Events

IFFP's First Easter Service

Picture from the Easter Egg Hunt In 2010, IFFP had our first Easter Service in our 15 year history! Over 200 Jews and Christians celebrated an Interfaith-Easter together. Many grandparents joined their children and grandchildren for this unique and meaningful way to celebrate the holiday. The service was followed by a traditional Easter Egg Hunt for the children and a not-so-traditional pancake and matza brei breakfast. IFFP board chair, Jen Liebreich, said "Easter is the most challenging holiday for Jewish-Christian couples and their families. By adding an Easter Sunday service to our regular Sunday gatherings, we seek to advance our goal of celebrating, exploring, and enjoying both religious traditions equally, while avoiding the need to apologize or feel guilty for the sermon of the day."

Liebreich said that "the group isn't trying to create a new religion that is a mixture of Christian and Jewish belief. Instead, we believe it is possible - and desirable - to honor our distinct religious traditions and to share those traditions with spouses, partners and children."

Rabbi Harold White, our Jewish Spiritual Leader, participated in the Easter service and provided a reflection on a Jewish view of the resurrection. "Resurrection is a concept familiar to Jews in the time of Jesus and I believe that Jews can gain meaning from the Easter celebration and insight into its importance to their Christian family members," said White.

"Even among Christians, there are very different views of the meaning of Easter," said Rev. Julia Jarvis, our Spiritual Director. "We held a service that was recognizable to our Christian members and, at the same time meaningful to their Jewish partners and interfaith children," said Jarvis.