A Matter about Religion

The Jewish festival of Passover is at its end.  At this time, I can't help but think back to the beginning of last month, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of the United States Congress, on the day before another Jewish holiday, Purim, began.

He started his speech addressing the threat posed by Iran's nuclear and other ambitions by making a timely reference to the story in Jewish history of Esther, and ended it with a reference to another story, that of Moses's leading the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land, pertinent to the occasion of Passover now at hand.

I find it wonderful that Prime Minister Netanyahu pointed out Moses's appearance in the House Chamber, which, according to the US Capitol Architect's website, is in a marble relief portrait along with 23 other Lawgivers throughout history.  Moses was in a long line of individuals who contributed to the basis of governmental Law upon which the US Constitution was established, individuals whose images appear above the House gallery doors.  It's amazing to note these various details that compose the design of such important spaces.

Furthermore, it's fitting that Prime Minister Netanyahu made these religious references because what's at stake in the Middle East conflicts right now involves religion so heavily.  These Islamic countries base their government, and the whole of their society, on Islam, which is something that countries like the United States don't conceive so well because of the secular nature of our society.

That's probably part of the reason why sometimes US leaders don't always prove so helpful when mediating in these conflicts, especially when it comes to aiding Israel in standing against a menace like Iran, which has as the foundation for its government, the idea of waging jihad against all those outside of Islam, and is now flexing its nuclear muscles.

Those outside the Middle East should more intimately understand the major role of religion in these conflicts as they seek to help alleviate them.  Because we see again another example of how a major world power seeks to annihilate the people of God, the Jews in Israel, just as Haman did thousands of years ago, based on their religion, and how Israel continues to stand strong, as Moses commanded them before their entry into the Promised Land.