In our Torah (the scroll with the first five books of the Bible penned by hand in Hebrew), one of the most important ideas is freedom. This includes the story of Passover, which begins in ancient times with Abraham, the first person to have the idea that maybe all of those little statues his contemporaries worshipped as gods were just statues. The idea of one God, invisible and all-powerful, inspired him to leave his family and begin a new people in Canaan, the land that would one day bare his grandson Jacob’s adopted name, Israel.
God made a promise to Abraham that his family would become a great nation, but this promise came with a frightening vision of the troubles along the way. “Your descendants will dwell for a time in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and afflicted for four hundred years, however, I will punish the nation that enslaved them, and afterwards they shall leave with great wealth.”
In the years our ancestors lived in Egypt, our numbers grew, and soon the family of Jacob became the People of Israel. Pharaoh and the leaders of Egypt grew alarmed by this great nation growing within their borders, so they enslaved the Israelites. The Israelites were forced to perform backbreaking labor. The Egyptians feared that even as slaves, the Israelites might grow strong and rebel. So Pharaoh decreed that Israelite baby boys should be drowned to prevent Israelites from overthrowing those who had enslaved them.
But God heard the cries of the Israelites. God then sent upon the country that enslaved them ten devastating plagues, afflicting and destroying everything from their livestock to their crops.
At the stroke of midnight on 15 Nissan 2448 BCE, God released the last of the ten plagues, the killing of the firstborn. While doing so, God spared the children of Israel, “passing over” their homes, hence the name of the holiday.
Pharaoh’s resistance was broken, and he virtually chased his former slaves out of the land. The Israelites left in such a hurry that the bread they had baked as provisions for the way did not have time to rise. Hundreds of thousands of Israelites- men, women and children, were freed from slavery that day, and began their trek to Mount Sinai.
The Jewish holiday of Passover celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian Slavery. Jews around the world celebrate this traditional eight day holiday every year. We have first and second night Seders. We eat Matzo instead of bread. We have first night and last night worship services.
The Hagaddah (Order of the Passover Seder) tells the story of our freedom. The Haggadah tells about how the Jewish people were slaves and then became free. Everyone at the table takes part in the Seder. Children are an integral part of the experience, bridging children and the adults who can bring a unique perspective to any Seder, as each year they participate with fresh eyes. Young people are still questioning, struggling, and wrestling with the themes that we experience during Passover as they contemplate their own journey toward adulthood. Adults question these themes as well, and many times write their own Seders to enhance and update their beliefs and add in current themes of freedom.
It is a mitzvah (commandment) to re-live this dramatic event, the emergence of the Israelites from slavery to freedom. Passover also opens each of us up to questions of freedom today. We discuss those who still are not free and how we might help them in their struggles. What WE can do to support those who are still not free- emotionally, physically… or otherwise.
In preparation for the holiday, Jews are commanded to rid their homes of leavened foods-including breads, rolls, bagels, cereals, pastas etc. It is traditional to donate unopened boxes of these foods to those who are hungry. Our congregation hosts a food drive every year collecting for area food banks.
Each year, all over the world, Passover is recalled with the ritual meal where participants of all ages read from a Haggadah. The Hagaddah (Order of the Passover Seder) tells the story of our freedom. The Haggadah tells about how the Jewish people were slaves and then became free. We may use different Haggadahs. Some may have finger puppets and guitars around the table, and some may use Haggadahs that came with Maxwell House Coffee forty years ago. Some read from new Women’s Hagaddahs and some from 21st century updated inclusive Haggadahs with new language and ideas. And some write their own that are just right for those coming to their Seders. Whatever Hagaddah is used, the basic story and many songs and prayers remain the same. The Hagaddah, the story of Passover is our script. We learn the customs, taste the foods, and retell the moments of this dramatic story that concludes in celebration after crossing through the Red Sea.
We begin the Seder by singing about how good and pleasant it is to dwell together. This year same as last year, many of us will still be getting together over Zoom with family and friends and will be calling these gatherings Z’eders as we are still socially distancing due to the COVID pandemic.
We continue, lighting the festival candles with a special blessing-praising God, the candles remind us we must help and not hurt, cause joy and not sorrow, create and not destroy, and help all to be free. We praise God for the gift of Life.
Many Seder meals begin with Matzo Ball Soup, Gefilte Fish, a Hard-Boiled Egg in Salt Water (to remember the tears that were shed, and the egg to signify new beginnings, before the actual meal begins.
A Seder Plate in the center of the table includes ritual symbols of the holiday. These include a roasted lamb shank bone representing the Pesach sacrifice at the Temple in Jerusalem, recalling the ancient sacrifice of a paschal lamb in the Temple, bitter herbs/horseradish representing the bitterness of slavery, a roasted egg -symbolizing part of the sacrifice in the Temple in Jerusalem, charoset (apples nuts, cinnamon, honey and wine mixture)- representing the mortar and brick used by the slaves, Parsley- representing hope and renewal- this is dipped into saltwater to represent tears, again a symbolic reminder of the pain felt by the Israelites when they were enslaved. Unleavened bread called matzo is served in lieu of bread or rolls, honoring the bread that the Israelites took with them when they left slavery so quickly that it didn’t have time to rise.
We are commanded to eat matzo in lieu of leavened breads, bagels, muffins, rolls, pasta, etc. for the entire eight days of Passover. There are lots of fun recipes to make meals and snacks including chocolate dipped matzo, caramel toffee matzo, matzo pizza, matzo lasagna etc. The “middle matzo” on the table is usually hidden during the meal, for the children to find after the meal. It’s called the Afikomen. Whoever finds it, gets a prize!
- That God will Free us from the burdens of slavery.
- Deliver us from bondage.
- Redeem us with an outstretched arm.
- And Take us as God’s people.
Two thirds of the story of Passover is shared before the meal is served, with the remainder following the meal and closing with songs and laughter.
If the meal is to be “Kosher for Passover style” it is usually an all dairy, or all meat, meal. Regardless of whether the hosts keep kosher otherwise, meat and dairy are traditionally not offered during the same meal.
Traditionally, the first night Seder is celebrated in one’s home, and the second night Seder is more of a community Seder either at a synagogue, community center, or other larger gathering place. Again, our second night Seder will be online this year.
It is traditional to open one’s home up to those who have never been to a Seder, or have nowhere else to go for Seder, if you have room at your table.
Our temple (or Synagogue) is offering several activities during this eight-night holiday, including services, cooking classes, craft projects, a concert and weekday daily programing by our clergy.
For more information, please see our website www.templerodefshalom.org
Our Temple Rodef Shalom community wishes all who celebrate a “Zissen Pesach” (Joyful and Sweet Passover) and hope that this explanation is helpful to those who are not familiar with this holiday.
Tysons Interfaith Announces New Website
(Tysons, Virginia, March 23, 2021) Today, Tysons Interfaith announced the launch of its new website: https://tysonsinterfaith.org/
“We are very excited to launch this new platform as a community service for people who live and work in the Tysons area,” said Bill Larson, President of the organization. “The website features opportunities for worship, volunteerism, and assistance resources. It also features a blog, advocacy, and educational materials we hope will foster constructive community dialogue and advance the principles of diversity, mutual respect, compassion, and ethical engagement. The site also has a downloadable map, created in conjunction with Fairfax County, to help people find local houses of worship, parks, and other community resources.”
The Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan envisions Tysons as an urban center of 100,000 residents and 200,000 jobs by the year 2050. Said Larson, “We believe that those who live, work, and play in Tysons will enjoy higher quality of life through the public services, spiritual growth, and community service opportunities available to them through the diverse faith traditions and houses of worship surrounding Tysons. Since there is currently no physical space available for worship or spiritual practice in Tysons, Tysons Interfaith is creating a virtual space where people can learn of public services available, plug in to their personal faith tradition, or explore options for their own spiritual growth or public service.”
Larson continued, “By working together, we have learned that people of different faith practices and spiritual traditions share many values and enjoy working together to better our community. We invite congregations, groups, and individuals to join in this unique opportunity to build a vibrant, Tysons community that is welcoming for all.”
Tysons Interfaith, a 501(c)(3) Corporation, was founded in 2013 to promote interfaith understanding, spiritual growth, and human connection in the rapidly growing community of Tysons, Virginia. For further information, please email info@tysonsinterfaith.org or call 703-244-3252.
.
Probably many people know that Easter and Passover occur in the spring, but spring is also a time of sacred observation for people of the Baha’i Faith.
March 20- 21 are the Baha’i Holy Days of Naw-Ruz, the Baha’i New Year. Naw-Ruz coincides with the spring equinox and is an ancient Persian festival celebrating the “new day.” For Baha’is it marks the end of the annual nineteen-day fast and is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended, and children are exempted from attending school.
Also in the spring is the Festival of Ridvan. This annual Baha’i festival commemorates the twelve days when Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, publicly proclaimed His mission as God’s messenger for this age. Elections for local, national, and international Baha’i institutions are generally held during the Festival of Ridvan. The first day (April 20 or 21), the ninth day (April 28 or 28), and the twelfth day (May 1 or 2) are celebrated as holy days when work is suspended, and children are exempted from attending school.
To learn more about the Baha’i Faith, please visit: https://www.bahai.org/
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
This past Sunday, March 7, was the 56th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama, where hundreds of people marching for voting rights for African Americans, including John Lewis, were attacked and beaten by the local sheriff and numerous others after crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge. About a week before that, on a tour of civil rights sites in the South, we walked across the bridge, which was a very moving experience as we contemplated what had happened there fifty-six years earlier.
One thing that impressed us as we toured several sites in Alabama and Georgia is the involvement of so many people of faith in the civil rights movement. While some of them, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Abernathy, are well known, some quiet heroes are not so well known. The incident that triggered the march on Bloody Sunday was the killing of Jimmy Lee Jackson, pictured below, who was shot by a state trooper as he participated in a nonviolent march for voting rights in Marion, AL, not far from Selma. Jackson, a twenty-six-year-old Vietnam war veteran and young father, had recently become the youngest deacon in his Baptist Church, see, https://www.biography.com/activist/jimmie-lee-jackson.
Shortly after Bloody Sunday, Martin Luther King Jr. invited people of faith and others to come to Selma to support a march to Montgomery in support of voting rights. James Reeb, a white Unitarian Universalist minister from Boston, responded to the call. On the evening of March 9, 1965, walking back to his hotel from dinner with two other ministers, he and the others were badly beaten by four white supremacists, and Reeb died shortly thereafter in a Birmingham hospital, leaving a wife and two young children. A powerful NPR podcast goes into Reeb’s death and the situation in Selma in riveting detail, https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510343/white-lies.
In Birmingham, the local leader of the movement was Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Shuttlesworth. He participated in lunch counter sit-ins, supported the Freedom Riders, and in 1957 was beaten badly when he attempted to enroll his children in an all-white school. He was described this way by one of the organizers of the later Freedom rides: “Fred was practically a legend. I think it was important – for me, definitely, and for a city of people who were carrying on a movement – for there to be somebody that really represented strength, and that’s certainly what Fred did. He would not back down, and you could count on it. He would not sell out, [and] you could count on that.”
The Birmingham Airport has been renamed to honor Shuttlesworth. Also, in Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham, where many of the famous marches occurred, there is a monument to honor ministers who supported the marches, and also a lovely monument to the four girls that were killed in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in 1965 (located across the street from the church).
The following blog post is the expressed opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On a road trip to the American South we recently saw the grave marker of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, which sits in a large pool of water next to the church where he (and his father before him) preached in Atlanta. Particularly powerful was a mural with his six principles of nonviolence, which in his view led to the “beloved community,” which is also described. One particularly powerful principle is #3, which says, “nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice not people.” We also thought the description of the beloved community is similar to what the interfaith movement seeks to achieve, where different faiths can cooperate to work toward common goals for “worldwide elimination of poverty and hunger and all forms of bigotry and violence.”
Picture of the Dexter Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery, where Dr. King preached from 1954-1960, and where the Montgomery bus boycott was organized in 1955.
The following blog post is the expressed opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Learning From A Shepherd
After thirty-five years in the military and twenty years in business, I find myself team teaching leadership to high school seniors. January sixth was a challenging moment to handle all their questions. But as a person of faith, I naturally turned to prayer to guide my responses to their questions. An idea came to thought from a poem by the Discover of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy. The poem begins, “Shepherd, show me how to go o’er the hillside steep…”. Responding to this guidance, I quoted from the King James version of the Bible from Gospel of Mark: “Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”
My challenge to these students was to have them look deeply into the qualities of this great shepherd to see how he led and why people of diverse backgrounds followed him? After a couple of weeks of instruction and discussion, I asked them to share inspiration and gratitude they had gained. Imagine my thrill when someone read” The Hill We Climb” written by Ms. Amanda Gorman, the National Youth Poet Laureate which she read at the Presidential Inauguration. Her beautiful poem included the line “If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy in change, our children’s birthright.” Love is a leadership quality. In Henry Drummond’s book, The Greatest Thing In The World, he tells the reader that love has nine ingredients that should be universally shared: patience, kindness, generosity, humility, courtesy, unselfishness, good temper, guilelessness, sincerity. Our leadership class agreed that Ms. Gorman’s poem included all these enduring leadership characteristics.
Can we substantially learn from others? Many would place me in a category of being “over the hill” and would call the teenagers I work with as “immature”. But one of the tenets of my religion states “And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.” Daniel was a teenage shepherd while Moses was at the other end of the spectrum, yet both were leaders who let God speak through them to others.
People of faith can find the opportunity to share and to bless. I know I was blessed when my student recognized the gifts and wisdom of Amanda Gorman and was inspired to embrace these same leadership (shepherding) qualities with the class.
How has your faith community responded to the challenges of the year 2020 to meet the needs of your congregation/faith community, the larger community and our nation and world?
The following blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, McLean
November, 2020
Pastor Sandy Kessinger
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
1545 Chain Bridge Road
McLean, VA 22102
Church Office: 703-356-3346
Email: church@redeemermclean.org
COVID-19 has changed our way of living, but it has not stopped us from being able to do the things that are essential for the work of the church – worship, Biblical studies, faith formation (Sunday School), and engagement in our community and world. It seems like the virus will be with us for the foreseeable future so we are making decisions that will enable us to stay safely connected and active in real and powerful ways.
Sunday Worship
On August 23, 2020, we held our first In-Person Sunday Worship since March 8. It was wonderful to see everyone even if from a safe distance. Each Sunday, we offer in person and living streaming of the Traditional Service at 9 am and the Contemporary Service at 11 am. Attendance at each service is limited to thirty people, and masks are required for the safety of all. To sign up to attend a service, live stream a service, or to view it later, one can visit our website: https://redeemermclean.org/home
Biblical Studies
We are offering our members many options to be engaged in the Word this fall via Zoom. These include: weekly Bible Studies; an on-going faith conversation on prayer based on the book, Prayer (Does It Make Any Difference?) by Philip Yancey; Table Talk (Adult Study) – a lively discussion group that meets at 10 am on Sunday mornings to discuss issues of faith and life in the contemporary church; and Faith Formation (Sunday School), Confirmation, and High School Faith Formation groups. Sound interesting? Give us a call!
Redeemer Preschool and Redeemer Renaissance Day Programs
Both the Redeemer Preschool and Renaissance Day School programs have resumed operations in accordance with guidelines issued by the CDC and Virginia Governor’s’ office. We believe that continuation of these programs is an important ministry for the children and families of our community, particularly in the COVID era. Both programs currently have a waiting list, but additional information can be found at https://rlpmclean.org/ and http://afterschool.redeemermclean.org/afterschool/ .
Making a Difference in our Community and World
Redeemer is a collection site for SHARE of McLean, which continues to see a high demand for assistance during the current Pandemic https://www.shareofmclean.org/. In addition we provide support to Britepaths https://britepaths.org/; Lutheran Social Services https://lssnca.org/; and Lutheran Disaster Relief, which provides assistance to those whose lives have been impacted by disasters in the US and around the world https://lssnca.org/.
Redeemer is a founding member congregation of an active participant in Tysons Interfaith.
For Love of God and Neighbor (Anti-Racism Ministry Team)
The current climate of our nation has brought together a group of Redeemer members to discuss how best we, as a congregation, can become involved in efforts to resolve the many injustices our neighbors are experiencing, especially people of color. These conversations are on-going. We are committed to doing all that we can to bring about a more just society.
January, 2021
On November 15, 2020, approximately forty people participated in an on-line discussion entitled, “Do You Feel A Call to Take Action?” The conversation focused on the issue of racism in our country and was a continuation of the “Oneness of Humanity” series begun by Tysons Interfaith in August 2020. In previous sessions, leaders of various faith communities inspired us with their tradition’s fundamental rejection of racism in all its forms.
Here are some key points raised by participants in response to the three questions posed.
- What has been learned about racism in our country during the pandemic?
- For many, this time has been a real eye-opener to the extent of racism in our country.
- This includes the depth of systemic racism and the great disparities in health care, education, criminal justice, housing, employment, and income inequity by race.
- Racism has become more visible, to the point we can “feel it” as we watch the personal pain and suffering of others daily on broadcast and social media.
- Many have learned we can no longer simply watch; we feel called to get involved.
- If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
- Awareness of the extent and impact of racism has stirred action and protest by people across all cultures and age groups – not just by those who are victims of racism.
- We must be honest with ourselves in assessing of our own personal racism.
- Elections do not guarantee change; politicians cannot fix this alone. We all must take action.
- Different groups have been affected disproportionately by the pandemic.
- “Denial” is the heartbeat of racism (quoted from author Ibram Kendi).
- Many Americans seem entrenched in a lack of concern for others in their communities.
- How do we shift human consciousness to rectify policies that sustain racial inequity?
- People of faith can build relationships.
- There is a great divide; we can put our faith into action to bridge that divide.
- Shift thinking from “what’s in it for me” to “what’s in it for my community or for society at large.” Life is not “all about me.” We each are part of a larger community.
- Support political candidates who share our values on race and communicate with them regularly regarding our personal views on race issues.
- Increase awareness through self-education – books, articles, dialogue with others.
- Education, education, education.
- We must reach out to those people who remain oblivious to racism or are resistant to change.
- Cautions:
- Information overload can cause us to shut down.
- In general, we live and worship in segregated communities.
- We must own our history – but positively so: what have we learned and how do we correct inequities?
- Diverse cultures can agree; we must dialogue with neighbors, co-workers, etc.
- Understand who you are – and how you arrived where you are. Now is a great time for self-reflection.
- What is positive in the chaos we are experiencing that can enable us to build to a better future?
- Racism awareness has increased; many feel hopeful this will lead to positive change.
- We saw record voter turn-out in the recent election.
- People want to become involved.
- Being “locked in” we have had time to learn and to reflect on what a more equitable future might look like.
- We are encouraged by young people who have become actively involved.
- Being uncomfortable is good; discomfort moves us to action.
- People of faith can be people of reason in the debate and in actions going forward.
- Time is precious; don’t waste it.
- The importance of leading by example – and what happens when there is no leadership.
Open Discussion
- We must simultaneously serve immediate needs (e.g., hunger, housing) but also must change the long-term policies that create those immediate needs; not an either or choice.
- Hate covers fear; if you hate, you must fear something. What are you afraid of?
- School to prison pipeline. People do not understand how that works.
- Be a good listener; that’s how you can understand your own moral compass.
- People of privilege must realize their privilege, not apologize for it; then use that privilege to help those who are not so privileged; not sharing from a point of “superiority” but from simply a motivation of love; we honor all of humanity.
- Many decisions about and judgements of people – from birth to death – are made about them based on the color of their skin.
- Content of character – our own and others – is what’s most important.
- We must show love not only to those victimized by racism but also to those perpetuating racism.
- Love your neighbor as yourself.
- How we see color – and what we associate with that color – affects our immediate response.
- Easy availability of guns puts burden on police to assume everyone is armed to the teeth.
- Black kids are not perceived as kids – they are perceived as a threat.
- What gives us hope – the generation of kids growing up now. (Fairfax County is a very racially diverse area.)
Summary
If people of faith don’t take the lead, who will?
The breakout room reports and group discussion may be viewed at:
January, 2021
Tysons Interfaith is an organization of diverse faith partners striving to create opportunities for spiritual connection, growth, learning and service with those who live, work, and play in the area previously known as Tysons Corner. We formed in response to Fairfax County’s Comprehensive plan for the Tyson’s area which envisions the development of ‘America’s Next Great City’ with 100,000 residents and 200,000 jobs by the year 2050. However, there are no faith communities within Tyson’s boundaries. While we recognize the challenge of fitting houses of worship into a plan for a contemporary city, we are also convinced that those within Tysons would be well-served and their quality of life enhanced by the presence of and ministries provided by a variety of faith communities.
The communities making up Tysons Interfaith began meeting in 2013. Our initial efforts focused on service projects such as raising awareness about the problem of teen sex trafficking in the area and putting together ESL classes for low-income workers in Tysons. We provided volunteer support for events such as the Tysons Tailgate (benefiting Second Story, a teen shelter) and mentoring opportunities sponsored by Northern Virginia Family Services. At the beginning of 2020, we started a series of “Community Conversations” to hear from residents directly about their ideas for building a sense of community in Tysons.
Then COVID-19 came. And with it, nation-wide protests over the killing of George Floyd and so many other Black Americans, and the long-simmering anger over unaddressed racism and intolerance in our society. The multi-pronged crises of 2020: the health, economic and social justice challenges, and the divisiveness and incivility we were witnessing in public discourse gave an added sense of urgency to our work at Tysons Interfaith.
In August 2020, we began a series of on-line discussions about what the concept of the “Oneness of Humanity” means from a variety of faith traditions. These events have been powerful and well-attended (averaging fifty participants) and led us to further explore how people of various faith traditions are called to ACT to bring about a more equitable society.
Over the years, we who volunteer with Tysons Interfaith have had our lives enhanced in so many ways: by the great friendships we have formed; by finding that our faith traditions and spiritual practices share many of the same values; by supporting one another, particularly in the face of intolerance and bigotry; and by understanding that, together, we can be a powerful voice for good in the world. In the Christian faith, we are called to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We have seen this in action at Tysons Interfaith. We hope you will join us!
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.