Variety of Observances Planned for Holy Week, Passover

Next week finds Christians and Jews celebrating Holy Week and Passover, respectively, with rituals, traditional prayer and music.

The Jewish holiday is observed by singing psalms and eating a Seder meal with bitter herbs and unleavened bread to commemorate the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt nearly 3,500 years ago. The eight-day holiday begins Wednesday and ends April 27 at sundown.

Roman Catholics and Protestants commemorate the most sacred week on their religious calendar beginning with Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Holy Week services follow, commemorating his arrest and his death on Good Friday. On Easter, April 23, Christians who follow the Western calendar celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

A sampling of Passover and Holy Week activities in synagogues and churches across the Los Angeles area follows.

PASSOVER

Russian Jews are invited to attend services Wednesday and Thursday at Etz Jacob Congregation, where Cantor Svetlana Portnyansky and Sy Frumkin will conduct a Seder in Russian. The synagogue is at 7659 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles. For tickets, call (323) 969-0919.

* A feminist Seder will be offered Sunday at Temple Emanuel, 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills. The event is designed to give participants ideas that can help make their own Seders reflect a Judaism that includes women’s experience. Reservations are required. (310) 274-6388, Ext. 36.

* A community Seder will be conducted in Hebrew and English at the Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $25, except for seniors and children under 10, for which it is $19. An additional $5 is asked of those who are not members of the center. (323) 938-2531.

* Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks will hold a Passover service for children Thursday at 10 a.m. Rabbi Michele Paskow Cohen will lead the service, and Debbie Blumenthal will present a puppet show. While the children’s program takes place, Rabbi Shimon Paskow and Cantor Jeff Cohen will conduct services for adults in the main sanctuary. On Thursday night, the temple will present a community Seder. Reservations are required. The synagogue is at 1080 Janns Road. (805) 497-6891.

* Temple Isaiah will hold a Seder on April 23 at 5:30 p.m. for those recovering from addiction. Jews in recovery and their loved ones will act out a Passover journey through prayer, song and study with a special Haggadah developed for the occasion. The Haggadah is the traditional Passover liturgy that recounts the biblical Exodus story. Registration is $18 for temple members, $23 for nonmembers. The synagogue is at 10345 W. Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles. (310) 277-2772.

HOLY WEEK

The Caribbean American Repertory Theatre West and Christ the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church will present a new play on the death and resurrection of Christ as seen through the eyes of the mother of Judas Iscariot. “The Rope and the Cross” was written by Jamaican playwright Easton Lee and is designed to be performed in a church sanctuary. The drama will be presented Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. through April 29 at the church, 3303 W. Vernon Ave. in Los Angeles. Suggested donation is $10. For tickets and reservations, call (323) 295-4139.

* Bethany Lutheran Church in Long Beach will present “The Glory of the Lord,” a festival of hymns, at 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sunday. The church is at 4644 Clark Ave. (562) 421-4711.

* Prince of Peace Lutheran Church celebrates the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday with a dinner worship service. As dinner is served, the traditions of foot washing and Holy Eucharist will be celebrated. The church is at 9440 Balboa Blvd. in Northridge. (818) 886-1324.

* Brahms’ Requiem will be presented with soloists and orchestra Maundy Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 500 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Admission is free.

* On Good Friday, the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino will observe a solemn day of prayer, including breakfast, Stations of the Cross, a soup lunch, the liturgy of Good Friday, a soup supper and Taize prayer around the cross. Reservations are suggested for those partaking in the meals. The center is at 4316 Lanai Road. (818) 784-4515.

* First United Methodist Church of West Los Angeles will offer a traditional three-hour period of meditation Good Friday from noon to 3 p.m. The faithful may drop by at any time during that period. Communion will be available for those wishing to partake. The church is at 1637 Butler Ave. (310) 473-1285.

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