TRAVERSE CITY — Two ancient traditions, each dating back thousands of years, were observed together on Thursday evening at Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Traverse City.
More than 80 congregants from Grace and the city’s historic Beth Shalom synagogue gathered in prayer and celebration for a sacred Passover Seder dinner led by Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg.
The 90-minute ritual meal, complete with historical references and Hebrew songs, was followed by a solemn Maundy Thursday service in the church’s sanctuary. Jews and Christians were present for both.
Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, commemorates the Last Supper, a time when Jesus also took time to wash the feet of his disciples.
The word “maundy” comes from the Latin “mandatum,” which means “command.” It’s a reference to Christ’s new commandment to “love one another as I have loved you.”
Halfway through the service, Seminarian Theresa Williams delivered a homily on the similarities between Moses’ encounter with God on Mt. Sinai and Jesus’ foot-washing actions.
At the conclusion of Maundy Thursday, the church’s altar area was stripped of all ornamentation, decorative fabrics and even crosses in preparation for the somber Good Friday service yet to come.
“Such a beautiful service, very moving,” Sleutelberg said after the experience.
‘UNITY IS NOT CONFORMITY’
“We live in a broken and hurting world,” said the Rev. Jim Perra of Grace. “When people are afraid of each other, I am reminded of Psalm 133 that begins: ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!’
“Unity is not sameness or conformity – it’s about living together with compassion and understanding. Tonight is very special opportunity to do that.”
Carol Stein, 68, is a Beth Shalom member who moved to this area from Chicago about two years ago.
“I really enjoy taking part in this shared Seder,” she said. “It’s a wonderful event and it reminds me of the Seder dinners my family used to celebrate.”
Participants sat together at about 15 decorated tables in the church’s parish hall. At least one Jewish person was stationed at table to help answer questions. Everyone also received a 22-page booklet called a “Haggadah” that explains each successive step in the Seder ritual.
“Passover is a special time in both religions,” said Seth Stein. “It’s also celebration of freedom and spring. Because I’m a Jew surrounded by Christians at this table, I feel like a ‘color commentator’ at an NFL broadcast!”
Al Bonney, 81, of Grace Church said he was “delighted” to finally experience a Seder meal.
“I’ve heard about it and read about it my whole life, but I had no idea what was actually involved,” he said. “The reservation limit for Grace members sold out in just hours. There’s been quite a lot of interest.”
At the beginning of the Seder meal, Rabbi Sleutelberg told diners “it feels so good to share this with you.”
“Given the state of the world with rising antisemitism, Jews are feeling vulnerable,” he added. “That makes our time together all the more important. We feel valued and included. You can’t imagine how much that means to us.”
When he was a rabbinical student in the 1980s, Beth Shalom members “did a number of things with Grace,” Sleutelberg recalled. “We’re keeping it going here tonight.”
HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS
The interfaith event took place in the midst of Jewish Passover and Christian Holy Week, both of which are important holidays in their respective faiths. The intersecting timing is no coincidence.
Most Christian scholars believe that the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus occurred during a Jewish Passover celebration in ancient Jerusalem, circa 33 A.D. The famous “Last Supper” – a final meal Jesus shared with his disciples – was itself a Passover Seder.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is called the “Lamb of God,” drawing a parallel between Jesus and the lamb sacrificed during the first Passover celebration described in Exodus.
Near the end of the Egyptian captivity, Moses instructed the Hebrew people to take some of the lamb’s blood and put it on their door frames as a sign to the “destroying angel” to “pass over” their homes during the final of 10 plagues, sparing their firstborn children from death.
“That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast,” said Moses. “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord — a lasting ordinance.”
The Hebrew word Seder (pronounced “SAY-der) means “order,” a reference to the two dozen or so steps in the ritual meal, which features many formal blessings and remembrances.
In the center of each table was a Seder plate displaying key elements of the meal: Bitter herbs called Maror to commemorate the bitterness of slavery in Egypt; a lamb shank symbolizing a ritual lamb sacrifice; a mix of fruits, nuts and wine to symbolize the clay Jews used to build the pyramids; parsley dipped in salt water to symbolize the tears of those enslaved; a boiled egg with multiple meanings.
Other key elements of the meal included unleavened bread (“matzah”), sacramental wine, kosher soup and kosher desserts.
One table in the center was set aside for clergy and friends. It featured elegant metal goblets, including an extra cup known as “Elijah’s Cup” just in case the prophet shows up to announce the arrival of the Messiah in Jewish tradition.
About halfway through the Seder meal, Rev. Perra opened the back door to the parish hall to permit Elijah’s entry — one of many ritual steps in the annual event.
Along the way, the story of the Hebrew’s journey from slavery to freedom is told, with fascinating personal vignettes that have survived since the Exodus occurred around 1250 BCE.
At the meal’s conclusion or “Nirtzah,” a traditional blessing was said: “Next year in Jerusalem … May we all have the will and strength to continue working towards a world where all people will live in shalom — peace.”