especially among intermarried couples? The answer is “Yes, but . . .” Yes, they can coexist, but true harmony comes only when and return to the roots of their faith - the Older and Newer Covenants (Testaments).

The unity of these two holidays can be 400 N. Elmhurst Road seen today at Messianic Jewish Prospect Heights, IL 60070 congregations throughout the world, 847-222-1230 where Messianic Jews and Gentile Christians worship in a Jewish context similar to that of Yeshua and His early followers. Together, we remember the sacrifice and of the Messiah in the God-given context of . admin@-tree.org May the coming season be Please join us for worship filled with the joy and peace of this every () reality. at 10:00 a.m.

For additional information please call, email, or visit our web site at 1 Exodus 12:1-28 www.olive-tree.org Passover & : 2 e.g. Isaiah 53:7; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Yochanan (John) 1:29 Two Holidays 3 “A History of The Christian Jews and Councils,” by the Right Rev. Charles or One? Joseph Hefele, D.D., translated from Sharing New Life in the German and edited by William Messiah R. Clark, M.A., Edinburgh: 1894. event, today known as Easter, marked an to celebrate the Resurrection], we even greater rescue -- God’s release of desire, dearest brethren, to separate Passover and Easter: mankind from sin and death through ourselves from the detestable company 3 Two Holidays or One? Yeshua’s sacrificial atonement. of the Jews.” By Dan Strull As different as these holidays may seem, Yeshua’s death and resurrection at Passover was no coincidence. His final meal before His sacrificial atonement was Each year at this time, Jews observe a (the ). This -- Passover, Christians observe Easter, and along with prophecies in the Hebrew intermarried couples wrestle with what Scriptures -- is why His first followers, all to do about both holidays, especially if Jews, recognized Him as the “Passover they have children. Lamb,” the “Messiah,” and the “ who takes away the sin of the world.” Passover reminds us of , God’s miraculous rescue of the Jews Naturally, early Jewish and Gentile from . God instructed our people believers in Yeshua observed Passover and to remove the Resurrection as two holidays in one. leaven from They did not start a new holiday called their homes, Easter. Messianic Jews were excluded from the kill a lamb, and historical meeting at Nicea, where spread its However, the practice changed radically in theological decisions were made that, blood on their the early centuries after Yeshua. Gentile to this day, fundamentally influence doorposts so followers of Yeshua began to outnumber . that He would Jewish ones, an anti-Jewish bias arose, and “pass over” Gentile leaders aggressively distanced The anti-Jewish, anti-Passover attitude them during themselves from the Jews. was totally inconsistent with the life His judgment The chasm widened in 325 C.E. at the and teachings of Yeshua and His early on and Council of Nicea, which voted to separate followers. No wonder so much tension her gods.1 About 1,200 years after the Passover from the Resurrection. Roman grew over the centuries between Jews Exodus, a second Passover miracle Constantine gave official voice to and Gentile Christians. occurred: the death and resurrection of this landmark decision, stating, “...in Messiah Yeshua (). This amazing The question remains: Can Passover unanimously adopting this mode [of when and the Resurrection exist in harmony,