Holy Week(s)

 

This week, two great faith traditions pause… and remember.

For Jews, it is Passover.
For Christians, it is Holy Week.

They begin in the same place—
and then they tell two very different endings to the same story.

I’ve always found that deeply moving.

Both observances are rooted in the ancient story of the Exodus—the escape from slavery in Egypt, the long road to freedom, the formation of a people. That story, told and retold for thousands of years, still shapes how both Jews and Christians understand suffering, hope, and deliverance.

In Jewish homes, Passover unfolds around the Seder table. The story is not just remembered—it is relived. Each generation is asked to see themselves as if they personally came out of Egypt. It is about survival, identity, and a covenant that binds a people across time.

In the Christian tradition, that same historical moment becomes the setting for the final days of Jesus’ life. The Last Supper is understood as a Passover meal—but what it comes to mean shifts dramatically. The focus moves from a people’s liberation to a different kind of deliverance: one centered on sacrifice, forgiveness, and renewal.

Same roots.
Shared symbols.
But different meanings.

Where Judaism remembers the Exodus as the defining act of God in history, Christianity places that defining moment in the crucifixion and resurrection. Where one emphasizes a covenant with a people, the other speaks of a new covenant offered to all.

And yet…

Both traditions, in their own ways, insist on something essential:

That freedom matters.
That suffering is not the end of the story.
That remembering is an act of faith.

There is something powerful about that overlap—especially in a world that often focuses more on division than on shared beginnings.

This week, whether one is sitting at a Seder table or in a quiet church, the act is the same at its core:

To pause.
To remember.
To hope.

And perhaps, to recognize that even when paths diverge, they can still begin in the same sacred ground.

post based on One Family Indivisible by Steven Greenebaum.

Book Description:

Throughout history we have divided ourselves into groupings of "us" and "them". One Family: Indivisible engagingly invites the reader into the deeply spiritual and lifelong journey of the author to find a way to acknowledge our differences without dividing and subdividing ourselves into competing tribes. It is a journey of mountain tops and deep valleys, but it leads to the inclusivity and mutual respect possible with Interfaith. This is a book for seekers of all races, ethnicities, and spiritual paths who search for that elusive goal of a community of love and inclusion that also respects our diversity.

AWARDS

Eric Hoffer Award Category Finalist,

American Book Fest Best Books Award Finalist (religion)

Keywords: interfaith, spiritual journey, common humanity, religious diversity, unity in diversity, Jewish identity, interfaith minister, spiritual exploration, faith and belonging, inclusivity, religious harmony, finding common ground, embracing differences, beyond tribalism, coexistence, personal transformation, respect for all beliefs, universal spirituality, bridging faith traditions, compassion and connection

For more posts about Steven and his book, click HERE.

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