"Redemption of the first born Donkey..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen

For the first time in the state of Hawaii the Jewish religious ceremony of the Redemption of the first born Donkey, (Peter Chamor) Exodus 13:13 was performed on the Garden Island of Kauai....Also to be noted this ceremony is "Rarely performed anywhere!"

 

A sheep is required as part of the ritual along with a high priest called a Kohen Gadol (Priest) pictured on the far right. The ceremony took place 10-18-11...In Kapahi Hawaii. (

 When my Rabbi recently invited me to a religious ceremony called 'Peter Hamor,' I googled it for more information, I found  Peter Hamor  to be a mountain climber who  summited  Mt. Everest on May 19Th, 1998. He has since successfully completed the 7 summits...
Ironically it is also a Judaic religious ceremony involving a donkey, Ironic because the name of the ceremony has the same name as a famous mountain climber, since donkeys are also great climbers.

On Tuesday October 18Th at approximately 5:00 P.M. Hawaiian time the first ever in Hawaii, Redemption of the first born donkey (Peter Chamor) was celebrated on the Garden island of Kaua'i.

 The question then remains who is Peter Chamor? According to the website 'Ask Moses' the answer lies below

 "A. Nobody. He doesn't exist. It’s PEH-ter chah-MORE, Hebrew for “initiation of the donkey”—a Mitzvah, not a person."

 "B. Peter Chamor is to first-born donkeys what Pidyon Haben is to first-born Jews. If the owner disowns ‘em, they go to the Temple. If he wants ‘em, he gives the Temple a sheep or goat instead. Positive Mitzvah #81."

 "C. Before “holy cow!” there was “holy donkey!” This mitzvah distinguishes donkeys to pay tribute to their critical pack-animal role in the Egyptian Exodus."

How do I redeem my donkey?

 "1. Qualifying Criteria

Donkey must be the first born to Mr. and Mrs. Donkey. He must be male. He must be born naturally. He must belong to the Democratic Party. Just kidding. Owner must be an Israelite—Kohanim and Levites are exempt."

"2. Hand it Over

Today, the kohen serves as donkey collector in the Temple’s stead. Give him a sheep or goat (as long as it’s not dead, slaughtered or Caesarian-born), and Donkey’s yours to keep."

 "3. Make a Statement

A special blessing is recited when the exchange animal is designated, even if it hasn't yet been given to the kohen."

Judaism is a hard religion to understand especially if your not Jewish, even if you are Jewish it's difficult to comprehend certain things, but we do these things out of obedience to G-d.

First off, there is a ceremony called a bris, where a baby Jewish boy is circumcised in front of a crowd of friends and relatives, it's a big deal on the eighth day of the boy's life his foreskin is  removed from his penis  with many onlookers, with no anesthesia except Mogan David wine.

Now fast forward 55 years after my bris I finally hear of a ceremony called 'Peter Chamor,' (Redemption of the first born donkey.) At first  I though it was a baaaaaaaaaad(sic) joke,(please google it) however it is described in the old testament in Exodus 13:13 (And every firstling of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck: and all the firstborn of man among your children shall you redeem.)

 No necks were broken, although I am sure it was in there symbolically. When do we interrupt  literally and when do we interpret symbolically? That is a question all religions ask of themselves?

  I guess my religion is a little crazy,(aren't they all?) first with having onlookers watching  the removal of foreskins and then everyone making a  big fuss over an ass... Whether it's your ass or my ass who said religion can't be fun?

For an encore or as they say in Hawaii for the 'Hana Hou' I could not resist one little joke;

Q: What happens when your carrying a donkey and you chuckle so hard you drop him?
A: You're laughing your ass off.


Check out the 27 second You-Tube video of this even at;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX-uF6AHPUU

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