Blood is one of the most powerful, yet troublesome themes of Passover. The symbolic life force serves as bookends to the important events in the Exodus from Egypt. It all began when Moses turned the Nile into Blood and it all ended when the Jews spread the Blood of the Paschal Lamb on their doorposts and God “passed over” their homes.
Our reverence for God’s raising up blood on Passover is highlighted at the traditional Seder meal when we raise our glass of wine and quote from the verse in Ezekiel:
“When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ (Ezekiel 16:6)
For much of Jewish history, however, the Passover connection to blood was twisted and Jews were violently accused of the worst crimes imaginable. In the Middle Ages, Christian anti Semites accused Jews of ritually murdering Christian children and using their blood in the Matzah eaten on Passover. This despicable falsehood is known as the “Blood Libel.”
No matter that Kosher laws have always prohibited Jews from eating even a drop of blood, it is one of histories cruel ironies that Jews have been plagued by the blood libel for centuries. Yet the false blood accusation is not just ancient history.
In a TV interview given this past summer, Hamas representative Osama Hamdan said, “We all remember how the Jews used to slaughter Christians, in order to mix their blood in their holy matzos.”
These dangerous lies have led many Jews to develop a squeamish aversion to blood. Leading rabbis went so far as to discourage the use of red wine at the Seder for fear of providing “evidence” and feeding into this appalling claim.
Yet, blood is central to the Passover story. By recalling the blood of the first plague we recall God’s supernatural intervention on our behalf. When we remember the blood of the Passover lamb, we recognize the faith and courage of the ancient Israelites. We cannot simply abandon this powerful symbol.
To modern Jews, blood has been elevated even more as it represents the life force of the State of Israel. Heart to Heart keeps the country safe by providing for the life giving blood reserves. Holidays are generally times when the Jewish State faces serious blood shortages and the dedicated staff of technicians and phlebotomists of Israel’s National Blood Center are working overtime to make sure the country is flowing.
It is therefore especially touching that so many Christians are coming forward this Passover to pay tribute to the staff of Israel’s National Blood Center. Hundreds of Christians are writing heartfelt notes to blood technicians and Jonathan Feldstein of Heart to Heart will be sharing the personal blessings and prayers of Israel’s Christian friends from all over the world with Israeli phlebotomists over the holiday.
“Father God, Bless, protect and defend Israel from friend and foe according to your pleasure! Build up their supply of life giving blood and protect its collection places and storage facilities. Let blood be a life-saving gift just as it was during the first Passover,” wrote Anna Bisbee.
Another Christian supporter of Israel, Harriet Mouer, wrote, “Israel is rich in natural resources. Could its best resource be the blood which saves lives? On the eve of Passover we send our blessing and gratitude to Jonathan Feldstein, Heart to Heart, and to the staff of Israel’s National Blood Center. We pray God’s blessing over you of protection, provision, perseverance, and great peace.”
This Passover Jews won’t be cowering in fear from Christian anti-Semitism and Blood Libels. Thank God we live in a generation where blood is not a symbol of fear, but of vitality and affection.
