With Jews and Christians in their homes and their places of worship closed this Passover, there is rich symbolism for both faiths

This year it begins today, April 9, for seven days with the traditional Passover meal the preceding evening, as all Biblical days start and end at sunset.

The story of the Exodus from slavery in Egypt is told from generation to generation and the symbols of unleavened bread (bread without yeast), wine and other items are are consumed as Jewish families recall the Ten Plagues, following positively by the Ten Commandments, and the crossing of the Red Sea followed by the crossing into the Promised Land (Israel today).

At its essence it is about the relationship between God and His people and how they experienced divine intervention and protection, most notably being spared the Destroyer or Angel of Death as it swept through Egypt killing every firstborn child and even animals after Pharoah refused to let the Hebrews go.

The instruction was to daub blood from an unblemished lamb on the lintel and door posts of their homes thus when the Destroyer “passed over” the Israelites would escape the fate of the Egyptians, who had just previously tried to kill the first born Jewish babies.

The Israelites remained within their homes until all danger had passed. Egypt had been ravished by pestilence and plagues galore and the country was devastated as a result.

In the end the stubborn Pharaoh lets the people of Israel go. There are similarities with this classic story from the Bible and events today with the ‘plague’ of coronavirus and so many people having to stay in their homes till the danger has passed.

We know in the end the final outcome was one of overcoming and redemption. We do hope for that too in the present situation which has come upon so many countries in almost ‘Biblical’ proportions.

The Last Supper of Jesus which many Christians commemorate at this time of year was that same Passover meal that featured the unleavened bread and wine and the telling of God’s redemption from slavery through the shedding of the blood of the Passover lamb.

The New Testament says, “Christ our ‘Passover’ was shed for us, therefore let us keep the Feast (of Passover)” which the early Jewish Christians did to remember His death on this date.

This was later changed to a day of the week rather than the actual date and so the two no longer link up, except for early Christians like St Patrick and other early pre-Roman churches.

We can be mindful of these things this Passover, with both Jews and Christians in their homes while their places of worship remain closed.

There is enough rich symbolism to satisfy both faiths.

It may even bring some understanding between them as they both recall redemption and deliverance.

Colin Nevin, Kosher chef, King Solomon Restaurant, Hilton Tel-Aviv, Israel 1991-2002

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