A Wide Array of Holy Week, Passover Observances Planned

Christians and Jews enter the sacred season of Holy Week and Passover next week, celebrating common themes of sacrifice and salvation.

The eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover, which begins Wednesday night, commemorates the dramatic exodus of Hebrew slaves from Egypt more than 3,300 years ago. According to the biblical account, to convince a stubborn pharaoh to let his people go, God sent forth 10 plagues, including the death of all first-born sons, but “passed over” homes of the Hebrews who had smeared their doorposts with the blood of a sacrificial lamb.

Christians also commemorate salvation through a sacrificial lamb--Jesus, the paschal lamb of God whom they believe shed his blood to deliver the world from sin. Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection represent the foundation of Christian belief. The Holy Week events begin Sunday with Palm Sunday, marking Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and run through Easter Sunday on April 4, commemorating his resurrection.

One pastor observing both traditions is the Rev. Mike Friedman, an Orthodox Jew turned Southern Baptist minister. Underscoring common themes, Friedman will be offering the traditional Passover feast, called a Seder, and an explanatory film Sunday at First Southern Baptist Church in Temple City. He and other Christians believe that Passover foreshadowed their own deliverance, drawing parallels, for instance, between the Passover blood on the doorpost and Christ’s blood on the cross.

“The blood of the Exodus saves us today,” Friedman said.

PASSOVER

Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, will hold a Seder at 6 p.m. Wednesday. (323) 938-2531.

* Congregation Beth Shalom, 21430 Redview Drive, Santa Clarita, will hold Passover services at 8 a.m. Thursday and Friday and April 7 and 8. (805) 250-8887.

* Temple Mishkon Tephilo, 206 Main St., Venice, will sponsor a Seder on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Passover services at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Friday and April 7 and 8. (310) 392-3029.

* Temple Etz Chaim, 1080 Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, will offer a Passover service for children Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in Winer Chapel. The temple will also hold regular services in the main sanctuary at 10 a.m. and a Seder at 6:30 p.m. (805) 497-6891.

* Beth Shir Sholom, 1827 California Ave., Santa Monica, plans a Seder on Thursday at 6 p.m. Students from the temple’s religious school will also host a Seder for the homeless Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Palisades Park. (310) 453-3361.

* Shir Hadash and the Zen Center of Los Angeles will offer a daylong Passover retreat and Seder featuring meditation, talks, songs and meals. The event will begin Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at the center, 923 S. Normandie Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 456-5323.

* Metivta, 2001 S. Barrington Ave., Los Angeles, will host a daylong “Passover Tune-Up” study program on the spiritual journey from slavery to freedom starting at 10 a.m. Sunday. The center for contemplative Judaism will also hold a Seder on April 5 at 7 p.m. (310) 471-8992.

* Chabad of the Conejo, 30345 Canwood St., Agoura Hills, will hold Seders on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday at 8 p.m. Chabad will also distribute food baskets for the needy. (818) 991-0991.

HOLY WEEK

First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, 540 S. Commonwealth Ave., will offer a slate of special Holy Week observances, including a Taize chanting and foot-washing service Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., a Maundy Thursday service of the shadows at 6 p.m., a three-hour meditative service Friday starting at noon and the “Service of the Holy Flame” next Saturday at 11 p.m. Palm and Easter Sunday worship services are at 9 and 11 a.m. (213) 385-1341.

* Unity Church, 4098 Calle Tesoro, Camarillo, will feature a living cross of flowers in its Easter service at 10 a.m. The flowers are given to congregants after the service. (805) 658-1059.

* Pasadena Presbyterian Church will present an organ recital Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by a worship service in the style of the French monastic community of Taize, which features simple, repetitive chants. The church is at 585 E. Colorado Blvd. (626) 793-2191.

* La Verne Church of the Brethren, 2425 E St., will offer “St. Judas Passion,” a three-act contemporary opera exploring the relationship between Jesus and Judas. Sunday at 7 p.m. (909) 593-1364.

* Trinity Baptist Church, 1015 California Ave., Santa Monica, will present “Every Tongue Confesses,” an Easter musical, Sunday at 6 p.m. (310) 395-9961.]

* Friends of Music will offer a musical depiction of the Stations of the Cross on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and of the Passion according to John on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Westwood United Methodist Church, 10497 Wilshire Blvd. (310) 474-4511.

OTHER EVENTS

Former Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) will highlight the annual Los Angeles YMCA Good Friday breakfast at 8 a.m. in the California Ballroom of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. (213) 351-2223.

* Adeline Yen Mah will speak about her newly released autobiography, “Falling Leaves,” Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the Crystal Cathedral’s annual Easter inspiration breakfast. The cathedral is at 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove. (714) 971-4080.

* The Jewish Federation/Valley Alliance will present “The Three Faces of Rabin: Music-Art-Legacy,” an exploration of Yitzhak Rabin, the assassinated Israeli prime minister.

The program will feature an orchestral work by composer Aaron Zigman, a mixed-media exhibit by such artists as Peter Max and a talk by Yuval Rabin on his father’s legacy.

The event will take place at the Bernard Milken Jewish Community Campus, 22622 Vanowen St., West Hills, Sunday at 7:30 p.m. (818) 464-3230.

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Notices may be mailed for consideration to Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, or faxed to Southern California File at (213) 237-4712, or e-mailed to religion@latimes.com. Items should arrive two to three weeks before the event and should include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date and time.