Is That Legal?

Oi Vey! And I thought the folks that ate Cream of Wheat had issues...

It is clear in historical context that the underlying cause of the war was slavery, but I doubt that fact was foremost in the minds of all who fought.

The issue of Jewish slave-ownership is vexing, and one that my family (descendants of slave-owning Jews, and relatives of another Confederate soldier named Levy) has discussed at Passover.

Perhaps the message of the box was simply that tradition and observance transcend many expected boundaries.

Does any of this legitimize the use of the letter in such a context? Maybe not, but there is some room for conversation on the subject.

ELM: Exactly, Ed. That's why, if Manischewitz was going to put the letter on the box, they had an obligation to ask a question, rather than just presenting it as a piece of feel-good American Jewish memorabilia, which is what I think they meant it to be.

Except that the Torah specifically authorizes Jews to own slaves and includes instructions on how to keep and treat them.

As Jews, on Passover we celebrate the release of the entire Jewish people from bondage in Egypt. Individual Jews, however, could still be slaves.

I have to admit that I read that box over Pesach and the irony (which is clear in retrospect upon reading your piece) didn't even occur to me. I suppose that highlights the importance of including a question...

My mom just emailed me to make the point made here by Chuchundra -- Leviticus 25:44-46, for example, deals with the rules for slave-owning Jews...

I know this is just a footnote, but the photograph of the man on the page you linked to is clearly after the Civil War by his hair, the cut of the coat, and the photo style itself. It's not the soldier in question.

My pride in my fellow Virginians remains unshakable - religious freedom has always been a hallmark of Virginia's legacy.

Nice to see that another of Virginia's legacies is also being shared.

Amazing - so many comments waiting to be made, but except for noting that I don't think a boycott among blacks disgusted or outraged that a company is highlighting a heartwarming tale from a soldier defending slavery would effect the company's bottom line much, the stark reality is enough.

Nice to see just how far America has put its slave holding past behind it. So far, that no one involved in presenting this uplifting tale seems to have felt a need for 'nachdenken.'

Gee, am I missing something, or are some of these comments soft peddling slavery, and the legacy of the confederacy? Let's EMBRACE that Leviticus tradition, and some of those wonderful Virginia traditions, too, like returning to the time when many Virginia counties got rid of public education to avoid having to school black and white children together. Yes, let's embrace all these lovely traditions, with no skepticism whatsoever.

Yes, Paul, you are missing something, at least in my comments (the Leviticus one is mine, too, not sure why it says "anonymous"). Perhaps it's the result of poor communciation on my part, or perhaps your own knee is jerking so fast that you didn't have time to think before posting.

My point is not to endorse, celebrate, or minimize the practices of the ancient or more recent Israelites, but to continue the discussion Eric began about Jewish history and attitudes on slavery, and the lack of context around the letter on the box.

I'm happy that someone's point is to begin or continue a discussion. I did not, however, notice much discussion; only what appeared to be simple notation of tradition, which did not appear to have been discussed. My sense of the original post and certain aspects of the comments is that at least part of this IS about "tradition" and "traditions", things which I think are always worth investigating and considering. I was also responding to more than one comment. Because I didn't sense my own knee jerk, I'll hope that when a hand touched it, it was not being too, too patronizing.

Of course the most remarkable bit of Confederate/Jewish lore:
Judah P. Benjamin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judah_P._Benjamin

[sorry, I always forget how to html a link]

My family was too busy with their own survival in Russia, Poland, and Spain to think of the American Civil War.

But this I do know, the Confederate Jews were more interested in States' Rights and commerce than the issue of slavery. (I think many of them thought that the institution of slavery would be abolished eventually - and in their lifetimes.)

Slavery was but one aspect of the War Between the States. It is not a cut-and-dried issue that all in the South supported slavery and all in the North were abolitionists. (Remember the New York draft Riots of 1863?)

Jews fought heroically on both sides. 10-12,000 Jews fought for the Confederates and 15-20,000 for the Union, including 9 generals, 21 colonels, 40 majors, and 205 captains.

Here's an interesting footnote about General Grant: December 17, 1862
In issuing his infamous Order 11, he ordered all "Jews as a class" expelled from his lines. In New York City 7,000 Jews marched in protest against his decision. Lincoln rescinded Grant's order. Now THAT's a bit of irony!

I actually thought the vignette was interesting in that it gave an insight into the lives of Jewish Civil War soldiers and how they were able to remain observant in the field. (The high prices of the meat and vegetables also gave an indication of the rate of inflation and scarcity of food.)

You merely pointed out the irony, as you saw it.