This year, the calendar provides us with a good opportunity for a life lesson on comparative religion. As it happens, Passover and Good Friday land on the same day, April 6. On this day “Christians commemorate the passion, or suffering, and death by crucifixion of the Lord, Jesus Christ.” Many Christians spend this day in fasting, prayer, repentance, and meditation on the agony and suffering of Christ on the cross.” (Christianity.about.com)
Passover has many names, each of which points to a different reason for celebration: Chag HaMatzot (Festival of Unleavened Bread) reminds us that as slaves, we did not have time or yeast to let our bread rise. Chag HaAviv(Festival of Spring) reminds us to note the season and, as it were, stop to smell the roses (well, tulips and daffodils in our part of the world) and have hope. Z’man Heiruteinu(Season of our Freedom) reminds us to celebrate the beginnings of our freedom, appreciate our current freedoms, as well as to work toward freedom for others. Pesach to the “paschal offering”–the lamb that was offered and whose blood was painted on the doorposts so that the angel of death would pass over the Israelite homes during the tenth plague–reminding us to continue retelling our story and thus reclaim ownership of it year by year.
Clearly these holidays are remarkably different. Good Friday is focused on Jesus’ death (and life); Passover is focused on the story of Jewish people. As we have studied in Confirmation class, it is fair to expand that idea: Christian holidays are focused on the life and death of Jesus (other than more ethnic-focused Christian holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day); Jewish holidays are largely focused on our history and agricultural festivals with some holidays (i.e., the High Holy Days) focused on inner reflection.
Learning about one another allows us a deeper appreciation of our friends, family members, neighbors, and leaders who practice Christianity while also inviting us to be more familiar with, and appreciative of, Judaism. May you have a zisen pesach d by friends, family and matzah soup!