Shortly after I started to question my belief in God, I remember talking to my rabbi about Passover and the Exodus from Egypt. My rabbi knew that I was starting to doubt the supernatural and ridiculous aspects of the story. He told me in confidence that while the basic story is historical fact, the supernatural elements might have been an exaggeration or might not have actually happened at all. He assured me, however, that even though there might not have been plagues of frogs and Moses might not have parted the Red Sea, the Jews were slaves in Egypt, and the important thing is that there was an Exodus and that this is the core of what Passover is about. Except, in reality, there wasn't actually an Exodus. I have since learned that the Jews were never slaves in Egypt and that the entire story of Exodus is fiction.
When I first heard that there was not a shred of evidence discovered in the Sinai Desert that a large number of Jews had wandered for 40 years, I thought that wasn't such a big deal. I mean, it's a desert, right? Sand storms probably just swallowed up all the evidence. The more I looked into the story, however, the more I realized that the lack of evidence was actually a pretty big problem. According to the book of Exodus, a lot of Jews were wandering this desert, and it seems extremely unlikely (bordering on impossible) for this many people to leave absolutely no trace, especially when traces have been found for smaller groups of people which predated the Exodus in that same desert.
Just like the lack of evidence is itself strong evidence against the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites in the Americas as told in the Book of Mormon, the same is true with the Exodus story in the Torah.
Still, I didn't think all that much about it until years later, when I stumbled upon the article called, "Did Jewish Slaves Build the Pyramids?" by Brian Dunning. This article really got me thinking about the Exodus story again. Dunning's article reinforced my skepticism about the Exodus story and fueled my feelings of betrayal. I was taught for most of my life that it was a historical fact that the Jews were slaves in Egypt. This "history" was part of my cultural identity as a Jew. Even when I gave up the ridiculous, superstitious beliefs associated with Judaism, I could still proudly feel connected to the Jewish culture, which was grounded in a deep history of liberation from slavery.
As it turns out, well-known Jewish commentator and author Rabbi David Wolpe has also known about the Exodus Myth. In his article, "Did the Exodus Really Happen?" he mentions that other rabbis wanted him to keep the fiction of the Exodus story on the down-low. The basic story of the Exodus from Egypt (extracting supernatural elements) was touted to me as one of the most historical aspects of the Bible, yet it never happened. This seriously puts into question the historicity of any and all of the Bible stories.
Further, how immoral is it for modern Jews to continue to perpetuate this myth at the expense of Egyptian dignity? For thousands of years, the Jews have blamed the Egyptians for enslaving their ancestors when that never actually happened. Continuing to celebrate Passover without acknowledging the truth of history only perpetuates the shame.
Growing up, I loved celebrating Passover. I loved the story of people fighting for their freedom and fighting against slavery. I don't think Jews need to stop celebrating Passover or stop talking about this story. However, they need to acknowledge that the celebration is based on a completely fictional story and that the Egyptians never enslaved the Jews. Rabbis should even make a formal apology to the Egyptian people for vilifying them.
As a Humanist, I think it is important to talk about the plight against slavery and the fight for freedom. But I think people should do it honestly instead of turning real people in history into villains. There are plenty of real villains in history already.
Perhaps the holiday of Passover could focus more on the plight of Jews who escape Germany during the Second World War. There are some very inspirational acts of bravery and heroism worth telling from that time, and they don't require made-up history or supernatural plagues to reinforce the message.
You don't have to believe in fictional stories to celebrate Jewish holidays. In fact, you don't even need to believe in any supernatural claims on insufficient evidence and still hold on to your Jewish identity. Many Jews have left the belief in God behind and have become secular Jews. For more information about what that means, check out the Society of Humanistic Judaism.
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Rabbi David Wolpe: Passover Is the Holiday of Love
http://www.theatheistrabbi.com
Keep celebrating the Passover
Merneptah pylon at University of Penn Museum
One of the most important discoveries that relate to the time of the Exodus is the Merneptah stele which dates to about 1210 BC. Merneptah, the king of Egypt, boasts that he has destroyed his enemies in Canaan. He states: Plundered is the Canaan with every evil; Carried off is Ashkelon; seized upon is Gezer; Yanoam is made as that which does not exist; Israel is laid waste, his seed is not; (ANET 1969, 378).The word "Israel" here is written in Egyptian with the determinative for people rather than land (ANET 1969, 378 note 18). This implies that Israel did not have a king or kingdom at this time. This would be the time of the judges
•architecture common in Northern Canaan after 1400 BC when Israel resided there, a style not Egyptian, dating to Joseph’s time
•Large Asiatic statue
•Tombs with Asiatic weapons
•Canaannite pottery dating to Middle Bronze era
•Ceremonial artifacts of Asiatic style
•1740 BC Egyptian household record listing slave names – including distinctively Hebrew names
•Wall paintings depicting Asiatics dating to 1870 BC
•Known established trade routes between Egypt and Canaan consistent with the description in
•Written reference to Asiatic sheepherders who don’t worship Ra
•Reference to public works building projects built by Asiatics and Semites
•Wall murals depicting Semitic slaves working
•Wall inscription in Semitic language
•Record indicating Semites held positions from lowly slaves to high ranks in Egyptian government
14th c BC Amarna Letters refers to conquest of Canaan by Habiru – term some scholars think was used for Hebrew people throughout Middle East. What is recorded that the Habiru do upon conquering a city matches the Biblical record.
The Merenptah Stele records an attack in Canaan by Pharaoh Merenptah circa 1209 BC, mentions Israel as part of the settled population of Canaan, and implies that Israel was the dominant group in the area. Helps set the date of Israel’s arrival because they were established and dominant by 1209 BC.
Egyptian monument 1400 BC describes “nomads of Yahweh” in the specific area mentioned in the Bible for Israel’s 40 years of wandering
Of course the answer was always, god soften their heart.
Creation? as in a literal 6 days and a day where God needed to rest? You don't see any problems with that story? lol.
The Apiru/Habiru were not a ethnic people they were essentially social outcasts , mentioned by many of the Ancient near eastern societies as mercenaries, agricultural workers and so on, Most scholars actually believe that any concrete link to the early Israelites is just over reaching in another attempt to support biblical claims . The Apiru was probably more of a social designation and not a actual ethnic group held together by common cultural roots.
This article is correct in all of its claims , given the evidence available .
I am not suprised though , that all of these Theists are coming out the woodwork trying to shove ass backward historical knowledge into people's throats . I am sorry but there is no way to explain away the historical inaccuracies, incoherence, and generally vile nature of the bible .
stop cherry picking the bible and stop clinging to ridiculous fringe theories that theist "historians" pull out of their asses daily.
The 2 symbols that identify the Israelites today - the Menorah and the Shield of David - were not in use at that time. The Holy Temple had not been built and King David hand´t been born.
Thank you Mr. Rosch
http://jonathanturley.org/2010/04/14/exodus-according-to-gore-scientists-publish-report-on-the-natural-causes-of-the-ten-plagues-of-egypt/