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  • The Lord’s Pesach: Entering the Shelter of Freedom

    The Lord’s Pesach: Entering the Shelter of Freedom

    There’s something sacred in how these traditions mirror and echo one another—freedom, sacrifice, deliverance, and divine renewal.

    This reflection was written in response to a question from my friend Roger, a Christian brother and fellow seeker, who on Easter Sunday—April 20th, 2025 on the Roman calendar and Nissan 22, 5785 on the Jewish calendar—shortly after our sunrise worship service, asked about the connection between Passover and the Passion of Christ.
    What began as a simple answer unfolded into something much deeper: a shared meditation on memory, freedom, and the sheltering love of God.

    As a Jew who walks in the teachings of Jesus, I’ve long felt the beauty and tension between these two great traditions. I don’t write as a scholar or theologian, but as someone standing with one foot in each world, trying to walk the path of remembrance and light.

    This piece is offered in that spirit—of honoring the Lord’s Pesach, and of listening for the ways our stories echo, overlap, and draw us into something greater than ourselves.

    The Lord’s Pesach: A Shelter, Not Just a Passing

    In the Jewish tradition, we are commanded by God to eat matzah for seven days in remembrance of the Exodus. The Torah instructs us to tell the story—not simply to fulfill a commandment, but to celebrate our freedom and to bear witness to what God has done.
    As it says in Exodus 12:11:
    “And thus shall you eat it: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste—it is the Lord’s Pesach.”

    Traditionally translated as “Passover,” the word Pesach is often understood as God “passing over” the homes of the Israelites. But the Hebrew root suggests more than just skipping or avoiding—it can also imply hovering, protecting, sheltering.
    In this light, the Lord’s Pesach becomes not just an event, but an act of divine protection. God does not merely skip over danger—He covers, shelters, and claims His people as His own.

    This interpretation makes the story not only about deliverance from death, but entry into divine care. The Israelites are brought not only out of slavery, but into the shelter of God’s presence.

    Jesus and the Commandment to Remember

    Jesus himself was Jewish. He lived his life in faithful obedience to the commandments of his Father. As he says in John 15:10:
    “I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”

    This includes the commandment to celebrate Passover. Jesus observed Pesach throughout his life—not symbolically, but as a sacred act of remembrance and obedience.
    The Last Supper, which Christians commemorate on Holy Thursday, was almost certainly a Passover meal. Jesus would have eaten matzah, spoken the blessings, and told the story of the Exodus, just as his ancestors did.

    For those who seek to follow Jesus, remembering the Passover is more than a historical curiosity—it is a way of walking as he walked. To sit at the table of remembrance, to bless the bread, to share in the story of liberation, is to honor what he honored.

    To celebrate these holy days and remember these stories is to enter the same shelter Jesus knew: the Lord’s Pesach.

    A Shared Rhythm of Remembrance

    In the Christian tradition, Jesus is seen as the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice brings salvation. And just as the Israelites were saved by the blood of the lamb on their doorposts, Christians believe they are saved by the blood of Jesus, poured out during the Passion.

    In both stories, salvation is not merely escape—it is entry. Entry into God’s care, God’s love, God’s shelter.
    The Lord’s Pesach is not just about death passing over—it is about the people of God being drawn in.

    Whether in the Exodus or at the Cross, the message is the same:
    We are not only saved from something—we are saved into something.
    We are drawn into the Lord’s Pesach.
    Into His shelter.
    Into His presence.

    Grafted Into the Story: The Deeper Parallel

    To more fully answer Roger’s question: What is the connection between Passover and the Passion of Christ?

    The parallel is striking—and for many, transformative.

    In the Exodus, the Israelites are enslaved in Egypt, crying out under oppression. God sends Moses, His anointed one, to lead them out. On the night of liberation, they mark their doors with the blood of the lamb, and God shelters them under His Pesach.

    In the Passion, Jesus—also anointed by God—is understood by Christians as the one who leads humanity out of spiritual bondage: from sin, from darkness, from fear. His blood, too, is a sign—not on doorposts, but on the cross.

    Romans 11 speaks of the Gentiles being grafted into the house of Israel. They are not separate from the story—they are brought into it.
    They, too, are invited to remember, to eat the bread, to trust in the God who delivers.

    So just as Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, Jesus leads souls out of despair and into life.
    Just as the Israelites crossed the sea, Christians speak of passing through death into resurrection.

    In both, the story is one of liberation and belonging—of entering the Lord’s Pesach.
    And in that shelter, there is room for all.

    The Mixed Multitude: A People Born in Faith

    One more sacred detail is often missed in retellings of the Exodus: it was not only the tribes of Jacob who left Egypt.

    Exodus 12:38 tells us:
    A mixed multitude went up also with them…

    This means that many Egyptians—and perhaps others living in bondage—joined the Israelites in their flight from slavery. These were people who turned away from the gods of Egypt and aligned themselves with the God of Israel.
    And this wasn’t a casual shift—it was dangerous.

    The lamb, which God commanded them to sacrifice, was sacred in Egyptian religion.
    To slaughter it openly, smear its blood on their homes, and eat it as a sacred meal was an act of defiance.
    It was, in every sense, a risk of their lives.

    But those who obeyed, those who joined in that dangerous obedience, were welcomed.
    They became part of the people of God.
    The Exodus was not only the birth of a nation—it was the formation of a people drawn together not by bloodline, but by faith.

    A Student of Jesus

    For myself, I sometimes say I’m not a Christian—I’m a student of Jesus.
    In the early days, there were no denominations, no “Christians” in the modern sense. There were simply those who followed Jesus, who tried to walk as he walked.

    I am a Jew who aspires to follow Jesus—not as someone who left Judaism, but as someone who fulfilled the Torah by living it with love, with courage, and with truth. That means honoring the path he walked: celebrating Passover, remembering the commandments, loving the God of Israel with heart, soul, and strength.

    Do I do this perfectly? Not at all. I am not Orthodox, and I fall short in many ways.
    But I remember what Jesus said—that “the greatest commandments” are these:

    “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might,” and
    “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

    This, he said, is the heart of the law. And it’s also the place where Jewish and Christian hearts can meet.

    Whether we celebrate Passover or Easter—or both—we are called to remember.
    We are called to love.
    And we are called to dwell in the shelter of the Lord’s Pesach.

    A Light to the Nations: The True Good News

    As we reflect on the call to dwell in the shelter of the Lord’s Pesach, we are also reminded that we are not only invited into God’s protection—we are sent into the world as bearers of light.

    This has always been the calling of the people of Israel:

    Isaiah 49:6
    “I will also make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

    Isaiah 42:6
    “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness… and will appoint you as a covenant to the people, as a light for the nations.”

    This same call echoes in the teachings of Jesus:
    Matthew 5:14
    “You are the light of the world.”

    And the “good news” begins not with death, but with birth:

    Luke 2:10–11
    “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

    This is the heart of it:
    Not punishment, but presence.
    Not fear, but joy.
    Not separation, but shelter.
    A savior is born. God is near.
    And we are called to reflect that nearness—to be a light, to carry the remembrance, and to proclaim the sheltering love of the Lord’s Pesach.

    A Closing Prayer

    Holy One, Shelter of all,

    We remember what You have done—
    in Egypt, in Jerusalem, in our own lives.
    You bring us out of fear, out of bondage,
    and draw us into Your shelter,
    into Your Pesach, again and again.

    We give thanks for every tradition
    that helps us remember You.
    For every soul who walks in light.
    For every story that carries hope.

    May we be faithful to the path of love—
    to keep the commandments of compassion,
    to honor the bread of remembrance,
    and to share the light we have been given.

    We await, with our ancestors and our children,
    the healing of the world—Tikkun Olam—
    a new heaven, a new earth,
    where all dwell in peace under the shelter of Your wings.

    Amen.

    🙏🕊🙏

  • One Vine, Many Branches: Honoring the Shared Wisdom of Judaism and Christianity.

    One Vine, Many Branches: Honoring the Shared Wisdom of Judaism and Christianity.

    Rediscovering the Sacred Bond of Love and Compassion

    Dear reader, as you read and reflect on these ideas, I invite you to share any thoughts, questions, or reflections in the comments. Let’s begin a dialogue rooted in mutual respect, understanding, and a shared journey of spiritual growth. 🙏

    Introduction

    This essay began as a personal contemplation of the mezuzah, a small but profound symbol in Jewish tradition, traditionally placed on the doorposts of a home. As I considered placing a mezuzah in my own home and reflected on the scripture within it, I realized its message is universal—one that resonates deeply with both Jews and Christians.

    The central verse inscribed within the mezuzah comes from Deuteronomy 6:5: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” This commandment, foundational to Jewish life, is also echoed in the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament, reaffirming its relevance for Christians as well.

    As I meditated on this sacred text, it became clear that the message of the mezuzah transcends religious boundaries. It reminds us of the shared roots between Judaism and Christianity and the common spiritual calling to love God fully and extend that love to others.

    Alongside this divine love stands a second truth just as powerful: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” These two commandments form the moral and spiritual backbone of both Jewish and Christian teachings.

    This essay is an invitation to explore the deep threads that connect these two traditions—threads often forgotten but never broken. By recognizing the shared wisdom in their teachings, perhaps we can move closer to a spirit of unity, respect, and understanding between brothers and sisters of faith.

    Shared Commandments: The Heart of the Law

    Both Judaism and Christianity place love for God at the center of spiritual life. In Deuteronomy 6:5, Moses commands the people of Israel: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” This verse, central to Jewish prayer and identity, calls for complete devotion—an offering of one’s entire being in love and service to God.

    Centuries later, Jesus reaffirms this same commandment in Matthew 22:37-40, when asked to name the greatest law: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

    This shared commandment reveals a profound truth: love for God is not bound by tradition or time—it is a universal call that transcends religious divisions. It challenges all people of faith to seek a relationship with the divine that is wholehearted, sincere, and rooted in compassion.

    Love in Action: The True Measure of Devotion

    Loving God with all your heart, soul, and might is not merely a matter of belief or ritual—it is a call to action. Both Judaism and Christianity teach that true devotion is reflected in how we treat others, especially the most vulnerable.

    In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus offers a powerful reminder of this truth. Speaking of the final judgment, he says, “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” When his followers ask when they ever saw him in need, he replies, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Here, love for God is directly tied to compassion for others—acts of kindness are not separate from spiritual devotion; they are its highest expression.

    In Jewish tradition, this same responsibility runs deep. The Torah calls upon the people of Israel to care for the stranger, feed the hungry, and support the poor. This obligation is rooted in the idea of tikkun olam—repairing the world. Just as Jesus urged his followers to serve “the least of these,” Judaism teaches that justice and compassion are the foundation of true faith.

    Paul’s words in Romans 11:17-18 offer a reminder to Christians of this shared spiritual lineage: “You, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root.” This powerful metaphor points back to the covenant made with Israel and reminds Christians that their faith is deeply connected to the family of Moses.

    Both traditions agree that love for God must ripple outward, transforming how we live and how we respond to suffering and injustice. Whether offering comfort to a stranger, feeding the hungry, or working for fairness in society, these acts are living prayers—evidence of a heart truly devoted to God.

    The Heart of the Law: A Shared Ethical Foundation

    The essence of the Torah, as explained by the great Jewish sage Rabbi Hillel, reveals a deep connection between Jewish and Christian teachings. When asked to summarize the entire Torah while standing on one foot, Hillel responded: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. This is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary—now go and learn.” (Talmud, Shabbat 31a)

    This profound teaching echoes the words of Jesus in Matthew 22:37-40, when he summarizes the core of the law with two commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

    To clarify what it means to love one’s neighbor, Jesus shared the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). In this story, a man is beaten, robbed, and left for dead on the side of the road. While two religious leaders pass by without offering help, a Samaritan—considered an outsider and enemy by the Jews of that time—stops, cares for the wounded man, and ensures his recovery. Jesus concludes the parable by asking, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The answer is clear: the true neighbor is the one who showed mercy.

    This teaching expands the definition of neighbor beyond faith, ethnicity, or social standing. It challenges both Jews and Christians to extend compassion not just to those within their own communities but to anyone in need.

    In Judaism, this ethic underlies tikkun olam—the responsibility to repair the world through acts of justice, kindness, and compassion. In Christianity, Jesus elevates this same principle as the heart of spiritual practice, calling his followers to embody love through action, humility, and grace.

    By highlighting these shared teachings, we are reminded that the true fulfillment of God’s commandments lies not in rigid observance alone, but in living out love, compassion, and justice in our relationships with one another. This shared foundation offers a bridge between the two faiths—a path toward unity, mutual respect, and a deeper understanding of God’s will.

    Grafted into the Tree: Embracing the Heritage of Faith

    Rather than seeing Judaism as something other than Christianity, it is time to recognize it as the foundation upon which Christianity stands. Paul’s words in Romans 11:17 remind us that to be grafted into the tree means to partake of its nourishment, wisdom, and heritage. It is not a rejection of what came before but an invitation for mutual love, respect, and enrichment.

    Jesus himself speaks of this connection in John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches.” Just as the branch draws life from the vine, so too does Christianity draw from the rich soil of Judaism. The tree cannot flourish without its roots, and the branches cannot bear fruit without remaining connected to the source.

    This is not a call for conversion or blending of distinct identities but an invitation for Jews and Christians to honor their shared foundation. Christians can deepen their faith by reconnecting with the Jewish roots of their beliefs, while Jews can discover new dimensions of understanding by engaging with the teachings of Jesus as a Jewish rabbi who sought to fulfill, not abolish, the law.

    In truth, we are not two separate trees but branches of the same living vine, drawing from the same source of divine love and wisdom. Our shared growth comes from recognizing that we are, and always have been, brothers and sisters in God—each tradition carrying pieces of a larger, more complete understanding of the sacred.

    A Personal Reflection: Living Between Traditions

    For me, this exploration is not just intellectual—it’s deeply personal. I was born Jewish, and later, I was baptized as a Christian. In many ways, my life has become a living journey of discovering what it truly means to honor both faiths, to follow the teachings of Moses and Jesus, and to embrace the fullness of that shared spiritual heritage.

    It’s important to remember that Jesus himself was not a Christian—he was a Jew, a rabbi who lived within the Jewish tradition and taught from its sacred texts. His earliest followers were also Jews, seeking to live by the wisdom and love that Jesus embodied. The term Christianity only came into use later, as different groups of followers began to spread his message beyond the Jewish community.

    When Emperor Constantine formalized Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, many elements of Jewish practice were stripped away or outlawed altogether. Practices like observing the Sabbath and following traditional Jewish customs were pushed aside, creating a divide that Jesus himself never intended. What emerged was a new religion, shaped as much by political forces as by spiritual devotion—one that often distanced itself from the Jewish roots it was born from.

    I believe that if Jesus were to witness how Christianity has evolved, he might be deeply saddened by how far it has drifted from his original teachings. Yet, there is hope in returning to the heart of Jesus’ message—a message rooted in love and the recognition that we are all brothers and sisters under God.

    Mutual Growth: A Shared Path Toward Spiritual Evolution

    The relationship between Judaism and Christianity has long been marked by misunderstanding and historical wounds, leading many Jews to reject Christianity as a matter of instinct, and many Christians to overlook their deep connection to Judaism. Yet, if we look beyond these divisions, we find that both traditions have much to offer for each other’s growth.

    Christianity carries a message of personal transformation, forgiveness, and universal compassion that can speak to the evolving spiritual journey of the Jewish people. At the same time, Judaism offers Christians a richer understanding of the sacred traditions, practices, and wisdom from which Jesus himself emerged—a grounding in the covenantal relationship with God that nurtured the earliest followers of Christ.

    This is not a call for conversion or the blending of distinct identities but an invitation for mutual love, respect, and enrichment. Christians can deepen their faith by reconnecting with the Jewish roots of their beliefs, while Jews can discover new dimensions of understanding by engaging with the teachings of Jesus as a Jewish rabbi who sought to fulfill, not abolish, the law.

    In truth, we are not two separate trees but branches of the same living vine, drawing from the same source of divine love and wisdom. Our shared growth comes from recognizing that we are, and always have been, brothers and sisters in God—each tradition carrying pieces of a larger, more complete understanding of the sacred.

    Acknowledging Differences, Embracing Common Ground

    It would be incomplete to speak of unity without acknowledging the reality that, for some Jews and some Christians, there are irreconcilable differences—historical, theological, and cultural divides that cannot be overlooked or easily bridged. The weight of history, marked by persecution, misunderstanding, and pain, has left scars that continue to shape the relationship between these two faiths.

    Yet, even in the presence of these differences, there exists a profound depth of shared values and spiritual connection. Both Judaism and Christianity hold sacred the commandments to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might” and to “do unto others as you would have them do unto yourself.” These universal truths form the foundation for mutual respect and understanding.

    Recognizing both our differences and our shared roots allows us to move forward not in denial, but in hope. It opens a space where Jews and Christians can honor their distinct paths while still working toward a future of harmony, wisdom, and compassion. In doing so, we fulfill the deepest intentions of both faiths—to love God fully and to extend that love outward in service to one another.

    🙏🕊🙏