Tag Archives: Israel
Relations with the enemy
Jewish thought usually takes care not to demonize enemies. But Purim might be an exception. The rabbis connect Haman, the villain, with Amalek, a destructive nation whom we are commanded to exterminate. Our relationship with Amalek is close to a … Continue reading
Slaves or Slave-Owners?
An extraordinary comment in the Jerusalem Talmud over-turns our self-image as “slaves in Egypt” and reminds us that we might have been slave-owners too in Egypt. It suggests that Passover commemorates not only the day when we became a free … Continue reading