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We are so quick to point out the obvious lies about Jews and Israel that come out in Egypt - the Sinai Governors claims that the Mossad released a shark into the Red Sea to kill Egyptians, or, as I once read in a newspaper whilst on holiday in Cairo, the tale of the magnetic belt buckles that Jews were selling cheap in Egypt that would sterilize men on contact - yet we so rarely examine our own misconceptions about the nature of our history with the Egyptian nation.
We tend, in the midst of our disdain for Egyptian, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, to overlook the fact that one of the biggest events of the Jewish calendar is predicated upon reminding the next generation every year of how the Egyptians were our cruel slave-masters, in a bondage that likely never happened. Is this really so different from Jaws the Mossad agent?
The reality is that there is no evidence whatsoever that the Jews were ever enslaved in Egypt. Yes, there's the story contained within the bible itself, but that's not a remotely historically admissible source. I'm talking about real proof; archeological evidence, state records and primary sources. Of these, nothing exists.
It is hard to believe that 600,000 families (which would mean about two million people) crossed the entire Sinai without leaving one shard of pottery (the archeologist's best friend) with Hebrew writing on it. It is remarkable that Egyptian records make no mention of the sudden migration of what would have been nearly a quarter of their population, nor has any evidence been found for any of the expected effects of such an exodus; such as economic downturn or labor shortages. Furthermore, there is no evidence in Israel that shows a sudden influx of people from another culture at that time. No rapid departure from traditional pottery has been seen, no record or story of a surge in population.
In fact, there's absolutely no more evidence to suggest that the story is true than there is in support of any of the Arab world's conspiracy theories and tall tales about Jews.
So, as we come to Passover 2012 when, thanks to the "Arab Spring," our relations with Egypt are at a nearly 40 year low, let us enjoy our Seder and read the story by all means, but also remind those at the table who may forget that it is just a metaphor, and that there is no ancient animosity between Israelites and Egyptians. Because, if we want to re-establish that elusive peace with Egypt that so many worked so hard to build, we're all going to have to let go of our prejudices.
Josh Mintz is completing his degree in International Relations and Middle Eastern studies and is the communications director at Friend a Soldier, an NGO that encourages dialogue with IDF soldiers.
If there is to be any rational discourse on these topics the use of the term: Jew has to end.
There is no such thing.
The German transliteration of the "J" is a "Y". Since Germany figured highly into the copying of the Lieble --- I mean: Bible --- the whole Jehovah, Jesus and Jew myths have been fictions from the moment they were penned.
Yahooda (Judah) is the warrior priest tribe of one from a set of 3 clans fathered by Abraham (Ibrihim, etc.) so: Are people only implicating only the planetary military occupiers or the other 12 (so as to imply 13 total) tribes as well?
And what about those three wives of Abram? Sarai (Shem); Hagar (Ham); and Keturah (Yaphet = Japeth...SEE the same error repeats and compounds!)
If a Jew is a Yew and you can't even call a thing or a person by their proper name then how can you characterize a Problem, Reaction, Solution?
You can be an anti-Semite either the "S" is an "Sh" so they are Shemites. But there seems to be a lot of people fined or jailed for anti-fictions.
How can The Faithful read in one section of a collection of creative writing that has Yusef and Moishe as princes/kings in Egypt yet accept the victim stories in other memoirs that are sometimes written 400 years after they occurred?
Of course the answer is that they read it in the Word of God. Where did they find out this collection of science fiction novels was God's Word? Well from the Chosen People, of course! How did they know they were the Chosen People? Well, the People of God who wrote the book told them.
This is called circular, vacuous argument.
It works well if the initial premise is accepted. In fact it has worked VERY well for the past, say: 4010 years (unless you read Fomenko).
Why 4010 years? Because that is when Abram migrated from his Babylonian Mysteries school in Uruk, Ereck, Iraq to EGYPT! To found their Mystery School. This is also around the same time that the Book of the Dead was composed, complete with the Lake 'O' Fire that the christians like to roast their enemies in as a vacation pastime.
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When Allison Weir pointed out in a public talk many years ago that Israel got more money from the US, second only to Egypt, that was the only clue that I needed to put the biblical links to the satellite State. I don't call it planetary military occupation for nothing.
By the way you can never be a 'friend' to a soldier. They are trained mercenary killers. Either everyone is able and willing to defend themselves or you are under occupation.