Conquest and Compassion

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Like most early religions, the origins of Judaism are quite militaristic. The 1100 BCE kingdoms of Judea and Israel conquered their territory from the native peoples by force. The original ties to the area, if any, were long removed. Even by the Haggadah standards at least 400 years had passed+, which in primitive times would’ve been a remote incomprehensible memory. It is likely that the Exodus story served as background and unification for the Judean and Israel conquest and rule of their territory. Early Judeans would march into battle with the Ark of the Covenant like a modern day battle standard.

What happened next in Jewish orientation was a gradual change from being militaristic to being pacifist. Since the fall of the first temple, Jewish goals and desires were to reestablish a military kingdom and rule again in Judea. Traditional prayers emphasize rebuilding the kingdom, returning to animal sacrifices and vanquishing our enemies. Ultimately, in the years between 65 CE and 165 CE the Judeans in Palestine fought three disastrous wars against the Romans. By the end of this time it was evident that military conquest against the Romans was close to impossible and further revolts would impair the survival and future identity of Judeans. To prevent the culture from getting lost the rabbis relatively quickly evolved the tradition of valuing peace.

Talmudic laws and traditions adapted to the culture of the native land wherever Jews were dispersed. There followed almost 2000 years of philosophy of Jews as a pacifist people, chosen by God to follow laws and rituals laid down in history which were gradually being reinterpreted from a pastoral society to a medieval society. In addition to the Sabbath as a day of rest, we were instructed to look after the poor, treat our workers fairly, welcome the stranger, and perform rituals that remind us of our identity.

Only in the modern Zionist era have the more military forces reemerged. With growing anti-Semitism, more destructive weapons of war, and near total annihilation in the Holocaust it became apparent that the pacifist philosophy was not enough to save Judaism. The formation of the state of Israel and the concept of fighting for survival became strong beliefs for the World War II generation and our parents. Most Jews took inordinate pride at the militaristic conquest by Israel during the war for independence in 1948 and the Six-Day War in 1967. Standing up for yourself and fighting for your right to exist was just as important as adapting to other cultures. The formation of the state of Israel as a Jewish homeland is considered to be essential for Jewish survival no matter where in the world Jews happen to live.

So in a way Judaism has come full circle:

from a primitive tribe following a militaristic Ark of the Covenant into battle,
to a pacifist people following laws and traditions emphasizing fairness, charity and prayer
to strongly supporting the development and conquests of the state of Israel as a Jewish homeland and safety net.

That is a lot of what the Seder is all about. The Traditional Haggadah portrays God as using powerful forces to extricate the Jews from Egypt resulting in much death and suffering among the Egyptians but providing a national government and land for the Israelites to live in. The Haggadah states we should “pour out the blood of our enemies” and rejoice in the celebration of their defeat. Many scholars believe the original Haggadah’s message of freedom was a call to revolt against the Romans. Later Passover messages, incorporating over 2000 years of tradition since that time, state we should always welcome the stranger, remember that we were strangers in a strange land, and value freedom for ourselves and others as well. These messages of inclusion and caring for the poor cannot be more clear. We may not personally like the duality of the messages of Passover, but we must appreciate them, acknowledge them, and learn from the lessons that they teach.

haggadah Section: -- Exodus Story