Christians Join Israelis in Observing Passover in Israel

Many Christians living in Israel joined with Jewish families Monday evening to celebrate the Passover while others prepared their own seder dinners in honor of the holiday.

Parsons first experienced Passover in Israel in 1983. He recalled walking around around Tiberias at 11 p.m. and noticing that all the children were awake. It was then he realized the significance of a 3,500-year-old tradition still being played out annually on a national level.

Tischer told Travelujah that before he came to Israel he only celebrated Passover once. Now, he and his wife Hanna, from Finland, are conducting their own biblical seder, based on Leviticus 23:5-6, on Tuesday, which they believe is the biblical date for the festive meal.

For their seder, Andre and Hanna, plus their weeks-old daughter Tziona Eden, will use a Messianic Hagadah and serve a biblical menu of lamb, bitter herbs and unleavened bread. After the seder they will pray then watch the movie Prince of Egypt.

Parsons explains that it is not strange for Christians to have such a strong connection to Passover, especially as it usually falls near the same date as Easter and to Christians the two events are connected. Many Christians believe that Jesus celebrated the Passover meal the night before he was crucified.