杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

Introducing a joint message of hope and fraternity for the seasons of Easter and Passover, Cardinal Wilton Gregory and Rabbi Abraham Skorka note that 鈥淪pring 2023 brings us the annual celebrations of Passover and Easter, coinciding this year on the second weekend of April.鈥�

It鈥檚 what happened, they recall, over two thousand years ago when Jesus鈥� Last Supper and the Jewish Passover occurred together in Israel.

For believers, the religious leaders write in their message entitled When Passover and Easter Coincide: A Shared Message of Hope, this is a season for all people to renew their lives as children of God.

For Jews, the heart of Passover (Pesach) is the experience of geulah - redemption or deliverance 鈥� as found in the biblical story of Exodus. It鈥檚 a story that tells of how ancient Hebrews were freed from the Pharoah鈥檚 cruelty and 鈥渂ecome a free people, growing into all that they could be.鈥�

For Christians, 鈥淛esus鈥� death and resurrection brings its own freedom from sin and slavery.鈥�

Cardinal Gregory of Washington (D.C.) and Catholic Co-Chair of the National Council of Synagogues consultation for the USCCB, and Rabbi Skorka, Senior Research Fellow for Jewish Studies and Jewish-Catholic Relations at Georgetown University, Washington (D.C.), note that 鈥渁s a Jew, Jesus would have celebrated Passover yearly with his family and friends.鈥�

Consequently, 杏MAP导航 St. John Paul II wrote that Jesus learned from stories like the Exodus: 鈥楬e nourished his mind and heart with them. 鈥� Thus he became an authentic son of Israel, deeply rooted in his own people's long history鈥�.

An opportunity to renew our concern for freedom

Thus, they highlight, 鈥渢he seasons of Passover and Easter are an opportunity for all people, not just Christians and Jews, to renew their concern for the freedom of every person.鈥�

As they write this, the Cardinal and the Rabbi say, 鈥渉uman dignity is being violated in wars, poverty, enslavement, and apathy around the world.鈥�

Today, they continue: 鈥淟et Judaism and Christianity call on every conscience to help free our nations from whatever bigotry holds us captive. Freedom belongs to all people.鈥�

The two signatories of the message urge Americans of 鈥渆very race and class鈥� to heed the words of the book of Leviticus 25:10, as inscribed on the Liberty Bell: 鈥淧roclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof.鈥�

And recalling 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� reiterated appeal, they too cry out: 鈥淲e cannot be complacent with the notion of 鈥榯hrowaway鈥� people anywhere.鈥�

No one is disposable

"Everyone has God-given dignity; no one is disposable. This is the message of Pesach (Passover) and Pascha (Easter) that we, as a Jew and a Christian, would like to share with everyone today."