Spring is a time of religious rebirth and
redemption. It is an appropriate time to seek common ground and
understanding. That is why we applaud the
efforts of a group of Jews, Muslims and Christians who joined
together to
celebrate an interfaith seder. For a time, this
group of individuals affirmed a common religious ancestry and
condemned escalating violence in the Middle
East.
The first night of the Jewish observance of
Passover was at sundown on Monday during the Christian holy
week, which started with Palm Sunday and ends
with Easter. In addition to religious significance, the two
holidays follow the March 21 beginning of
spring, a time when nature is reborn.
The name Passover comes from the night of the
10th plaque when, by tradition, the angel of death saw the
blood of the slaughtered lamb on the doorposts
of the homes of Jews. Those homes were passed over and
the first born child was allowed to live.
Passover marks the ancient Hebrews' flight from
slavery in Egypt. Jews plan a symbolic meal, called a seder,
to tell the story of the prophet Moses who led
the Hebrews out of bondage. Moses declared, "Let my people
go" to the Egyptian pharaoh.
It is an eight-day observance that coincides this year with
the Christian holy week.
In some languages, with the exception of
English, German and some Slavic languages, the name Easter is
derived from Pesach, the Hebrew name of
Passover. Easter depends on Passover for much of its symbolic
meaning. The Last Supper shared by Jesus and his
12 disciples before his Crucifixion on Good Friday is
generally thought of as a Passover seder.
The week starts with Palm Sunday and the entry
of Jesus into Jerusalem. It ends the following Sunday with
the Resurrection of the crucified Jesus.
Starting in 2005 a new and encouraging tradition
started in North Jersey. On Palm Sunday of that year, area
Jews, Muslims and Christians joined together for
an interfaith seder.
More than a hundred people attended the event at
the Congregation Beth Shalom in Pompton Lakes. Joining
members of the conservative Jewish congregation
were members of the Islamic Center of Passaic County in
Paterson, Christ Episcopal Church in Pompton
Lakes and St. Luke's Episcopal Church in the Warren County
town of Hope.
The event, in its third year, is organized by
Imam Mohammad Qatanani, a native of Palestine, who heads the
Paterson mosque; Rabbi David Senter, Beth
Shalom's leader; and the Rev. William Potter of St. Luke's.
After
the attacks of Sept. 11, Potter contacted a
Muslim organization seeking a quote from the Quran. That led to
a
dialogue that evolved into the interfaith seder.
This exercise in understanding will not resolve
long-standing differences in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. However, it can foster good will among
religious leaders of different faiths in North Jersey. This is a
positive step, and a hopeful sign that perhaps
this sort of religious empathy can be spread beyond New
Jersey to other parts of the world.
The autumn/winter edition of
Banipal Magazine is dedicated to the
memory of Palestinian poet Mahmoud
Darwish.
Click here for more... 
