LETTER FROM JERUSALEM: This Year In Jerusalem
By Arlynn Nellhaus

Passover, celebrated last week, commemorates the Hebrew people's escape from slavery in ancient Egypt and God's promise to deliver the Hebrew people to the Promised Land.

And it isn't only the Hebrew Bible ("The Old Testament") that says God gave the Hebrews the land of Canaan.

The Koran, tells of Pharaoh's hard heart and the Hebrews' escape from Egypt. The Koran also says that the Hebrews went to the land Allah (God by any other name remains God) – promised them.

The Koran says so in three places: Suras 5, 10 and 17.

Of course, there's a little problem here, because Mohammed expected Jews to abandon their religion for Islam. He expected the same of Christians -- who, until he arrived on the scene, dominated the Middle East. (Islam says that terrible things will happen to people to don't become Moslem. Christianity says terrible things will happen to people who don't become Christian. They can't both be right.)

It used to be predicted that a major explosion would take place some day between Christianity and Communism. These days, the prediction is that a major explosion will take place some day between Christianity and Islam.

Both are triumphal religions, meaning that each believes that only it has the answer and must, must – for the sake of everybody else's soul -- triumph over all other religions.

Believe it or not, Judaism, from which these religions were born, is not part of the conflict.

Judaism is more laid back about other people's beliefs, and says that you don't have to be Jewish to be a righteous person. All you have to do is follow the Seven Laws of Noah -- which include not eating part of a living animal.

But while Judaism is not a direct participant in the contest between Islam and Christianity, you can be sure in any resulting explosion, Judaism would be the number one victim.

Why? Well, thus it has ever been. The Crusades led to the Inquisition. There always has been ignorance enough to fuel hatred of the Jews.

And these days, in the Palestinian Authority -- that portion of the land Allah promised to the Hebrews, in which almost 100 percent of Palestinians now live under Yasser Arafat, the best selling book is Hitler's Mein Kampf.

I doubt if it's just bedtime reading.

Close on its heels as a bestseller, especially in Egypt, is The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a 19th century forgery that purports to reveal "secrets of the Jews" -- which claims as Jews use "human blood for making matzah."

To believe what is written in The Protocols of the Elders of Zion requires an inordinate amount of ignorance of Jewish law, if not sheer stupidity.

Ignorance what the snake-oil sellers of our day count on. But there are people who gobble up this nonsense, although anyone can read the ingredients on any box of matzah sold in any supermarket.

Almost 4,000 years ago, the ancient Hebrews began formulating laws to make a better way in which to live and to elevate the human consciousness. The Hebrews were the first nation to outlaw human sacrifice (Genesis) and to prohibit the drinking of any blood (Leviticus and Deuteronomy).

Blood in matzah? Even talking about it makes me feel the year is 1001, instead of 2001. Every day, observant Jews must salt meat before cooking it, to extract as much blood as possible.

However, eating bread is forbidden during Passover. This is the week Israeli bakers go on vacation.

Matzah commemorates the Exodus, when the Hebrews had to make their escape from Egypt so quickly, there was no time to wait for bread to rise. The dough was tossed in the oven, and out came matzah -- the "oldest fast food in the world."

Its message is that it is better to live in freedom and eat poor food, than to be a slave and eat well.

I've made matzah.

I was with a group in Denver quickly rolling the dough into circles and getting it into the oven while one among us watched the clock. We had 17 minutes to do the job, for after that, the water could make the dough rise, ruining the matzah for Passover.

My first matzah of the holiday came at the Seder, the first night at which participants communally read the Exodus story -- not as what happened "to them," but "to us." Jews are to feel as if each of them, personally, made the Exodus from slavery to freedom.

Nobody is to go hungry or be alone at the time of the Seder.

This year I was a volunteer at an Israeli Seder for the homeless. Some 80 people showed up. The surprise was that about half of them were volunteers. Two smashingly attractive young women with flawless complexions and dispositions informed us of our duties. And Sarah and Aviva had to welcome all the people there and get them seated, by language group if possible. How they kept their cheerful dispositions was a Passover miracle.

The spirit throughout was enthusiastic and warm. Several people read aloud from the Hagadah, which tells the story of Exodus. Some, including Aviva, offered learned commentary on what was read.

The group singing was loud and enthusiastic. The men often spontaneously leaped to their feet and danced. The Seder was a great success for its welcoming spirit. Everyone was smiling as we left. We volunteers announced, "We'd like to do this again next year."

So, for the seven days that Passover lasts in Israel (eight elsewhere), without bread, I eat my matzah my favorite way: Slathered with cream cheese and then dribbled with honey.

I'll go on a diet next week.

Arlynn Nellhaus is a former Denver Post reporter now based in Jerusalem, and the author of Into the Heart of Jerusalem, and a freqent contributor to The Idler.