passover Haggadah is one that is evergreen:

“For not just one alone has risen against us to destroy us, but in every generation they rise against us to destroy us; and the Holy One, blessed be He, saves us from their hand!”

If you have been reading Legal Insurrection the past years, you understand that this passage remains as true today as ever before.

Fourteen years ago, during the 2nd Intifada, a Palestinian suicide bomber blew up a Passover seder at the Park Hotel in the seaside town of Netanya, Israel:

The suicide bomber, Abd El-Basset Oudeh (resident of Tulkarm, born in 1977), arrived at the hotel disguised as a woman after shaving off his beard and moustache, putting on makeup, and wearing a straight hair wig. He wore women’s shoes, blue feminine-cut jeans, a brown shirt, and a brown leather jacket with a leopard-print collar. A fake Israeli ID card in a woman’s name completed the disguise.

The explosive belt worn by the suicide bomber was designed as a vest with pockets that hid approximately 10kg of explosives.

The masterminds of the Park Hotel bombing were released in 2011 as part of the prisoner exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

This holiday really makes me look forward to my return to Israel in June. For my past trip reports, see our tags Israel Trip 2013 and Israel Trip 2015. This year, I’m hoping to arrange meetings with the victims and families of victims of the Knife Intifada.

These quotes also are getting to be a Passover tradition at Legal Insurrection:

Short all-purpose “Jewish History in One Sentence“:

“Quick synopsis of every Jewish holiday: They tried to kill us; we won; let’s eat.”

Particularly timely now, Passover Is No Time To Wish For The End Of Christian America:

Nothing has changed in thousands of years. They still rise up in every generation to destroy us, but this time the names are not Haman or Adolf, but Mahmoud and Osama. And on this earth, it will be Christian Americans almost alone who will stand with us.

I’m reminded of the bumper sticker from the 1960′s: “If you hate cops, next time you are in trouble call a hippie. ” Jews, of all people, should not wish too hard for The End of Christian America. There is no one else to call.

So particularly at this Passover time, we should not wish too hard for the End of Christian America. We might just get it.

Despite everything, this is a festive holiday.

So here’s a video to enjoy (lyrics below):

Pharaoh, it’s me
I was wondering if after all these years the Jews you’d free
It’s all over
Everything
You see its time for us to leave ya
I hope there’s no hard feelings

Hello?
I can’t hear you
I think the river needs some cleanin’
It’s turning red
And we’re thirsty
What’s with all these frogs
In my streets?
Locusts flying
I’ve got boils
And this hail is so freaky

There’s not much difference
Between us
Except our million gods.

Moses all our cattle’s died
We must have scratched a thousand times
I’ll tell you I’m sorry for everything that I’ve done
Just stop these plagues
And don’t mention the firstborns

Wish we could turn back time, to the good ol’ days,
When we ruled the Jews, our slaves, but now we’re stressed out.
Wish we could turn back time, to the good ol’ days,
Before met this dude, now our sheep are dead, we’re stressed out.

I ain’t playin pretend, no one’s gonna get away
I hope you brought your swimming trunks
Cuz you’ll need them for the day

Gonna take your gold and silver, eat some matzah and be free,
Then maybe we’ll eat lots of manna.
Yo.

No time for dough to rise, bread of freedom is its name
Leave behind all of the ego and time now has no reign
Fermentation is a process that only happens certain ways
Tasting freedom, now live like a soul.
Yo.

My God He don’t like you and He loves everyone
And I think it’s time for you to admit you’re wrong

Now we all leave for Israel
Cuz with God we cannot fail
And now we know
That He’s the one that’s in control

Well I just can’t believe we let them go
Ohhhh maybe we can catch them at the sea
Don’t be afraid lets go and follow them,
I told you, you should have listened to me

Hello from the other side
Free at last in the Sinai
To go get the Torah, Jewish nation is born
Have a Happy Passover.
May you feel freedom down to your core.

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