Rabbi Evan Moffic - What Every Christian Needs to Know About Passover: What It Means and Why It Matters

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Endorsements

Praise for What Every Christian Needs to Know About Passover

Rabbi Moffic draws from Jewish wisdom in a way accessible to all of us. His insights as a rabbi speak generously to a multi-faith world.

Eugene H. Peterson , author of The Message and Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College

Rabbi Moffics book is a treasure for people of all faiths. Ive been celebrating Passover all my life, but I learned things in this book Id never known. The book is a pleasure to read, filled with wisdom and inspiration.

Sara Davidson , author of The December Project and Loose Change

Rabbi Moffic creates a feast for the mind and heart as he sets the table for a rich Passover experience. Historical events, biblical texts, and stories from Jewish communities through the centuries make for an engaging read. His conversational style and personal anecdotes inspire readers to explore the richness of the Passover in their own homes, and he offers a seder script to help get started.

Lynn H. Cohick , Professor of New Testament, Wheaton College

When I finished reading Rabbi Evan Moffics wonderful book, I was left with one insight: When we understand our differences, we discover our commonality. While presenting us with the amazing history and rich understanding of Exodus and Passover and explaining words, objects, and Jewish rituals, we become aware of experiences common to our faith and to all humankindthe hunger for freedom (freedom from and freedom to), hope that will never die, and the ongoing dreams of what life can be for Jews, Christians, and all people. Passover reveals that our homes are sacredtemples of the Divine. Breaking bread is holy communion. We discover a unity with one another and with our God. Your life and your faith will be richer and fuller thanks to this book and the marvelous wisdom of Rabbi Evan Moffic. However, I will make one suggestion. The title should be What Every PERSON Needs To Know About Passover .

Fr. John Cusick , Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago

Vividly written and full of history and insights. It is an experience rich in cultural definition that will heighten and enlighten your own faith walk.

Patsy Clairmont , author of Twirl: A Fresh Spin at Life

The spiritual roots of every Christian go back to Jesus, and the spiritual roots of Jesus go back to Judaism, and the spiritual roots of Judaism are sunk deep in the promise and practice of liberation. Rabbi Evans What Every Christian Needs to Know About Passover is a wonderful way to water those roots.

Rabbi Rami Shapiro , author of Let Us Break Bread Together: A Passover Haggadah for Christians

Passover is a universal story of freedom whose message is needed now more than ever. Rabbi Moffic opens us to this Jewish holiday in a way that can speak to people of all faiths.

Lonnie Nasatir , Anti-Defamation League

Further Praise for Rabbi Moffic

People everywhere are seeking a better way to live. Many have a faith tradition we call homebut sometimes moving outside that tradition helps us see resources we never knew were there. Through his stories and insight, Rabbi Evan Moffic shines the light of Jewish wis dom in a way that helps all of us find our way.

Reverend Christine Chakoian , Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest

Rabbi Moffic has given us a generous guide to unlocking the power of our wordsto God, ourselves, and each other.

Jeff Goins , author of Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into Your Comfortable Life

Rabbi Moffic is an engaging teacher who excels at communicating ancient truths for modern audiences. His insights into Hebrew scriptures and the Jewish heritage of the Christian faith will be a blessing to all who want to learn.

Pastor Steve Gillen , Willow Creek Community Church

Rabbi Moffic is a captivating speaker for people of all ages. He shows the richness of the Old Testament and Judaism and gives insights into Jesus Jewish context and character. Christians and Jews can benefit from his knowledge and from his character.

Ken Davis , humorist and best-selling author

Evan Moffic unlocks the wisdom of Judaism in a way that can enrich us all.

Dr. Eboo Patel , founder and President, Interfaith Youth Core

Evan Moffic is a rabbi, but hes also an extraordinary scholar and a teacher of the highest order. He can speak to us all, whatever our faith or culture. And he does it with grace, humor, and erudition. Such a guy.

Jim Kenney , International Interreligious Peace Council, Interreligious Engagement Project, Common Ground

Rabbi Moffic is one of the best young Rabbis and scholars I have ever heard speak and teach about both Judaism and Christianity. His wit, his humor, and his deep knowledge about the Old Testament and early Christianity will give insight into Jesus Jewish context, history, and character.

Newton Minow , former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Vice-Chair Commission on Presidential Debates

title

Abingdon Press

Nashville

Copyright

What Every Christian Needs to Know About Passover

What It Means and Why It Matters

Copyright 2014 by Evan Moffic

All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission can be addressed to Permissions, The United Methodist Publishing House, P.O. Box 801, 201 Eighth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37202-0801, or e-mailed to permissions@umpublishing.org.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Moffic, Evan, 1978

What every Christian needs to know about Passover : what it means and why it matters / Rabbi Evan Moffic. 1st [edition].

1 online resource.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN 978-1-4267-9157-4 (e-pub) ISBN 978-1-4267-9156-7 (binding: soft back : alk. paper) 1. PassoverChristian observance. I. Title.

BV199.P25

296.4'537dc23

2014043199

Text illustrations: Paul Soupiset

Scripture quotations unless otherwise noted are taken from the Common English Bible. Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. www.CommonEnglishBible.com.

Scripture quotation marked (NIV) is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.TM

Scripture quotation marked KJV is from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crowns patentee, Cambridge University Press.

For the Haggadah, the author used his own scriptural translations from the Hebrew for the Old Testament.

This project uses the SBL Hebrew font, which is available from the Society of Biblical Literature at www.sbl-site.org.