Attention Christians Re: Passover Seders

Don’t host “Christian Seders.”

I know you want to “do what Jesus did,” but I got news for you. Jesus never attended a Seder. He ate a Passover meal. There is a difference.

The Seder is a rabbinic creation that came about after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. It’s based on a Greek symposium, which was basically a wine party where attendants discussed a philosophical topic in depth (cf. Plato’s Symposium). It was created as a way for Jews to continue celebrating Passover despite the fact that we could no longer offer the sacrifice. The Haggadah is the text and ritual outline we use to tell and remember the story of the Exodus, which didn’t exist in the time of Jesus.

Throughout history, Christians have slaughtered Jews during Passover and Easter. For Christians to now steal a Jewish ritual after centuries of slaughter is adding insult to injury. Don’t do it.

If you want to commemorate Jesus’ last meal, by all means host a dinner on Maundy Thursday (not Passover) with bread and wine, and tell your religion’s own story of the passion of Jesus. But don’t do a Seder that Jesus never even would have heard of, much less participated in.