To be fair I have had my share of criticism of the New York Times. I don’t call them anti-Semitic though, that just reminds me of Uncle Leo in the Shower Head Seinfeld episode. Uncle Leo’s burger is medium instead of rare so he assumes the chef must be an anti-Semite… That doesn’t stop these guys from going in that direction. (I found them in a google search result, I have never heard of them before…) Maybe Unlce Leo writes for the “American Thinker”.
And when the NY Times has an article that paints Jews in a positive light I feel equally compelled to raise the issue,
A few days ago the NY Times “Bitten” blog ran a great article on April 1st / Fools Day, (tongue in cheek I suppose, but one never knows) about how Matza is just like Pizza – only better! The article takes a few stabs at the price of Shmura Matza (near $20 a pound) which is a legitimare gripe and gives a decent description of the process by which matza is fashioned and baked.
The line that makes the article is the close.
Shmura matzoh is an authentic product — not the re-creation of one — and authenticity is to be prized, especially when it tastes so good.
Pesach is the most celebrated Jewish holiday. Varioations and modern reincarnations of the Seder are everywhere we turn. I think that the original, authentic Seder is powerful enough and vast enough for years and years of discussion that we don’t need new versions. The original has plenty to offer us. But at least for everyone the Matza remains authentic. The Matza does not get adulterated.
The Seder reenacts and reminds us how the Jewish tribe became a nation. The Jewish people remain a nation because its precepts and tenets remain viable unchanged.
It’s a shame that the celebration of the birth of the Jewish people by many Jews would be unrecognizable to those who experienced the very first Seder. The authentic Seder tastes so good – we don’t need to change it! There are plenty of ways to bring your creativity to the traditional Seder.
The Matza reminds us all of what a Seder is all about – authenticity..
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Pingback: Shame on Gizmodo | Shame on Us Too | Pacific Jewish Center | Rabbi