A Time For Discrimination

ט"ז באייר תשס"ז

Hospitality is an ethic of both Celtic and Jewish culture. Similarly, both cultures have built within their systems times when showing hospitality to strangers is to be avoided. Within Judaism, this time of discrimination where hospitality is not advised is during the Pesach seder. Within Celtic witchcraft, this time of discrimination is during Beltane (Beltaine, Beltaen, Calan Mai-Welsh).

From Kehillas Torah:

“This is the decree of the Pesach-Offering; no ben neichar (gentile) shall eat of it, …no uncircumcised male may eat of it.” (Exodus 12:43,48)

Every year, the Pesach-Offering (korban pesach) was brought in the Bais Hamikdash (Holy Temple); just as it was that very first Pesach when the Jews actually left Egypt; and was distributed to be eaten by the Jewish people. The korban pesach was not to be served to a non-Jew.

From Celtic Well:

Avoidance of strangers and refusal of requests to share from neighbors were a hallmark of Bealtaine. Although the Celtic community ethic was usually one of generosity and hospitality, on Bealtaine to share was to risk having one’s share of prosperity stolen by an unscrupulous neighbor or Otherworld being. In general, Bealtaine was a time to guard one’s luck and belongings against magical theft.

From this we can see that there are legitimate times in both cultures, if not all cultures, when it is advisable to withdraw from sharing with strangers or those not previously known to be within the sphere of an established reciprocally caring relationship.

During Pesach, chesed/din distinctions are made for the coming year at the Yam Suf. One oppressed group traverses the sea in safety. One unscrupulous group is overcome by it. One group's chesed is the other group's din.

Likewise, during Beltane, chesed/din distinctions are made for the coming year, and one needs to guard one's portion from the unscrupulous who seek to steal it, either directly or surreptitiously.

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