President Barack Obama in Washington on March 9. Photo by Jonathan Ernst\/Reuters <\/p>\n
Jews have big mouths. Put those big mouths in a society that reveres freedom of speech and its a sight to behold. On the whole, its a wonderful attribute. We analyze everything, we criticize endlessly, we kvetch, we yell, we do everything but shut up. Its as if were taking revenge on all those centuries when we often had to watch what we said. Here, in the land of the First Amendment, keeping quiet is no longer a Jewish ailment. <\/p>\n
Im always amused when I hear an American Jew complain, Theyre trying to shut me up! I dont know about you, but Ive never been able to shut a Jew up. <\/p>\n
But in this column, I will try. <\/p>\n
You see, there is one time when our big mouths dont serve us so well. Its when we sit down for a holy meal. Take Shabbat, for example, a time for reflection and joy. You know how to spoil the joyfulness of a Shabbat meal? Just complain about Obama. Or Bibi, or Abbas, or Iran, or BDS or just about anything else we complain about during the week. <\/p>\n
Its not that these issues are not important. They are. The real question is: Do they belong at a Shabbat table? Do they uplift us? <\/p>\n
With the Passover seders coming up, my own challenge will be to shut myself up. Im so upset these days with the way President Obama has been treating Bibi and Israel that it will be hard for me to contain myself. I, too, have a big mouth, and I love living in a country where Im free to criticize everything, including my president. <\/p>\n
But am I obligated to use that freedom at a seder table? <\/p>\n
Lets play things out. Im sitting at a big and noisy seder with my family. Someone brings up the subject of a nuclear Iran. My brother, a renowned scientist who always has brilliant insights, is sitting next to me. I am tempted to get his take on the situation, especially on how Obama seems to be appeasing the Persian mullahs. But I know that if I do that, well be in for a good 30 minutes of talking about politics. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, what would happen to the Exodus story? Where would the mood and the energy of the seder go? <\/p>\n
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See the original post: <\/p>\n
Lets leave Obama out of our seders<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" President Barack Obama in Washington on March 9. Photo by Jonathan Ernst\/Reuters Jews have big mouths Continue reading