Pretty Neat

[eumelia]

Three tests down, four to go.
Though technically two, seeing as I'm retaking two tests in the second semester, but who cares right?! I just want to get it over with.
I now have a chance to catch up on all the reading I didn't do for Uni during the semster, that is the novels and essays which are probably crucial for the second semester, which I, in a bout of uncontrollable procrastination... procrastinated upon.

Not a good idea.

On the other hand, I spent most of yesterday watching various Eddie Izzard sketches and Achmed the Dead Terrorist, who is much, funnier than Walter by the way. He also inspired me to create an icon, which shall be used at times I find things to be very, very silly (or stupid, or just plain infuriating) indeed.
To much Izzard I must say, he's rubbing of on me.

So Pesach, yeah.
End of Hebrew Slavery, freedom, eating constipation inducing food.
Lovely time of year, innit?

We'll be doing the Seder at my sister's in-laws this year, seeing as both parental units will be away. Wine and veggie kneydlach soup.
There will also be the reading of stories, singing, interpretations of said stories and song, hopefully Robbie and I can hijack the singing and get it over with as quickly as possible and that we can skip over all the songs that talk about how GD is great. I'd rather hear about how with shrewd planning and cunning three siblings managed to create such a panic on the Nile that Pharaoh thought to himself - Dude, these Jews are just not worth the effort.
'Course who else are going to be the Plebs in Egypt if not those crazy Hebrew Fuckers (who until Moses came along, were actually Henotheists) who believe in this One True GD nonsense, I mean really.

One of the things found on the Seder table is a plate on which is placed food items symbolic of the Holiday like a chicken leg or neck which symbolises the sacrifice at the Temple (of which remains only the Western Wall and a bunch of silly religious edicts which mark a Cohen as different from the rest of the Jewish people) and bitter herbs for, you know, the bitterness of our existence and all the bitching.

I'm being glib, but all these are fascinating symbols and they can all mean different things to different families, not just the Tribal meaning.
What I like about Pesach is how it's a Holiday that it's meaning is also very modern. I mean I can't think of other Holidays which is basically says "Oppression is Bad, Freedom is Good and it must be Universal".

Pretty neat.

One of the things that have yet to trickle into Israel from the Diaspora (or if it has it's hasn't even registered on the mainstream) is the presence of new Traditions, like Miriam's cup or the adding of an orange and/or olive to the Seder plate.
I'm thinking of suggesting it, maybe update Pesach a bit, make it a bit more actual.
Tradition is meant to symbolise the meanings of Holidays and if Holidays lack meaning, what are they good for then - eating and drinking into a stupor?

Comments

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

You're being a bit optimistic about our chances, aren't you? ;)

1. Why do you say that the Israelites were Henotheists?
I see nothing in the wiki article which can stand on two legs...
I'll correct/edit/change it if/when I get a chance

2. What does the orange/olive represent?

Robert

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

When I was in high school our Tanach teacher said that originally the belief was that that El (He Who Said to Abe "Go Forth") was believed to be the Best and most Powerful and not the Only.
It was only during the time of Moses when in Egypt the cult of Aten was (supposedly) most popular and the exclusiveness of one deity became mainstream for a while.
There's not a whole lot of writing about it as far as I know, but it sounds logical.

The orange on the plate in a modern addition to include the Fruits in the Family (i.e. the Gay-Les-Bi-Trans community), the olive acknowledges the fact that at the moment in the land of Israel the oppression the Strangers within is happening and should be stopped (i.e. that Palestinians are currently suffering from Occupation and oppression from the hands of Jews) and Miriam's cup to remember the often forgotten sister (seeing as Moses and Aaron get most of the glory) and the representation of Women's liberation on Pesach. It's filled with water - you know Miriam's well and is supposed to be drunk from at some point, unlike Elijah's cup which is purely there for show (and Elijah, should he deign us with his presence ;-)

As the entry says, pretty neat no?

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

I doubt that these things are mainstream Diaspora either ;)

The orange won't work in the Hebrew translation, though.
The olive is also a bit doubtful in my mind - are most of the Palestinians farmers?

Have you heard of Olmert's new idea? I'm not sure if this is real or some satire I picked up, but I heard he suggested adding a second empty chair for the seder - for Gilad, Ehud and Eldad.

Notice that what you say, which makes some sense, is nothing like what the wikipedia article says about the Israelites.

I actually like the fact that the heroes of the story (Moses, Moses and Aaron, Moses and Miriam, Moses and Aaron and Miriam - however you prefer, as long as Moses is included ;) ) are NOT mentioned by name in the Haggadah.
It's the exact opposite of the spin and attention grabbing modern "heroes" get.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's mainly the feminist and queer circles.

'Tis true, can always use a cookie :), the olive isn't just about the farmers, it's just that the uprooting of olive trees symbolises the situation best, unless you think a cracked brick would look better on the plate?

I think it's a satire, Olmert wouldn't come up with something so original.

I shall remove/find a better link post-haste.

Good point, but I think it's important to talk about modern liberations on this holiday, a lot of Jewish women were key players in the International/American women's liberation movement: http://jwa.org/feminism/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jewish_feminists

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

The Haggadah is supposed to be the core or kernel.

Therefore, it should be about the ideal and I like that it doesn't name names.

Everyone is free to add what they like. Remember, we're not supposed to stagger away from the table, stuffed to the gills with food at midnight...
We're supposed to continue talking about stuff till dawn...

[aesiron.livejournal.com]

Spain, maybe?

Edit: Totally off. I was being too literal. :p

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

It's all about symbolism baby :D

Did you Watch

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

The video I linked?

You must!

So funny.

Re: Did you Watch

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

I can read this at work...
Watching movies is something else...

[aesiron.livejournal.com]

Eddie's going to be playing in Atlanta and Nashville this summer. I'm too cheap to even consider going, though. Bonnaroo is so far the only kind of event that I will pay $100+ for.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Oh, Eddie.
How I'd love to see him perform live at some point in my life.

And I shall! I swears it! I've already met, touched and spoken to The Neil... nothing will stop me from doing the same with The Izzard.

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

Everyone has their own Neil...

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Whose your Neil?

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

Can't you guess?

Mainstream, he's the most famous Neil in the world, I think.

I'll give you a hint... try googling Neil and see if anything rings a bell.

But THINK before you do that... you'll manage to guess.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Oh, THAT Neil :D

But have you met, touched and spoken to him? There's still a chance for that ;)

[bitter-moss.livejournal.com]

Good luck with your readings and tests :).

Speaking of Seder i've been invited to a Seder celebration (is that the right term?) this weekend :D. It's not gonna be vegan, though the host says she'll make a special vegan dish for me if i do come along ^-^. I'm gonna take a dish of my own, so any ideas/tips/recipes/links you can send my way would be ace (bonus points for something that is both gluten-free and portable!).

Also Eddie Izzard is love!

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Ooooh, excellent. You know something, I'll ask at weirdjews for recipes and pass 'em along.

Eddie Izzard is Fabulous Love!

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

If your hosts don't mind the food being prepares in a non-kosher kitchen, you can make anything you want so long as it doesn't have rising flour in it, also known as chametz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chametz).

Here's the link my request, just track it so that you can get the comments as well and you'll be set :)
http://community.livejournal.com/weirdjews/1838062.html

[bitter-moss.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!

She's in the process of converting - so this will be her first Seder too. So the non-kosher kitchen thing isn't a problem as her kitchen isn't actually kosher (yet) either, but she's trying ^-^. And apparently her kitchen is teeny so she can't make too much food for us all ala us bringing stuff along (especially me as it means i'll have something to eat other than spiced radishes XD).

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

OMG! So Much Fun!

Seders are great, you get to eat and drink, sing songs and talk about Life, the Universe and Everything!
So it won't be a lot of people, that means you'll be able to pretty much do what you want :)

[bitter-moss.livejournal.com]

:D i know, i so hope i am well enough to attend! It's a tradition i don't know much about, other than through American media (o.O) and yourself, as Australia doesn't seem to have much of a Jewish population.

At least in Brisbane they're pretty thin on the ground, i imagine there are more down in Sydney & Melbourne where the populations are more racially diverse. Ah i love Melbourne so, the food is great as they have HEAPS of vego places & a huge Greek/Lebanse population :).