document, called “God’s Mercy Endures Forever: over should be to acknowledge cornmon roots in the Guidelines on the Presentation of Jews and Judaism in history of salvation. Any sense of ’restaging’ the Last Catholic Preaching.” Intended to implement locally the Supper of the Lord Jesus should be avoided. The rites implication of the 1985 Vatican Notes, the U.S. docu- of the Triduum (Holy Week) are the Church’s annual ment deals largely with problems presented for Catho- memorial of the events of Jesus’ dying and rising. chers by difficult passages in the New Testament. Seders arranged at or in cooperation with local syna- It does, however, offer two ”pastoralactivities” of note. gogues are encouraged (No.28). The first was that the victims of the Shah should be We live in a unique time in the long history of remembered in prayer and penitence “on the Sun Jewish-Christian relations, a time of renewed hope closest to YmhaShoah” each year, giving sample inter- and understanding. Christian liturgical tradition cessions for use in Sunday Mass. The second related to began as an offshoot of Jewish worship. Indeed, the Passover. It is short enough to repeat here in full: earliest Christians, who were primarily Jews, looked ”It is becoming familiar in many parishes and to their own Jewish liturgical traditions to celebrate Catholic homes to participate in a Passover Seder dur- what they believed happened in Jesus’ life, death ing Holy Week. This practice can have educational and resurrection. Christians acknowledge this (long and spiritual value. It is wrong, however, to ”bap- suppressed) Jewish heritage of their faith when they tize” the seder by ending it with New Testament read- participate in a Passover seder with faith and re- ings about the Last Supper or, worse, turn it into a spect for God’s People, the Jews, and turn toward prologue to the Eucharist. Such mergings distort both them, not in the disputations of the past, but the dia- traditions. logue of reconciliation of the future. ’When Christians celebrate this sacred feast among themselves, the rites of the haggadah should be re- Dr. Eugene Fisher is Associate Director of the Secretariat spected in all their integrity. The seder should be cel- for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairsof the National ebrated in a digrufled manner and with sensitivity to Conference of Catholic Bishops. His book, The Jewish those to whom the seder truly belongs. The primary Roots of Christian Liturgy, was published by the Paulist reason why Christians may celebrate the festival of Pass- Press in 1990.
Is Every Seder Kosher for Passover? A. James Rudin
he Reverend Robert SomerviUe has almost got Passover is an ethnic festival filled with extraor- it right, but not quite, He clearly undershnds dinary Jewish religiosity. That is, in fact, the central T and appreciates the profound Jewish roots of meaning of the holiday. That Jesus, Whom Ek Eu- his Christian faith, and hh genuine sincerity in con- gene Fisher calls “a pious Jew of his time,” celebrated ducting his version of a Passover seder is evident. So Pesach as a Pa@m in Jerusalem k as scholars love far so gd. to say, unexceptionable. That a derwas mast likely But call fop Christians, qu the ’’Last Supper” is also not surprising, nor is it tians, to e deras an occasion remarkable that the matzah and wine became the above ethnicity and religiosity” leads him into an basis for the Eudtarist. ambiguous, even dangerous theological wilderness. But none of this means that the distinctive mes- As Somerville himself correctly notes, the Israelites’ sage and unique Jewish meaning attached to Pass- Exodus from Egypt and the sacred institutionaliza- over somehow came to an end with the rise of Chris- tion of the Passover holiday resulted in ”the initial tianity. On the contrary, the Jews who celebrate formulation and establishment of a ’National’ Israel.” Pesach, are the rightful heirs of that festival, even as
Sh’ma Passover 1999 @ http://www.shma.com Christians are the rightful heirs of the Eucharist. The would be on more secure footing with the phrase, two faith communities may be parallel in histoy, but *‘Christiansand Jews have distinct faiths of uni- they are not congruent. versa1 value.” For these reasons, I strongly believe it is impera- I no longer use the term ”Judeo-Christian,” tive that the seder, the annual re-enactment of the however, because I know many Christians, but Exodus, forever remains a speaficallyJewish festival no “Judeos.” The term is used by some Christians of faith and family. Unfortunately even Somerville, simply as a convenient euphemism designed to ap- clearly a champion of constructive Jewish-Christian pease the Jewish community. I prefer the more relations, brings with him a whiff of historic Chris- accurate ”Jewish and Christian traditions.” tian imperialism and expropriation when he declares How should Jews respond to people like that ”the Passover takes on a broader meaning for the Somerville who wish to explore the Jewish tap- Christian without disturbing the original connota- roots of their Christian faith, especially during tion.” Fisher is again on target when he cautions Passover? The 1988 U.S.Catholic Bishops State- Christians not ”to baptize” the ment referred to by Fisher Passover. is an excellent place to be- But all too often throughout gin. Synagogues and other history, Christians have seen the Every religious Jewish institutions should Passover seder, indeed all of Ju- faith must have the provide their Christian daism as Fisher points out, as neighbors with an authen- mere preparatio Christi. That is absolute right to tic seder experience. the inherent danger in define its own This can be achieved by Somerville’s apparently benign presenting an educa- proposal for Christians to cele- rituals, liturgy and tional model seder for brate the seder within the Christian clergy and edu- church. festivals. cators. My own experi- One thing I have learned ence has shown that in more than thirty years of in- Christians are always terreligious work is that every religious tradition welcome guests and keen spiritual observers and every faith must have the absolute right to at such events. define and to interpret its own unique rituals, lit- Clearly, the prayers, food, music, and the urgies, and festivals. For others to do this sacred compelling Exodus story will strike responsive task is to invite distortion, lack of authenticity, and chords among the Christians who attend a even animus. seder. Fisher wisely suggests that “a rabbi, a This is especially true when Christians seek to cantor or another Jewish leader” conduct the deepen their self-understanding of their own faith seder, thus guaranteeing its distinctiveness. through a knowledge and appreciation of Christianity‘s During a model seder, there should be a full Jewish roots. Fisher is correct when he warns his fellow discussion of the meaning of a God of freedom Christians of ”the tendency to slide seamlessly from the who hears the cries of the oppressed and acts Passover readings into the celebration of the Eucharist, within history to bring deliverance and re- a blending of two quite distinct, albeit historically, demption. deeply interrelated theological rituals.” That is the kind of seder I would love to Somerville reflects a most welcome spirit when conduct in Somerville’s church. I am certain he speaks of the need for Christians to acknowl- it would be a fruitful and exciting experience edge ”with gratitude their ties to Judaism.” He for everyone. urges the increased use of the term ”Judeo-Chris- tian faith” as one means of expressing this concept. Rabbi James Rudin is the National Interreligious Affairs And he also declares that ”Christiansand Jews have Director of the American Jewish Committee.His weekly an inseparable faith of universal value.” Somerville column is syndicated by Religion News Service.
Sh’ma Passover 1999 @ http://www.shma.com On &@ fit, thisp&rscage is d&turbiagP/ char: It is a djib- Let‘s agree: reasonable anger reasonably displayed is perfectly rmeqp. We& God to mehe nations who headw top natural and easily justified. Divine wrath is, well supernatural, and ~p~~~~~~.Aw1ot49J1 being divine in origin, really needs &-&on mto c&pourmt Pour out Your wrath upon the nations that know You no human justification. Having &”it is mr qmt& m& not, and upon the people that call not upon Your name. said that, as for requesting heavy tobeaddrasrad - duty divine wrath, count me out.
~~~ inti- tkat in or& The human variety of wrath is bad jib- tme naEismQk rwhto occur, we .imp KS 70w3 ~PKni3m enough: debilitating, contagious, ktobeGrmangrYaboutthditim and dangerous as in Guns don‘t At the heart of the Haggadah is Redemption. Not the kill people, wrath does. It’s a fact redemption of Israel from Egypt, but the redemption of that too many undeserving &place. fl,~ggg, & s@- Israel from Egypt as a paradigm for the redemption of the people get human wrath poured awfi-:- h- world from incessant suffering. The mettnentof the ini- on them - children, spouses, air- a ~~; m- redemptive story is the attempt to ”make it The 8- tial so.” line attendants. Why anyone during racljm; anda &re &mr- elements for effecting the end of history as we know it are would ask God to pour out His acts Ofsewm.gt &Jrn&h m- the same as they have “always”been within the rabbinical industrial strength wrath on munq, b./ &hr#, has framework. ”The world is sustained by three things: Torah, whole nations because they don‘t & & wmto tfiare &-Avodak and Wilzat Hassidim.” accept His sovereignty is beyond tims. Thus, the Haggadah allows us to invest omelves first me. Christians tried that with Jews 14s Rabbi Stom mgph, u;ts of within the world of Torah (“Comeand Learn”). Then, we par- big time (anyone remember the ut^&,&&^^- ticipate in the ritual meal (Amhh)?the sacrifice made actual Crusades, or the Inquisition); and ~,~~~~~&* thnoughRabbanGamliel’snear-~~tia~Onofthe~did we like it? Forgetaboutitlll The side& But we must ah elements to which we point MORbegmung to eat (Pescach, Bible sometimes reads like All *mramtomyand Matadz and Maror). This allows us to mite ”In every genera- Wrath All the Time. And@hwhom tion each individual is bound to wad himself as if he had If God must W~Xwrathful W- -am gone forth from Egypt personally.” We are deemed. Thew ery now and then, my advice is and- to mkfid&qpe. fore, we praise God and k the Messianic meal together. that He try to wax an eyedropper m-, pna~ we^ But what of Gemilut Hassdim, deeds of lovinglanhess? not a bucket. Unless you are a e6-, & ~~~ to They are missing from the Seder and?in fact?their absence pharmacist or a wine steward, Frout wrat~t &+ htam returns us from the taste of redemption to the reality of the pouring wrath can be tricky, with ~i~~~~and~~Ofhistory in which we live. This is no small disappointment. wrath splashing on people who ours-. We are nearly mad with the fail- yet again of humanity don’t deserve it. Anyway, knowl- to embody &e life of goodness reqdfor the bue &- Rabbi Ellen Flax is the edge of the documented conse- director of demption.LikeboththePsalmistandtheprophetJeremiah education and outreach for the Jew- quences of God’s large-scale to whom the verses under discussion be attributed, ish Fund forJustice. may wrathfulness would make me we are in Exile and we at.e furious at ~osewhohave hded think twice about exhorting Him to unleash it. Instead, I would urge God towards a “measured response” to the rejecting nations. Thunder, OK. Lightening, maybe. A constructive miracle or two, defi- nitely/
Ned Stutman is a Senior Trial At- torney in the Ofice of Special In- vestigations, United States DepaR- ment ofJustice, which prosecutes Nazi War criminals. He is the edi- tor of the Spice Box in Moment Magazine. Sheldon Friedberg iS Executive Diredor of the National Gmfemux for Community and Jda?and faditator of the Institute for ~J~-M~Dialogue.
Sh‘ma Passover 1999 @ http:/ /www.shma.com Haggadot for All Generations Rebecca Gutterman
A Rifbnt Night The Family Participation Haggadah Nmm Chair, Sh'ma Committee of Jewish Family & Life! Zion aytd David Dishon. (American Friends 4the Shalom Rcsbbi Nina Befh Cardin l3rtmun InstitUte, 2997, pp 96, $12.95) Editor, Susan Bewin Publisher & Executive Editor, YosqCI. Abrarnowifz A good contemporary Haggadah is one that strikes Founding Editor, Rabbi Eugene Borowifz a balance between interacting creatively with the Pass- Art Director, Jeffey Rosenbuurn over story while taking care to make SUE that its spe- Deputy Publisher, Joshua Pines cific details and sigruficance do not get lost. A Different Assistant Editors, Ronnie Friedland, Gabi Soble Night does an excellent job of straddling this line. Inter- Hornstein Intern, Dinah Zelfser spersed with the traditional narrative of the Jews' Exo- Chair, Jewish Family & Life! Board, Marfin Karniner dus from Egypt are artwork and folktales from Jewish Sh'ma Committee, Carolyn Hum's,Swn Laden, communities around world, essays and memoirs Carl Sheingold, Larry Yudelson the de- with slavery past and present and midrashim that Contributing Editors: Michael Berenbaum, Elliot N. Dorff, probe the text mom deeply. There is also a wealth of Arnold Eisen, Leonard Fein, Barry Freundel, Rela M. Geffen, Neil Gillman, Irving Greenberg, Joanne Greenberg, Brad discussion and activity suggestions for families. Hirschfield, Lawrence Hoffman, Paula Hyman, Lori A Pasover Haggadah (Eliriun Associates, 2993, Lefkovitz, Deborah Dash Moore, Daavid Nelson, Vanessa $24.00) Ochs, Riv-Ellen Prell, Harold Shulweis, Elie Wiesel, Arnold This Haggadah utilizes a fairly traditional text, accom- Jacob Wolf, David Wolpe, Walter Wurzburger, Michael panied by drawings. It is comprehensive, and what sets Wyschogrod. it apart from other haggadot are Elie Wiesel's insightful Sh'ma welcomes articles from diverse points of view. Hence, commentaries. From the Introduction, in which he ex- the opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of pounds upon the questions Passover elicits, to insights 4 the editors. Donations to Sh'ma are tax-deductible. Sh'ma is the available in microfilm from University Microfilms Interna- on importance of Jewish collective memory, Wiesel's tional, Ann Arbor, MI and in audio format from the Jewish wods contain the sensitivity and chilling eloquence for Braille Institute, New York, NY, which he is well known. Address all editorial correspondence to: Sh'ma, 56 Keamey The Tdling: A Loving Haggadah for Passover Road, Suite B, Needham, MA 02494. Telephone: (781) 449- 9894 FAX: (781) 449-9825 Email: jflsusan&ol.com. Address Dr. Dov Gen Khayytm, ai. (Berkeley, Rakhamim Publhtiorts, all subscription queries to: Sh'ma P.O. Box 1019, Manches- 1989. pp48, $5.0) ter, NH 03105-1019 (877) 568-SHMA. This Haggadah is actively inclusive in terms of gender- Sh'ma (ISSN 0049-0385) is published monthly except July neutral God-language, and is politically sensitive in ref- and August by Jewish Family & Life! Subscriptions: $29 for erences to the myriad ways (personal, cultural, and po- two years in U.S.; $18 for one year; $21 for one year over- litical) which slavery is still perpetuated, liberation seas; $35 for two years overseas; bulk subscriptions of 10 or in more to one address, $12 per subscription; students, retired still sought. The text is interspersed with original art- or people of restricted means may subscribe for one year at work and photographs of Passover observances around $9. Please notify subscription office, in writing, if you pre- the world. The Telling's gentle, down-to-earth presen- fer your name not be given out on rented lists. POSTMAS- tation makes it appropriate to families with children. TER Send address changes to Sh'ma P.O. Box 1019, Manches- ter, NH 03105-1019. The Family Passover Haggadah Visit our website at www.shma.com or participate in our (orthodox Union Publishing, 1999, $12.99) interactive discussion group available through any online traditional service which can exchange with the Internet. To join, send This haggadah featwes Hebrew text, English a one-line message to: [email protected]: subscribe translations, and over 100 illustrations from the shma [your name]. Messages to Sh'mu Online can then be Dreamworks movie, T"dnce0fEgYpt. IllustratorMichael sent to [email protected]."The Best of Sh'ma can be found on Schwartz has mated artwork to bring the reader into the the Jewish Community Online at America Online. Type in keyword "Jewishnews" and look for Sh'ma. experience. Especially powerful is the spread of the parting of the Sea.Sidebar Copyright 0 1999 by Jewish Family & Life! will also encourage der-table discussions. March, 1999. RekcazGuttermanisa~hm&&toJMdycom. 4
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