By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami
Photographer: JIM DAVIS | FC
Wall of stained glass at Temple Beth Emet in Cooper City illustrates major moments in Jewish history: from the Creation, lower right, through the giving of the Law in the center, to the rebirth of Israel at the left.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski has sent the following greeting to rabbis in South Florida on the commemoration of Pesach — Passover — which will begin this year the evening of Wednesday, April 5, and conclude the evening of Thursday, April 13.
“This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as an ordinance forever” (Exodus 12: 14).
While the Christian celebration of Easter differs in many ways from your celebration of Pesach, we understand and experience it in continuation with the biblical narrative of the mighty works which the Lord accomplished for his people.
Christians and Jews can rejoice together in the deep spiritual ethos of the Passover, a memorial (zikkarôn) of freedom and redemption. Each year, when we listen to the Passover story, we return to that blessed night of liberation.
This holy time of the year should be a call to both our communities to pursue justice, mercy, solidarity with the stranger in the land, with the widow and orphan, as Moses commanded: “But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore, I command you to do this” (Deuteronomy 24: 18).
Our Easter and your Pesach, while distinct and different, unite us in our common hope centered on God and his mercy. They urge us to cooperate with each other and with all men and women of goodwill to make this a better world for all as we await the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Please convey to your congregation my greetings and those of the Catholic people of South Florida. Happy Passover!
