h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

>>rediscovers his Jewish roots when his sister Miriam recalls her mother entrusting her baby brother to the river and matches this story up to the Pharaoh's daughter's description of finding such a baby, and vows to lead his people to freedom.<<

Odd... never heard that. It's also very unlikely that Miriam would have had contact with the prince. Actually, according to Jewish lore, Pharoah's daughter hired Yocheved- Moses's mother- as a nursemaid for her adopted son.


>> and vows to lead his people to freedom.
Moses demands the freedom of the Jews from the Pharaoh, <<

Actually, a quick glance in Bible will show that Moses did not vow anything of this sort- he felt sympathetic and empathetic to them in their plight, but it wasn't until God practically twisted his arm that he agreed to go free them from Egypt.


>> After the death of the first born, however, the Jews have enough of a chance to run away,<<

Again, check the bible. Pharoah actually begged them to leave that night of the plague. The Jews said they'd leave in the morning, like free men, not like fugitives. Pharoah didn't chase after them until 3 days had gone by and he felt sufficiently foolish.


>>Having wandered the wilderness for 40 years before finding the Promised Land, two spies, <<

The wandering was a punishment for slandering the land. They weren't lost.



>>At various points during the evening wine is spilled from the cups. Ten drops are spilt, and the words 'chanted' each time are the Hebrew words for each of the plagues.<<

The reason for this is that they should not have a 'full cup'- symbol of complete joy- when remembering how the Egyptians were punished and killed. Even though the Egyptians oppressed them, Jews are still required to feel sympathy for them in their pain and suffering.


>>Every other night we eat vegetables as part of the meal, why do we eat a vegetable dipped in salt water, and maror dipped in chopped fruit, before we even start the meal tonight?<<

This is NOT a correct version of the third question. The question is: on all other nights we dont usually dip things, why do we do it twice tonight?


>> The traditional Haggadah, used for religious and conservative Seders, barely mentions the story of Moses, and practically begins at the stage of the ten plagues. It's all about teaching children, and is mainly written in Aramaic (ancient Hebrew). It refers to interpreters of the Bible and states parts of their ideas.<<

Actually, it's mainly in Hebrew. Children usually get translated and illustrated versions.


Otherwise, very nice and well researched article.