Back in 2015, I published a post on the Christian Passover meal my family had had with friends the year before, when our girls were 3 and 6. I thought it was a beautiful expression and observance of our shared heritage with the Jewish faith - the liberation of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.
In 2021, I came under fire from a small group of very vocal Jews who felt my Christian Passover was deeply upsetting. They left hateful comments on Twitter and here on this post (which I promptly deleted).
Not one to be bullied into actions I do not believe in, I stewed on the controversy for a few days. During that time, I spoke personally (via text, phone, and email) with a dozen Jewish friends. Before each conversation, I told them that I would not publish anything they said and I asked them to give me complete honesty and forthrightness.
My friends' opinions on my Christian Passover ran the gamut from "This is an offensive example of cultural appropriation." to "As long as you're not trying to convert me, do whatever you want."
I liked my Christian Passover meal. My kids liked it. The food was amazing, and Jesus was present in the details. It was really hard to accept that - at least for some Jews - what I thought was a beautiful acknowledgement of a shared custom was more like stealing a sacred ritual and mainstreaming it for my own purposes.
I reflected on these conversations over a period of a few days, and I made the decision to remove most of the original post including the part where I linked Jesus with the Passover.
I want to be clear: my decision had nothing to do with the bullies. It had everything to do with thoughtful conversations with my friends and one stranger whose comment I published below. One thing came up in those conversations over and over: "If you want to celebrate Passover, do it. But it's pretty offensive if you take OUR holiday and make it about YOUR Jesus."
If you want to add something to your Easter week that your kids will enjoy and learn from, have a Maundy Thursday observance during Holy Week. I have included some suggestions for that below.
So all that to say that I have taken down my Passover script where I drew a correlation between the Jews' liberation from Egypt with the Christian belief that Jesus liberated us from sin.
6 Ideas for Replacing a Christian Passover with Maundy Thursday
- Have a foot washing ceremony - I think this would be really fun especially if your kids are little. I know that fun and solemn Easter don't necessarily go hand in hand, but I think you could have the solemn part first (where you read John 13:1-5 and talk about what Jesus did, how dirty the disciples feet must have been from walking around in the desert in sandals, and why it was important that He humbled Himself before the people who were His followers). Then once the serious conversation is over, you could set out to wash your kids' feet. You could either take turns washing each other's feet or Mom or Dad could do everyone's as a sign of, "I am the servant leader of this household, and I will humble myself before all of you my followers." It's up to you. I think I am going to try this in 2021 even though my kids are 10 and 13 and will probably roll their eyes.
- Clean up - This is most certainly not going to be popular with your kids, but a thousand years ago, Christians spent Maundy Thursday sweeping and cleaning their homes. It was symbolic of the soul cleansing that Jesus did for all of us in His sacrifice on the cross, and it also helped to prepare for the solemnity of the Holy weekend which started the following day on Good Friday. You and your family could observe the holiday by doing a bit of spring cleaning and take the weekend off.
- Use Resurrection Eggs to tell the Easter story - If your kids are too young to sit through a several chapter Bible reading, help them to make a set of resurrection eggs using these instructions. They use a set of 12 plastic Easter eggs which you can buy for under $2 and then little objects you probably have around the house or can easily acquire. (Note - It may be controversial to say that little kids can't sit through a Bible reading, and maybe some kids could do it, but mine could not until they were well past six or seven. Allie started asking me to read the Bible to her around age 8 I think. Younger children could handle reading the Easter story in small parts, as you make the eggs, but I don't think you should try to read it all at one go. For little kids, I highly recommend the ICB translation [Allie's favorite ICB, one that I think is absolutely beautiful, and a more gender neutral version] as it cuts out a lot of the details that are not important to the story while preserving the theme and major events we know and love.)
- Study the Easter story in the Bible - You can find the entire Easter story from the Last Supper and plot against Jesus to the crucifixion in the following chapters of the Bible. The overall arc of the story is the same in each of the books, but there are small dissimilarities. I wouldn't recommend reading all 4 versions to your kids at the same time though, even if they are teens. They will quickly get bored at the repetition. Choose one version ahead of time and read and study it with your whole family.
- Matthew 26-28
- Mark 14-16
- Luke 22-24
- John 18-21
- Eat ice cream sundaes - You read that right, ice cream. I think this would be super fun for kids of all ages, and it would be a nice way to end any day but especially those during Holy Week. It's structured sort of like a seder, but I hesitate to call it that because I don't want to offend. It is similar in that the foods and script are given, but it is 100% different in content and structure.
- Here's what you need (feel free to substitute as you see fit):
- Mini marshmallows
- Unsweetened nuts or semi sweet chocolate chips
- Brightly colored sprinkles
- A sweet syrup topping such as chocolate, hot fudge, butterscotch, or caramel
- Fruit: banana pieces, strawberries, blueberries, or another fruit
- Shredded coconut
- M&Ms
- Whipped cream
- A carton of vanilla ice cream (enough for the whole family to enjoy a sundae)
- Put each food item on the table in a small bowl, but keep the ice cream in the freezer for now. Your family should sit around the table and you could say something like the following (feel free to modify as you see fit):
- We are so busy with our own things that it's easy to forget what God has done for each of us and for our family. Let's see how these foods can remind us of God's love and how he's touched our family.
- Pass around the bowl and ask each person to take one. Let's each eat a marshmallow. They look like babies, don't they? When I remember you as a baby, I always thank God for you, and let me tell you why. Then tell a short story about each child and how he or she has blessed your family. Let your spouse and kids share stories about each other if they want.
- Pass around the nuts or chocolate chips and ask each person to take one. These aren't very sweet, are they? {If using nuts - Nuts aren't usually sweet. They often taste bitter, and most nuts grow with a hard shell. If using chocolate - Chocolate isn't always soft and sweet; sometimes it's actually hard and bitter.} Let's think about some hard or bitter things that have happened in our family. Then share a short story about a difficult event and how God helped you through it. Ask your family to share their own short stories.
- Pass around the bowl of sprinkles. Pick your favorite color of sprinkles out of the bowl. Sprinkles are fun and remind me of a party. What's something that has happened in our family that was fun? How did God help it to happen? Let each family member share a story about a fun family time and how they saw God's presence during that time.
- Pass around a bowl with the syrup topping in it. Dip your finger in the syrup and taste it. These toppings cover ice cream just like God's love covers our family. Share a brief story of a time when you felt God's love bringing peace or comfort to your family, and invite each member of your family to share the same.
- Pass around the fruit and invite each family member to enjoy a piece. Fruit is a healthy snack to eat. God has helped to bring good health to our family, too. Then remember and share different times that God brought healing to your family.
- Pass around the bowl of shredded coconut and invite everyone to enjoy a pinch. Coconut reminds me of snow and winter, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. I'm thankful to God for sending his Son, but sometimes I forget to thank God for that gift. What's something you want to thank God for? Wait while each family member responds.
- Pass around the bowl of M&Ms and ask each person to take a few of his or her favorite color and look at it (don't eat yet). Turn your candy upside down and imagine instead of M&M it says W&W. That can remind us of Wants and Wishes. God has given our family so many things that we've wanted and wished for, things that go way beyond what we actually need. Then eat your candy and tell a brief story of something you wanted for the family and how God provided, and invite your family members to share their own stories.
- Squirt a dollop of whipped cream onto each family's index finger and invite them to eat it. God's love for us is as sweet as this whipped cream. Then share a story about how God's love has sweetened your life and let your family members share their stories as well.
- Now, it would be a shame to have all of these yummy toppings and no ice cream, right? Surprise your family with ice cream, whatever flavor you prefer.
- Before you eat, offer a prayer of thanks for your family, for your blessings, and for God's love. Before you pray, invite your family members to offer their own prayers out loud, and then you can follow up and close with your own prayer.
- Here's what you need (feel free to substitute as you see fit):
- Make a Last Supper craft - This cute idea from Catholic Icing recreates DaVinci's Last Supper painting.
While you're here, check out 16 Simple Lent Activities for All Christian Kids and What is Lent and Should We Observe It? Even if it's just a few days before Easter Sunday, it's not too late to get in a little sacrifice and quiet reflection to honor Lent as well.
RULES FOR COMMENTS:
- I reserve the right to delete any comment that I feel is inappropriate. I am happy to facilitate a debate, but it is ultimately my site, and if I think a comment is rude, disrespectful, or does not contribute to a positive discussion of the salient points, I will delete it. It's not about censorship; it's about respect. This is my sandbox. If you don't like my rules, you are free to leave.
- Be respectful. If your comment degrades another commenter, it will be deleted. This includes name calling and telling other commenters they're confused or that their thoughts are laughable or unintelligent. It's okay to disagree, but it is not okay to degrade another commenter.
- State your opinion without criticizing the opinions of others. I believe that Christians are entitled to their view of God, Jesus, and the Bible, and I believe that Jews are entitled to their view of God, Jesus, and the Bible. I know this is an unpopular opinion among many, and that's okay. If your worldview prevents you from accepting that other people have different beliefs from you and that those beliefs are just as valid as yours, please word your comment carefully.
Francheska Ward says
I can understand the outrage of the Jews. Jesus was offensive to many, but especially to them. The sad part about this is that His coming fulfilled the Passover. You didn't culturally appropriate it. You are simply celebrating its fulfillment. they are still waiting for that. I'm saddened that as Christians we can't have the space to teach one another without being censored.
Jenn says
Hi Francheska, I am not sure you understand anything if you feel it is your place to tell Christians, as a Christian yourself, that it is ok for them to steal our holy rituals and practices. Passover is not a Christian holiday. It is not for Christians. Just because you or anyone else likes something, or reads meaning into something doesn't make it yours. Your Christian interpretation of a Jewish holiday is unneeded and unwanted. Your permission to other Christians is not wanted or needed.
Fun fact: Because of all the Christian Seders "shrinkflation" is now affecting Kosher for Passover Matzos. Because of Christians like yourself who think you can give permission for others to appropriate we now have to spend more to get less of the ritual food we need to observe our holidays. Because of people like you, we now have to order our matzos around Channukah to ensure we get it because Christians think it's fine to take the food we need to complete our sacred rituals.
This message is for everyone on this thread, but especially you right now. Passover is a Jewish holiday. It is not a Christian holiday. It is not for Christians. It has nothing to do with Jesus. You don't get to give permission to steal, and it is theft. You don't get to do to us what was done to every pagan European religion indigenous people around the world. You have a whole host of spring solstice holidays, celebrate those. If you have a Jewish friend (Jews for Jesus and Messianics are Christians, they don't count and frankly we view them as idol worshippers) who invites you to a seder, you can attend, ask questions about the customs, and learn about how we do things. Just keep in mind that Jesus has no place there and mentioning him without being asked will ensure you are never invited again.
It is frankly ridiculous that I have to write this out every year. Stop appropriating our stuff. Leave Jews alone. If you want to support us, listen to what we need, don't tell us what to do. It's insulting on so many levels. Just stop. And maybe go learn about the current rise in antisemitism and what easter pogroms are. Just stop.
Kitty says
That part...
Jenn says
Francheska, You don't get to say what is or isn't yours to take from another group's sacred rituals. To paraphrase a quote: It only feels like censorship when you are the one usually doing the censoring. Tara, it appears you have taken down all the comments (I can't see them, perhaps they are still there). I would consider that censorship. I think if all the comments are taken down, including everything Jews have contributed to this discussion, it would be better not to have a post about a Christian seder at all. It's offensive, frustrating, and disheartening to read comments justifying the stealing of sacred rituals, written by Christians, every year. Christians are the most powerful religious group in the world. History has shown what happens to the cultures and religions from whom Christianity "borrows." Jews don't want that. Jews don't want to be defined by Christians. Jews don't want anything else taken from us by Christians. It isn't a cultural exchange, it is theft of rituals, cultural artefacts, etc and then we (and other marginalized religions) are given the option to convert or die. Now, more than ever, when antisemitism is on the rise, attacks on Jews and Jewish building are even more common (because a lot of folks don't understand that Jewish isn't the same as Israeli or Zionist), it is important to listen to what we are pleading for from Christians. The price of kosher for Passover matzos has gone up, and the standard amount, 5 pounds, is down to 4 pounds. This is mainly due to demand going up significantly because of Christian Seders. If Christians insist on taking our holy rituals and food, please at least consider not using the Kosher for Passover stuff, as it is literally the only thing we can use for the religious holiday we celebrate. The non-Kosher for Passover stuff is fine for appropriation purposes.
As per usual, I do not speak for all Jews. I speak for myself and all the Jews I have ever known because everyone one I have met feels the same way when it comes to cultural appropriation of our holidays. Christians don't speak for any Jews, not even the Jews they know. It's pretty common to say something non-committal when confronted by a Christian demanding an ok for appropriation. Those Christians are usually in positions of social power over us, so why rock the boat? We tend to be more honest online when we are anonymous and can't get fired, or be shunned by Christian in-laws, for making someone feel bad about cultural theft.
Tara, it's your blog, do as you will, but I am begging you to just take this column down. I can't handle the influx of antisemitism, in-correct information, and Jewsplaining by Christians. None of this is meant to be insulting, it is the truth, often an uncomfortable truth, but still the truth. Engaging in cultural appropriation is bigoted, bigotry against Jews is antisemitism. I am happy to point you in the direction of some educational resources written by Rabbis and other Jewish educators regarding the history of Passover, to put in it's place.
Tara Gerner says
Send me the resources at [email protected]. I'll edit the post again.
And I haven't removed any comments. There are 130 to date.
Jenn says
I think it was being glitchy, I tried from a few different devices and couldn't get comments to show. I can see them all now. I just sent the links, I wanted to wait until your holidays were done as I figured you would be busy.
I put this in my email to you, but I think it bears repeating for your readers: There are places and things with antisemitic names like La Mort aux Juifs, a village in France, and "Matar judíos," a name for a drink in Spain popular during the Easter season. When we ask Christians not to take our rituals it is because we still face very real threats of violence from Christians and very real casual antisemitism (while being told "it's just a saying") for practicing our rituals. To see Christians then take the very things they threatened to kill us over... it's a lot.
Tara Gerner says
I got your email. Thank you. I am dealing with some house stuff (my hot water tank blew up and flooded half my house and dealing with insurance, clean up crew, etc.), so it's going to take me some time to edit the post, but I will get it done.
Robin says
Jenn, I am curious, if this post & the comments are so distressing to you, why don’t you just unfollow it? I’m genuinely asking. It’s social media. If you are so offended, scroll on by. No one is making you respond every year. You believe Jesus has nothing to do with Passover. Christians believe He became our Passover. We’ll never convince each other otherwise. So, save yourself the anguish and…just stop.
Jenn says
Robin, I am curious, if you discover Jews view the appropriation of their holidays as antisemitic, why would you try to justify it? If you said something and someone told you what you said had a racist origin and was very hurtful to an entire marginalized community, would you explain to them that actually it isn't racist or hurtful to them because an entity they have no connection to gave you permission? You are part of the global majority. Christian hegemony affects us all, especially those of us who live in European/ European colonized countries. Jews are 0.2% of the global population. I come on here to correct people like you because there are so few of us. What you are doing is cultural genocide. You specifically may not be violent, but anyone who knows history or is currently paying attention to the news knows the threat of violence is part of our daily lives if we don't want to assimilate. I don't think you and folks like you realize (or if you do, you don't care, which is worse) you're giving permission to take another culture's rituals and change their meaning using your global power to block us from practicing our religion and and assimilating (or worse) us out of existence. We have been around 5784 years. We have spent 2000 years watching Christians do this to ethnicities and religions around the globe. Just ask the Easter Bunny and Santa.
If you choose to continue speaking on topics that are not yours to speak on, and stealing rituals that aren't yours to steal, you will continue to get push back, if not from me, then by other Jews. Feel free to question what is missing from your own religion that makes you feel the need to steal from ours. There's no need to respond to me unless you can explain why it is imperative Christians take a sacred ritual that was never even something Jesus did and why it isn't harmful to us. "Because Jesus is god" is not a reason, as Jews don't view him as anything other than a Jewish guy from 2000 years ago.
Robin says
Jenn, I understand YOU may think I’m trying to justify some kind of “appropriation” of your holidays. I am not. Whether others are, or not, they will have to speak to that for themselves. You make a lot of assumptions about people you don’t know and calling someone antisemitic is a serious accusation. You are correct when you say you don’t speak for all Jews. My Jewish friend and neighbor, who actually knows me personally, knows I am not antisemitic for myriad reasons, but among them for helping her advocate for her daughter, who was a victim of real antisemitism in her high school. I also don’t speak for all Christians and just as I don’t assume every Jewish person is the same, it would behoove you to not assume all Christinas are the same. I never had nor ever will have a Seder, don’t do anything outwardly to celebrate Passover, don’t celebrate Easter, or Santa or Lent or Maundy Thursday or Ash Wednesday, etc…I don’t practice any kind of “religion” and have not stolen any rituals because I don’t practice any. Like you, I can speak on any topic I so choose, and yes, I do pay attention to the news and am well aware of the horror happening in Israel. There is nothing missing from my religion, because I don’t have a “religion”. I have a personal relationship with my Lord, and Savior. I haven’t nor do I “need to steal” from your religion. I’ve read all of your comments and the same attitude continues to exude from them, so I have no illusions that you’ll read my full comment, let alone be capable of seeing a glimmer of my perspective, so no need to respond if it will continue to be in the same vein. And by the way, if you have gotten this far, I happened to notice while in my local grocer the other day that were was a rather large display of Passover items. I stopped, took a look and then walked on by without purchasing a thing. So I am also not contributing to the shortage of Passover ingredients you accused Christians of in an earlier comment.
Jenn says
Robin,
If everything you said is true, I find your comments needlessly antagonistic and combative. If you actually believed any of what you typed, you would not have typed it. If you actually read all my comments why would you bring up Israel? I am not Israeli, I am an American Jew. I am not even a zionist. Not all Israelis are Jewish. Not all Jews, or Israelis are Zionists. In fact the largest contingent of Zionists are evangelicals.
Further, if you had actually read my comments you would have known that I do not lump all Christians together. I do find the ones who take offense to being told what they can or cannot do within the Jewish community, as you are here, are the ones who are most likely to be the problem. As the saying goes, if it doesn't apply, let it fly.
I would also like to remind you are are not props. Trotting out your "Jewish friend" that you selflessly devoted yourself to helping is pretty gross. If you do want the recognition, I have certificates congratulating gentiles on having a "Jewish Friend." I am happy to send you one to frame. If you say something racist and get called out do you say, "My Black friend said it was cool"? I am just curious where you draw the line.
I know you don't think you are antisemitic, and perhaps you are not. You have not demonstrated a willingness to listen to Jews in these conversations. And yes, this is a conversation that we should be a part of since it as originally a post about performing a Jewish religious ritual You also don't get to define what is or isn't "real" antisemitism. That, in itself, is very antisemitic. I don't know if you are part of any marginalized communities, but I would not presume to contradict you if you called me out on speaking in a bigoted way. I listen, apologize, and assimilate the new information so the marginalized community might one day see me as the ally I hope to be. We cannot give ourselves labels reflecting our behavior towards the marginalized, we can only strive to earn trust.
Thank you for not buying up all the matzah. I am curious, was it actually a Passover display or was it a "Jewish holiday" display. In just about every chain owned supermarket I have seen across this country they put the same things out for every holiday and in areas with very few Jewish people (ie, most of the country) the "Passover" food isn't actually kosher for Passover (you can google a box of matzos to see the difference). I am impressed if your supermarket made the effort to actually pay attention to the specific holiday and provide the actual foods needed, mine provides Chanukah candles and hamentaschen.
All that to say, sorry I disapointed you by reading everything you wrote. I hope you are able to disapoint me in the same fashion, or even go above and beyond by actually listening to Jews without telling us ow to react to aspects of our religion being appropriated by Christians and Christ followers (which, again is the same thing as far as I can tell, but you do you). I hope you re-think using your supposed friend(s) as tokens, and I hope you realize that you have no business giving permission or cover to anyone who is trying to take a Jewish Ritual and make it Christian. You are not Jewish, you are not in charge of Jews. You do not get to tell us not to be offended by something that is offensive. Tara was kind enough to listen and edit her post accordingly, perhaps you could do the same with your thought process. Good luck with that.
I started this on Friday 5/3 and got distracted, finishing it on 5/7. so forgive any gaps.
Vanessa Harwell says
Beautifully said Francheska!
Passover is Yeshua’s fulfillment and is a day of remembrance! As we have gone from slavery to the promised land and from death to new life in Yeshua!
Be blessed!
Jenn says
You have Christmas through Easter filled with holidays like 12th Night, Mardis Gras, and Lent. As I understand it, Easter celebrates the day Jesus came back from the dead (something that actually disqualifies him as being the Messiah according to Jewish Belief™-does not represent every Jew ever). From everything I have seen it involves some folks going to their respective Christian denomination of church, activities like coloring, eggs to look for later, chocolate/candy, a traif meal like honey baked ham, and a giant rabbit. Most of that is really fun, but what does it have to do with Jesus other than the Church service. Why is there a giant rabbit and eggs? There are a lot of theories, but the origins are probably pagan: https://time.com/3767518/easter-bunny-origins-history/ . Where are the pagans these traditions came from? What were folks told so they wouldn't fight the assimilation and death of their culture and ethnicity? How were their stories changed? Jews have done this too, although we don't and haven't for hundreds of not thousands of years. We have also managed to resist assimilation for thousands of years. We don't want Christians to take our sacred rituals celebrating freedom and change it's meaning by inserting a person who means nothing to us to repurpose Sh'mot (Torah's original version of Exodus https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus?tab=contents). We have seen what happens. Supersessionism is antisemitic. Assuming we are incomplete because we are Jews is antisemitic.
Please keep in mind I don't speak for all Jews and Christians feeling activated by my words: if it doesn't apply (to you as a Christian), let it fly.
Jenn says
Cool, that belief has nothing to do with Judaism or Jewish Holidays. You have: Epiphany, Baptism of the Lord Jesus, Candlemas Day, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, St. Joseph's Day, Annunciation, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, and Easter Monday. That's from January 6-Easter Monday. I am unclear as to why those holidays are not enough for you. If you feel your worship is lacking have you considered taking rituals from other Christian denominations, like the Catholics? If you have a problem taking rituals from other Christians, why? Why is it ok to take from Jews but not other Christians?
If you truly feel you need to observe Passover in the tradition of Jesus, I encourage you to a) Read the Torah to interpret Jewish Halachah in the original language. The version you're probably used to has been through at least one translation, more if you are reading the Christian bible in English. (It's honestly not that hard to learn, I was doing it by the time I was 13) ALSO, it will save further embarrassing incidents like accidentally translating the word "oily" as in what happens after a person has been anointed with oil, instead of the word, "anointed." b) start looking for a baby goat and a place for a large fire pit. You only have a couple of weeks to get the permits and everything for a ritual sacrifice.
Jenn says
"I can understand the outrage of the Jews. Jesus was offensive to many, but especially to them."
Sure, in the same way anyone who violates social norms is offensive. It's offensive to have someone come into a place of business and destroy it, for example. There are a lot of offensive Jews, because we are all human beings and human beings can be offensive. However, was Jesus more offensive than every other Jew at the time, probably not. No one really cared, and Jews continue to not care. The main thing we find offensive are people who act in his name to assert control over smaller groups of people.
The sad part about this is that His coming fulfilled the Passover. You didn't culturally appropriate it. You are simply celebrating its fulfillment.
I am happy that's what you believe and what works for you. It's offensive to put that belief on us, to feel sad for us, or think less of us simply because we don't believe Jesus was the Messiah (he fulfilled exactly none of the requirements as dictated by the Torah). It is very offensive to take OUR holiday and say we are doing it wrong because we are not Christian, which is what you are saying here. Again, I am glad you have what works for you, but this is supersessionism in action: the idea that you somehow know how our holiday works better than we do because you have changed the story, and our bible, around to fit your narrative. THAT is very offensive. You don't have to like it, but you need to understand it. The majority of Jews find inserting Christian beliefs into Jewish rituals to be very offensive.
They are still waiting for that. I'm saddened that as Christians we can't have the space to teach one another without being censored.
-Yes, we are still waiting for the Messiah. I think a lot of Christians misunderstand the concept of "Chosen." It's not a "better than others' thing. It's a "we have been volentold to ensure the world is perfect so the messiah will come" situation. I am sorry you view Jews educating you about our religion and why it is offensive to take our sacred rituals and customs as "censorship." Is it also censorship when you tell us we are wrong and it is fine for you to take our things and make them about something WE view as idolatry? I want you to sit with why you are so uncomfortable with Jews wishing to protect our religious customs and why being told something isn't for you upsets you.
Meggie says
Hi there,
I was very excited about this post as I am doing research to equip my Messianic Jewish congregation about celebrating Passover with kids. I would've loved to have read your tips and connections with Jesus.
I understand some Jews take offense with our beliefs. Nonetheless the first followers of Jesus were Jews and much of the early church was Jews. It's sad to see that my people find him so offensive. Jesus is Jewish and was a very righteous Rabbi. It's sad that my people have believed the lie that you can't be Jewish if you believe in Jesus. This is what the Messianic Jewish movement is all about. We keep Jewish life and tradition, but fully embracing the Messiah of Israel and of the world. This is not cultural appropriation, it's preserving Jewish identity while following Messiah.
It's a challenge because we are still fairly new and can only find resources that are either fully Jewish without Christ, or fully focused on Passion week that doesn't connect the story with the original Passover story. Everything connects so beautifully, but I haven't found many resources especially for kids with both aspects.
I would love to read your article if you would be so kinds to send it to me.
Robin says
Meggie, I find your comment refreshing & appreciate the acknowledgment of not only Jesus being Jewish, but that His early followers & the churches they founded were primarily Jewish. I hope you find what you are looking for to celebrate Passover!
Jenn says
I think it would be refreshing to be told your antisemitism is fine. I know you don't think you are antisemitic, and I am sure you think calling you that is "name calling" or similar. Naming the type of bigotry a person is engaging in is just that, naming it. If it upsets you, consider why you feel this way and why you think Christians have any power in absolving you when you could just do some research and speak to more Jews about the topic. Jesus never had a seder, and as a Jew he would have been horrified to know folks were worshipping him, as that is strictly forbidden in Judaism. Here is some starter research for you. I suggest scrolling to references (in the wiki articles) for more in depth information.
https://www.heyalma.com/why-are-christian-passover-seders-a-thing/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#Separation_of_Easter_computation_from_Jewish_calendar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Christianity#:~:text=The%20split%20of%20Christianity%20and,boundaries%20were%20not%20clear%2Dcut.
Jenn says
Meggie,
I am truly sorry you have been lead to believe the messianic movement is Jewish in any way. The main tenets of Judaism include waiting for the messiah to come when the earth is ready (not come again), and not worshipping false Idols and/or multiple gods. I understand Christians believe Jesus to be the messiah, and do not see him as a false idol or a false god, and that's great for Christians, I am not telling anyone to stop believing that it, however, is not a Jewish belief. Messianic Judaism is a relatively new movement started by Southern Baptists as a recruitment tactic.
"It emerged in the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier Hebrew Christian movement,[7][8] and was most prominently propelled through the non-profit organization "Jews for Jesus"[9][10] founded in 1973 by Martin "Moishe" Rosen, an American minister under the Conservative Baptist Association.[11][12]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messianic_Judaism#:~:text=It%20emerged%20in%20the%201960s,under%20the%20Conservative%20Baptist%20Association.
More importantly no stream of Judaism accepts messianics as Jews. Considering how difficult it is to get us to agree on anything, it's pretty telling we agree on this.
I understand it can be disappointing, disheartening, even world shattering to discover you have been sold a lie, and for that I am truly sorry. If you have Jewish heritage talk to a local, non-messianic, Rabbi about rejoining Judaism. If you are not of Jewish heritage, but you truly want to be Jewish, you can look into converting, though it is purposely a very difficult and time consuming process (to weed out anyone who isn't truly willing to commit to Judaism).
To any Christians speaking on behalf of Jews on this topic, stop. You aren't Jewish and have no right to decide who is or isn't part of our semi-closed ethnoreligion. If this upsets you, ask yourself why it is upsetting to not control Jewish belief and thought. Christians broke from Judaism nearly 2000 years ago and have spent the time since then actively trying to wipe Jews out. If a Christian wishes to be Jewish they will need to go through the conversion process, which, as previously stated is very difficulted. Imagine trying to cram 13 years of Jewish education into 1-3(ish) year then spending the rest of your life continuing to study, that's the conversion process and then the life of an average Jew.
Brandi says
Jésus was a Jew. The Old Testament, including passover is part of the Christian heritage. It is a celebration of the goodness and mercy of the same God. Jesus also celebrated passover. There were always be people who are offended and it's definitely important to listen to those comments and evaluate our intentions and motives. But don't simply stop a beautiful tradition because someone else doesn't like you. In the end it is between you and God how you choose to honor the grace, mercy and goodness with which we've been blessed.
Jenn says
A) None of that is historically accurate (neither is the story of Exodus, we view it/the Tanakh in general as sacred myths, not fact)
B) Christians chose to break from Judaism, Jesus being Jewish has nothing to do with Judaism, as it is against our beliefs to worship more than one god or humans. We also don't believe God is capable of producing a child. Further, I am Jewish and no one has started a religion based on me, Epstein was Jewish and one hopes he isn't worshipped (may his name be forgotten). "The split of Christianity and Judaism took place during the first century AD.[1][2][failed verification][better source needed] While the First Jewish–Roman War and the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD were main events, the separation was a long-term process, in which the boundaries were not clear-cut" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Christianity#:~:text=The%20split%20of%20Christianity%20and,boundaries%20were%20not%20clear%2Dcut.)
The Council of Nicaea was pretty clear about separating Easter from Judaism as well.
"The controversy between those who argued for independent computations and those who argued for continued reliance on the Jewish calendar was formally resolved by the Council, which endorsed the independent procedure that had been in use for some time at Rome and Alexandria. Easter was henceforward to be a Sunday in a lunar month chosen according to Christian criteria—in effect, a Christian Nisan—not in the month of Nisan as defined by Jews.[7] Those who argued for continued reliance on the Jewish calendar (called "protopaschites" by later historians) were urged to come around to the majority position. That they did not all immediately do so is revealed by the existence of sermons,[105] canons,[106] and tracts[107] written against the protopaschite practice in the late 4th century" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#Separation_of_Easter_computation_from_Jewish_calendar)
C) I don't know your denomination, but if you won't listen to Jews, consider listening to other Christians: https://www.diocesemo.org/blog/bishops-letter-to-the-diocese-christian-seder-meals-banned/
D) If you insist you know better than Jews about our history, culture, and rituals, please understand you are directly hurting Jews by refusing to listen to us. If that's ok with you, so be it. If you want to respond to explain how cultural appropriation isn't harmful and you aren't hurting us, I would LOVE to get some pointers on not being assimilated to the point of total disappearance, from the pagans who originally associated rabbits and eggs with their spring holiday. Do you know where I can find them?
Jacqueline Halstead says
I'm a little puzzled why the Jewish people commenting think the story of Moses and the passover are not Christian stories too. Our children are taught the stories of (our) Old Testament and we honor them as the stories of our brothers and sisters in the faith of the One God, the Jews, as well as ours.
Jenn says
I am a little puzzled as to why you say you read comments from Jews when you clearly didn't. No one said you can't have your translated and edited version of our Torah. You already took it and that's that, it's too late to go back. No one is stopping you from reading what you call Exodus and Deuteronomy. Even if Christians hadn't taken our bible and used it to make their own there is still knowledge to be gained from reading other people's sacred myths. That's how we learn about other religions and cultures. Very few people on this thread, if any, have actually asked how Jews interpret the stories on which Christians have placed a different meaning. For example, Christians view the exodus from Egypt myth (because Jews generally don't believe the Torah is historically accurate and there is no proof we were ever actually slaves) as an allegory about Jesus when it isn't. Some Christians view Paesach, where we recount the exodus, to be about Jesus, when it's about freedom and the price it come with. There was no Jesus to be thought of when the story was first told. Jews are upset by the idea that Christians want to take one of our most important holidays (the others, the High Holidays, being in the fall) and change its meaning by making it about Jesus, when you already have:
Shrove Tuesday
Ash Wednesday
Lent
Feast of the Annunciation
Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday)
Holy Week
Good Friday
Easter
Orthodox Easter
There are probably more, however this is what came up when I googled. I am aware that they span several denominations but if folks are hell bent on taking other ethnicities' traditions, y'all might as well keep in in the Jesus family.
All that to say, no one cares if what you read. We care about the cultural appropriation of our holidays. We care about being told that we are wrong for how we interpret the sacred myths we can read in their original language. We care that some Christians are too insecure in their own faith to understand that we can interpret our own stories any way we want and they can interpret our stories any way they want, they just can't force us to accept their interpretations. We care about having our holidays colonized by Christians who have a history of obliterating the religions and cultures they "borrow" from.
And, as per usual, I don't speak for all Jews, no Jew does. I am sure you will talk to Jews who agree with me and ones who won't, if you ever meet a Jew who feels comfortable enough to say these things to the face of a member the group who has been behind the genocides subjugation of us for over 1000 years.
Happy Jewish American Heritage Month!