Ben Gvir’s Death Penalty Law Celebration Desecrates Israel’s Passover Observance |
On the eve of Passover, the most widely observed of Jewish holidays, Minister of Justice Itamar Ben Gvir celebrated the passing of his pet racist, dangerous, vengeful, and unjust death penalty law by raising a champagne bottle and drinking to victory. The customary toast in Jewish tradition, of course, is to exclaim “L’chaim!”, meaning “to Life!” Partly for this reason, the name chosen for the Jewish anti-death penalty group that now includes thousands of members in Israel and abroad is “L’chaim! Jews Against the Death Penalty.” Those MKs (Members of the Knesset) who support this law have upended the phrase meant to evoke Judaism’s core life-affirming principles. While Ben G’vir claims to be a pious and observant Jew, his actions once again reveal his blatant disregard for Jewish values,
and an essential mockery of Jewish ritual symbolism. He might as well have screamed “Lamavet” (“To Death”) for his celebratory toast. Make no mistake: the passage of this death penalty law will certainly bring death for both convicted terrorists and innocent Israelis and Jews across the world. It is an abject abomination that will prove disastrous, for multiple reasons.
Wine at Passover Symbolizes Life and Joy – not Death
One of the most well-known facts about the Passover Seder, which both Jews and many non-Jews are keenly aware of, is that it traditionally involves drinking four cups of wine or grape juice. These four cups are a mandatory rabbinic commandment, representing the four expressions of redemption God used in Exodus 6:6-7 to promise freedom to the Israelites. Consumed at specific intervals in the Seder, they symbolize freedom, joy, and key stages of liberation, from slavery to becoming a nation. Perhaps one of the most widely........