PASSOVER TALES OF REPENTANCE AND VICTORY Eugene Narrett Who knows what wonders may ensue by the time these letters greet the air? Will there have been murders, mutilations, new diatribes about the dangers of "Judaizing Jerusalem? What splendid fits of pique will the Edomites perform, as they continue to strut and fret their hour upon the stage? Will the holy Hussein stretch out his mighty hand and enjoin Jews to mourn? Or, most monstrous of all, will there be "a "national unity" government combining the gifts of Shimon and Bibi? That might be like one of those psychedelic horror films Ray Milland made toward the end of his career-"The Beast with Two Heads," Israeli style: "Shimobibi- more horrible than Godzilla!" Somehow, one doubts the Middle East version will end with the conjoined rivals driving into the sunset to the tunes of "O Happy Day!" The return of Shimon? Can Israel's sins really be that many? God forbid! Having just prayed, "next year in Jerusalem," one hopes next year will see many Jews living and ruling there. Though Pesach has passed, Shavuot approaches, and with it, a reminder of the convenant for which liberation was planned, which completes and sustains it. The rocky road ahead for Israel suggests the merit of glancing back at two other tales of renewal, two re-consecrations of Pesach relevant to today's tasks. About 730 BCE, Judah was suffering terrible tribulations. A crazed King, a true multiculturalist, worshipped idols, made altars to the zodiac and "set his sons aflame, like the abominations of the nations." His name was Ahaz, and he led the land to ruin. First came defeat by the Arameans, who carried off Jews to Damascus. Then Ahaz provoked Israel, the ten northern tribes, which inflicted a crushing defeat in civil war. Finally, he sought vassalage under Assyria's new-old Middle East. Total collapse ensued. Edom (Arabia) attacked, and the Philistines "captured the cities of Judah." Last but not least, Tiglat-Pileser and the Assyrians, spurning Ahaz's pleas for friendship, invaded. In the crisis, instead of turning to his heritage, "Ahaz sacrificed to the gods of Damascus" and "shut the doors to the Temple of the Lord" (II Chronicles 28:22-5), just as Israel's government today forbids Jews to worship on the Temple Mount. In this state of crisis Ahaz died, and was not

buried among the tombs of the Kings of Israel. Then as now, there were endless attempts to placate Assyria and the Philistines. Jewish continuity seemed, then as now, a dead letter, ransomed to the acolytes of Moloch and Belial. But a new King, Hezekiah, shrugged off the mockers and doubters of his day, called the Levites to re-dedicate themselves and had the Temple re-consecrated. Runners went forth to call in the faithful. Many scorned the call to return, but others, from Zebulun, Asher, Manasseh and Judah came with a "united heart to follow the commandment of the King and the word of the Lord." And although their observance was imperfect from long dis-use and adulteration, Hezekiah prayed for them, and God absolved the people on account of their righteous intent. And so, for the first time in centuries, "they celebrated the Festival of Matzos in Jerusalem with great joy" (30:21), the musicians performing the psalms as in the time of David. So much so, that they celebrated an additional seven days. The people then went through all the villages of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh, smashing the idols. These four tribes encompass the area today called Judea and Samaria, and the altars now to be smashed include those of Pepsi, Burger King, Reebok, Moloch, the UN and the PA. Destroying this false worship, the people restored the portions of the Kohanim and Levites for strengthening in Torah. "And all that Hezekiah had done in Judah was good and proper and truthful before the Lord his God...for he undertook the service of God with all his heart, and he succeeded" (31:21). But if such renewal was attempted today, wouldn't the nations object? Wouldn't they rage? What about conciliation and the "peace process?" They were enraged against Hezekiah. Sennacherib, King of Assyria, brought an army against Jerusalem, and he mocked the Jews for daring to assert themselves. "What? do you say, 'the Lord our God will rescue us from Assyria?' Do you not know what I have done to all the other lands?..." On and on he ranted "in a loud voice," trying "to frighten and terrify" the Jews. If this were a modern fable, the denouement would feature a "redployment" from Judea, a photo op with Yasser, and editorials by the politically correct explaining that G-d is no greater than any other god that Sennacherib or Edom had subdued. But it was different then. Hezekiah and his prophet, Isaiah, "cried out to Heaven" and Sennacherib's army was destroyed. The Assyrian went home to disgrace and death. There are no cheaply won happy endings, neither in what we call 'real life' nor in the Bible. The re-dedication, faith and victory of Hezekiah was followed by the apostasy of Menasseh who built altars to Baal, practiced astrology, infanticide and sorcery. The pattern of defeat and division resumed until another great King, Josiah, again "removed all the abominations from all the lands that belonged to the children of Israel." A Passover then was celebrated greater than any since the time of (Continued on p.11)

Outpost               - 6 -               June 1997