Rabbi’s Corner – Guy Fawkes Edition

Dear Friends,
“Remember remember the fifth of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.”

This rhyme is the opening stanza to a poem dedicated to the infamous gunpowder plot of Guy Fawkes. On November 5th 1605, Guy Fawkes attempted to assassinate King James I of England by blowing up the House of Lords during the opening of parliament. To this day Guy Fawkes’ Day is celebrated in Great Britain, though due to the nationalism of the holiday, it has not perpetuated among its former colonies.

In America Guy Fawkes reentered the popular culture (relatively speaking) with the publication of Alan Moore’s comic series V for Vendetta and subsequent 2006 movie adaptation. Moore’s story described a conflict between fascism and anarchism, a lone rebel against a totalitarian regime. These two positions represent the extremes of opinions we hear in today’s political debates, often framed as “freedom” vs. “tyranny” or “community” vs. “self-interest.”

Of course real life is never this simple, and the conflicts need not be as stark, nor does this conflict need include violence. In Great Britain, the failed assassination is still a national holiday. However the day with can remove all threats of political violence is a day we can all truly celebrate.

Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Josh Yuter