Why don't Christians observe Passover and other biblical holidays?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Seder dinners in my Catholic Church growing up. Church was huge part of community, and there were always various types of dinners in the church hall, and a passover seder was one of them. It was interesting. I Liked the mint jelly. Maybe it only happened a few times, and maybe it was a learning/cultural exploration thing, but it definitely happened.

I’m sorry, what? — a Jew

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholics and Lutherans absolutely do observe Passover.

Catholics observe Easter, not Passover.

You are incorrect. You are being very literal and hung up on the word "observe." The word "observe" in the sense of "aware of/marking/do-stuff-for-and-on/celebrate/acknowledge/take the opportunity to read and reflect" is what I mean.

I’m Jewish. Passover has nothing to do with Jesus. Easter has everything to do with Jesus.

How can you possibly say they’re the same thing?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to observe Passover. It's one of my favorites. I haven't ever celebrated Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah, but I always felt those were more observed in Temple? Most years, Jewish friends invite me to a Seder, so I feel like I've been celebrating it all along. As a kid I liked the story of Passover a lot too.

My church has always had a Seder and I know my inlaws evangelical church (in an area with zero Jews) has Seders too. I prefer attending one at a Jewish friend's home though. I think the ritual and story is really interesting, I like how everyone participates in reading and love all the wine! Not Manischewitz, they can give that to the kids. There really isn't another holiday that's similar.

Yom Kippur is observed (not celebrated) in Temple. Then some people do break fast at home; others do it at temple.

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in Temple and at home.

Passover is mostly at home, at least when I was growing up.

Can you tell me more about what happens at a Church Seder? Do they tell the story of the liberation of Jews from slavery in Egypt, or is it a Seder centered around Jesus’s Last Supper?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Seder dinners in my Catholic Church growing up. Church was huge part of community, and there were always various types of dinners in the church hall, and a passover seder was one of them. It was interesting. I Liked the mint jelly. Maybe it only happened a few times, and maybe it was a learning/cultural exploration thing, but it definitely happened.

We did that, too, but I understood it as an educational/cultural thing, not a religious thing. Like, we weren't observing Passover religiously, but we were having a Passover meal on Maundy Thursday so that we could understand what the Last Supper would have been like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to observe Passover. It's one of my favorites. I haven't ever celebrated Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah, but I always felt those were more observed in Temple? Most years, Jewish friends invite me to a Seder, so I feel like I've been celebrating it all along. As a kid I liked the story of Passover a lot too.

My church has always had a Seder and I know my inlaws evangelical church (in an area with zero Jews) has Seders too. I prefer attending one at a Jewish friend's home though. I think the ritual and story is really interesting, I like how everyone participates in reading and love all the wine! Not Manischewitz, they can give that to the kids. There really isn't another holiday that's similar.

Yom Kippur is observed (not celebrated) in Temple. Then some people do break fast at home; others do it at temple.

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in Temple and at home.

Passover is mostly at home, at least when I was growing up.

Can you tell me more about what happens at a Church Seder? Do they tell the story of the liberation of Jews from slavery in Egypt, or is it a Seder centered around Jesus’s Last Supper?

When I was growing up, we did them as a telling of the story of the liberation of Jews from Egypt, explaining the symbolism of the various foods, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to observe Passover. It's one of my favorites. I haven't ever celebrated Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah, but I always felt those were more observed in Temple? Most years, Jewish friends invite me to a Seder, so I feel like I've been celebrating it all along. As a kid I liked the story of Passover a lot too.

My church has always had a Seder and I know my inlaws evangelical church (in an area with zero Jews) has Seders too. I prefer attending one at a Jewish friend's home though. I think the ritual and story is really interesting, I like how everyone participates in reading and love all the wine! Not Manischewitz, they can give that to the kids. There really isn't another holiday that's similar.

Yom Kippur is observed (not celebrated) in Temple. Then some people do break fast at home; others do it at temple.

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in Temple and at home.

Passover is mostly at home, at least when I was growing up.

Can you tell me more about what happens at a Church Seder? Do they tell the story of the liberation of Jews from slavery in Egypt, or is it a Seder centered around Jesus’s Last Supper?

When I was growing up, we did them as a telling of the story of the liberation of Jews from Egypt, explaining the symbolism of the various foods, etc.

That’s so interesting! I had no idea Churches discussed that story and had Seders. You mean you had the whole Seder plate, with the shankbone and the egg and everything?

You learn something new every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up Catholic. Some parishes observed Passover, others did not.
It boils down to the gentile or Jew debate. For a time, many believed only Jews could be Christian. However, many teachings of the apostles point to stories where Jesus welcomed anyone into his flock. Corinthians is clear the a Christian is not based on parentage, but is one who accepts Christ as their Savior.
To be Jewish, you must be descended from Isaac, son of Abraham.
Therefore, Jewish holidays are not officially observed.

Patently untrue. Judaism has always had converts —including Abraham himself, and hello, Ruth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to observe Passover. It's one of my favorites. I haven't ever celebrated Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah, but I always felt those were more observed in Temple? Most years, Jewish friends invite me to a Seder, so I feel like I've been celebrating it all along. As a kid I liked the story of Passover a lot too.

My church has always had a Seder and I know my inlaws evangelical church (in an area with zero Jews) has Seders too. I prefer attending one at a Jewish friend's home though. I think the ritual and story is really interesting, I like how everyone participates in reading and love all the wine! Not Manischewitz, they can give that to the kids. There really isn't another holiday that's similar.

Yom Kippur is observed (not celebrated) in Temple. Then some people do break fast at home; others do it at temple.

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in Temple and at home.

Passover is mostly at home, at least when I was growing up.

Can you tell me more about what happens at a Church Seder? Do they tell the story of the liberation of Jews from slavery in Egypt, or is it a Seder centered around Jesus’s Last Supper?

PP here. Jesus didn't show up in a Church Seder. Maybe it was briefly mentioned that The Last Supper was a Seder, but that's it.

It was very similar to the Jewish Seders I've been to. We read passages from little books and tried bits of food to relate to the story. There was a lot less wine and the food wasn't as good though! I don't believe anyone wore yarmulkes either, like they would at a Jewish Seder. The church Seders aren't as fancy either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to observe Passover. It's one of my favorites. I haven't ever celebrated Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah, but I always felt those were more observed in Temple? Most years, Jewish friends invite me to a Seder, so I feel like I've been celebrating it all along. As a kid I liked the story of Passover a lot too.

My church has always had a Seder and I know my inlaws evangelical church (in an area with zero Jews) has Seders too. I prefer attending one at a Jewish friend's home though. I think the ritual and story is really interesting, I like how everyone participates in reading and love all the wine! Not Manischewitz, they can give that to the kids. There really isn't another holiday that's similar.

Yom Kippur is observed (not celebrated) in Temple. Then some people do break fast at home; others do it at temple.

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in Temple and at home.

Passover is mostly at home, at least when I was growing up.

Can you tell me more about what happens at a Church Seder? Do they tell the story of the liberation of Jews from slavery in Egypt, or is it a Seder centered around Jesus’s Last Supper?

PP here. Jesus didn't show up in a Church Seder. Maybe it was briefly mentioned that The Last Supper was a Seder, but that's it.

It was very similar to the Jewish Seders I've been to. We read passages from little books and tried bits of food to relate to the story. There was a lot less wine and the food wasn't as good though! I don't believe anyone wore yarmulkes either, like they would at a Jewish Seder. The church Seders aren't as fancy either.

Ah yeah — to make it legit, you have to have 4 glasses of wine each, and you have to hide the Afikoman. You also have to have the youngest person there who knows Hebrew sing the 4 questions. I have great memories of being a kid and practicing those before my relatives came over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to observe Passover. It's one of my favorites. I haven't ever celebrated Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah, but I always felt those were more observed in Temple? Most years, Jewish friends invite me to a Seder, so I feel like I've been celebrating it all along. As a kid I liked the story of Passover a lot too.

My church has always had a Seder and I know my inlaws evangelical church (in an area with zero Jews) has Seders too. I prefer attending one at a Jewish friend's home though. I think the ritual and story is really interesting, I like how everyone participates in reading and love all the wine! Not Manischewitz, they can give that to the kids. There really isn't another holiday that's similar.

Yom Kippur is observed (not celebrated) in Temple. Then some people do break fast at home; others do it at temple.

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in Temple and at home.

Passover is mostly at home, at least when I was growing up.

Can you tell me more about what happens at a Church Seder? Do they tell the story of the liberation of Jews from slavery in Egypt, or is it a Seder centered around Jesus’s Last Supper?

When I was growing up, we did them as a telling of the story of the liberation of Jews from Egypt, explaining the symbolism of the various foods, etc.

That’s so interesting! I had no idea Churches discussed that story and had Seders. You mean you had the whole Seder plate, with the shankbone and the egg and everything?

You learn something new every day.

NP. You know that we read the Old Testament and study it in Church right? Passover is a familiar story to most Christians. I've also attended Bible study on various passages and books. I also went to Christian school where we focused on Old Testament leaders.

Yes the Seder plates were identical. Horseradish and all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up Catholic. Some parishes observed Passover, others did not.
It boils down to the gentile or Jew debate. For a time, many believed only Jews could be Christian. However, many teachings of the apostles point to stories where Jesus welcomed anyone into his flock. Corinthians is clear the a Christian is not based on parentage, but is one who accepts Christ as their Savior.
To be Jewish, you must be descended from Isaac, son of Abraham.
Therefore, Jewish holidays are not officially observed.

Patently untrue. Judaism has always had converts —including Abraham himself, and hello, Ruth?

Jesus’s own genealogy features several gentile women, including Ruth and Tamar!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to observe Passover. It's one of my favorites. I haven't ever celebrated Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah, but I always felt those were more observed in Temple? Most years, Jewish friends invite me to a Seder, so I feel like I've been celebrating it all along. As a kid I liked the story of Passover a lot too.

My church has always had a Seder and I know my inlaws evangelical church (in an area with zero Jews) has Seders too. I prefer attending one at a Jewish friend's home though. I think the ritual and story is really interesting, I like how everyone participates in reading and love all the wine! Not Manischewitz, they can give that to the kids. There really isn't another holiday that's similar.

Yom Kippur is observed (not celebrated) in Temple. Then some people do break fast at home; others do it at temple.

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in Temple and at home.

Passover is mostly at home, at least when I was growing up.

Can you tell me more about what happens at a Church Seder? Do they tell the story of the liberation of Jews from slavery in Egypt, or is it a Seder centered around Jesus’s Last Supper?

PP here. Jesus didn't show up in a Church Seder. Maybe it was briefly mentioned that The Last Supper was a Seder, but that's it.

It was very similar to the Jewish Seders I've been to. We read passages from little books and tried bits of food to relate to the story. There was a lot less wine and the food wasn't as good though! I don't believe anyone wore yarmulkes either, like they would at a Jewish Seder. The church Seders aren't as fancy either.

Ah yeah — to make it legit, you have to have 4 glasses of wine each, and you have to hide the Afikoman. You also have to have the youngest person there who knows Hebrew sing the 4 questions. I have great memories of being a kid and practicing those before my relatives came over.

PP here. Most churches can't have any alcohol on premise other than communion wine. And there wasn't any Hebrew in the church Seders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passover isn’t connected to the Old Testament as much as it’s connected to Jewish history.

It’s the story of the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Why would Christians care about it?

I'm not a practicing Christian any more, but as a child, I was fascinated by that story and it's definitely in the Old Testament. I suppose the answer to OP's question is that anything related to the Jews cannot be celebrated since in the view of some Christians, supported by the Gospels, Jesus was ultimately betrayed by a group of them, and Christianity is all about Christ. Stupid, but there you go.

This is the origin of anti-semitism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to observe Passover. It's one of my favorites. I haven't ever celebrated Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah, but I always felt those were more observed in Temple? Most years, Jewish friends invite me to a Seder, so I feel like I've been celebrating it all along. As a kid I liked the story of Passover a lot too.

My church has always had a Seder and I know my inlaws evangelical church (in an area with zero Jews) has Seders too. I prefer attending one at a Jewish friend's home though. I think the ritual and story is really interesting, I like how everyone participates in reading and love all the wine! Not Manischewitz, they can give that to the kids. There really isn't another holiday that's similar.

Yom Kippur is observed (not celebrated) in Temple. Then some people do break fast at home; others do it at temple.

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated in Temple and at home.

Passover is mostly at home, at least when I was growing up.

Can you tell me more about what happens at a Church Seder? Do they tell the story of the liberation of Jews from slavery in Egypt, or is it a Seder centered around Jesus’s Last Supper?

When I was growing up, we did them as a telling of the story of the liberation of Jews from Egypt, explaining the symbolism of the various foods, etc.

That’s so interesting! I had no idea Churches discussed that story and had Seders. You mean you had the whole Seder plate, with the shankbone and the egg and everything?

You learn something new every day.

NP. You know that we read the Old Testament and study it in Church right? Passover is a familiar story to most Christians. I've also attended Bible study on various passages and books. I also went to Christian school where we focused on Old Testament leaders.

Yes the Seder plates were identical. Horseradish and all.

Of course I know that. I just didn’t know you all had Seders the way Jews do. A lot of what we talk about at Passover Seders is, “we were slaves in the land of Egypt” and hoping we can celebrate Passover “next year in Jerusalem.”

It didn’t seem totally relevant to Christians to do a Passover Seder the way Jews do. I can understand adapting it to make it more relevant, but to me, Passover has always been a Jewish holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Seder dinners in my Catholic Church growing up. Church was huge part of community, and there were always various types of dinners in the church hall, and a passover seder was one of them. It was interesting. I Liked the mint jelly. Maybe it only happened a few times, and maybe it was a learning/cultural exploration thing, but it definitely happened.

Mint jelly? That is most definitely not a traditional food you would find at a Seder.