Feiler Faster

Feiler Faster

Are Finger Plagues Ruining Passover?

posted by bfeiler | 11:06am Tuesday April 8, 2008

A friend and loyal reader of Feiler Faster sent along this email this morning:

Even I, who thinks religion can’t sink much lower, had a hard time with this one…there’s a toy store [in Brooklyn] that’s on our way to [our son's] school and this morning I saw a “toy” in their window that is repulsive beyond description. I thought maybe it was some kind of sick joke. See link below…and remember, this is for pre-schoolers!

plagues.jpg
So, is he right? Can religion sink much lower, or are these plush plagues a clever way to bring a dour moment in the Passover seder alive?



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Comments read comments(3)
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Anonymous

posted April 8, 2008 at 8:54 pm


I, for one, think they’re cute and educational. Before we go around feeling smug about how awful it is to celebrate something like the plagues, let’s remember that Passover is about justice being visited on behalf of enslaved victims, and harsh oppressors being punished. I am all for mercy and compassion, but let’s not cry at the downfall of evil. Maybe let’s celebrate it.



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Ken Diamond

posted April 9, 2008 at 3:17 pm


All well and good if you think Passover is about justice and the downfall of evil.
But “cute?” “Educational?” These repulsive toys are about the trivialization –celebration, even — of mass suffering and death.
What a terrific lesson for your kids…



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Aaron

posted April 18, 2008 at 1:48 am


These trinkets have no use as anything other than trivializing a religious tradition. Tickle Me Elmo has a place in a child’s world; this does not.



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