Temple Hatikvah Offers Interfaith Passover Event

An old Native American saying goes, “Do not judge a man until you’ve walked in his moccasins for two moons,” meaning, to understand another, you must share the experience of another.

In keeping with this idea, Temple Hatikvah in Flanders is offering an opportunity to share in the experience of Passover with a Passover Boot Camp to be held on Sunday, April 10 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Passover–or Pesach–is one of the most commonly observed Jewish holidays and is celebrated by more than 80 percent of Jews with a Pesach seder or ceremonial dinner. Passover celebrates the Exodus of the Jews from Eqypt after generations of slavery.

Open to people of all faiths, the Passover Boot Camp will offer the opportunity to understand more about this most profound holiday that celebrates freedom and liberation.

Rabbi Moshe Rudin said participants should be prepared to cook, work the table and play games.

He said he believes that almost everyone can relate to the theme of this holiday because the experience of liberation is common to all spiritual traditions.

According to Rudin, slavery in Egypt is not only a historical reality but a spiritual condition. He said, “The Hebrew word for Egypt–Mitzrayim–means literally 'straits, narrowness, limitation.'

“The Exodus is a paradigm for what we all must do everyday: escape the restraints placed upon us and that we place upon ourselves. God's presence is the inspiration and guidance that allows us to do this. The great theme of the Seder is Rabban Gamliel's saying, 'In every generation, one must see themselves as if they left Egypt,'" said Rudin.

The Passover Boot Camp promises to be lively and interesting.

“Pesach is a pretty inclusive holiday: storytelling, singing and eating are universal!  So is the longing for freedom and dreaming about a world where the Lion lies down with the Lamb and the leopard with the kid. The Pesach Seder looms large in Christianity as well as for the African American community,” said Rudin. 

For Rudin, there are two moments in the Seder or celebration that are most meaningful to him.

“I most love that people feel comfortable and at home because they seem so joyful and at ease then. But I also love those moments that put us on the spot, that require us to open up, think, and share and pull us out of our comfort zone. In those moments, people are genuine and, if they can overcome the discomfort, grow and share–that is miraculous and I find myself overcome with love,” said Rudin. 

While Rudin said he recognizes that not everyone is interested in the rituals and teachings of faiths other than their own, he does think that it is important for members of a pluralistic society to learn to live together in peace, and having insight into the teachings of another faith can contribute to understanding the other.

For more information, visit the Temple Hatikvah Web site at: TempleHatikvahnj.org or on Facebook. The Temple is a welcoming and dynamic contemporary Conservative congregation located at the intersection of Flanders-Bartley and Pleasant Hill Roads in Flanders.  To make reservations for the event contact Rabbi Moshe Rudin at Rabbi@Templehatikvahnj.org or 973-584-0212.