Why Including Christians in Jewish Traditions is Key to Fighting Antisemitism

This is an excerpt of an article by Isaac Brickner at Inherit Magazine.

Like most modern Jews living in the diaspora, I’m a little bit of a lot of things. I’m a minister and a sixth-generation Jewish follower of Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah; I direct Upside Down, a new art space/coffee shop in Los Angeles; and every spring, I lead Passover seders in congregations across America.

I highly value my Jewish identity and culture, and one of the ways I stay connected to these things is by listening to Tablet’s “Unorthodox” podcast. So, this past spring, when the hosts spent the first five minutes of their show in a lively digression about Messianic Jewish seders, I was all ears.

I’ve always respected the way they represent the wide range of thoughts and opinions that comprise Jewish culture today. So I was surprised when the conversation only hit a single note, giving an uncharacteristically one-sided viewpoint of the subject: they accused Messianic Jews of appropriating Jewish culture by celebrating Passover, and of encouraging Christians to do the same.

I was disappointed not only by the narrow and unbalanced viewpoint, but also because it reminded me of the many times I’d heard it from others before.

Appropriation is a serious offense; it shouldn’t be a claim leveled lightly, and it shouldn’t be an act addressed lightly. It makes sense that some members within the Jewish community are tempted to make this accusation; having endured as much persecution as we have, the Jewish people need to be vigilant when it comes to safeguarding our continued survival.

But is celebration of Jewish holidays by Jewish followers of Jesus really an act of appropriation? And is it inappropriate for Gentiles to participate in such celebrations?

Jewish Followers of Jesus Celebrating Jewish Holidays

As a Messianic Jew, I’ve made a conscious decision to continue to be authentically engaged with my own culture rather than pretend I’m no longer Jewish. I’m fully aware that some Jewish community leaders claim that as soon as a person is baptized, they become outsiders. But I join many Jewish people throughout history in questioning the legitimacy of any authority within Judaism that would draw a boundary marker to exclude those who claim Jesus as Messiah.

Jewish holidays were a key part of my childhood and celebrating Passover is a central part of my family’s heritage. God told the Jewish people as we were leaving Egypt that it would be a feast to observe throughout all our generations. Why would that change just because I believe the Messiah has come and is returning (like some ultra-Orthodox Jews also believe, I might note)?

Believing in Yeshua doesn’t change my desire to celebrate these holidays – if anything, it strengthens that desire. After all, if he taught about and celebrated Passover, observing all three of Rabbi Gamliel’s key elements (the Passover offering, matzah, and maror), why would it be inappropriate for followers of Yeshua to continue in the footsteps of their spiritual teacher?

Gentile Christians Celebrating Jewish Holidays

It is a reasonable fear that leading a Passover presentation or hosting a Shabbat dinner for a Gentile audience could play into a romanticized fascination some Christians may have with Judaism.

Sometimes this can go too far—like when non-Jewish followers of Jesus start to think of themselves as “the new Israel,” a dangerous mentality that, in extreme cases, has even led to bloodshed (as it did in Poway this year).¹ This is a particularly insidious form of antisemitism, and as someone with both a Jewish and a Christian identity, I find it especially repulsive—a gross manipulation of the Christian faith.

But here’s the thing: Christians can enjoy Passover, or any other Jewish holiday, without it being weird. When you’re not Japanese but you go to a sushi restaurant and enjoy a great meal, is it weird? Of course not. But if you call yourself Japanese because you like sushi, that’s definitely weird.

How Do We Ensure Appreciation Doesn’t Turn into Appropriation?

When I teach Christians about Passover, the danger of appropriation is never far from my mind. In reality, non-Jewish Christians have a responsibility to learn about the traditions associated with the roots of their own faith, to understand the context of the Scriptures, and to recognize the value of their religious heritage without feeling the need to co-opt the history and identity of the Jewish people.

The difference lies mainly in education, and the best way to ensure that Gentile appreciation doesn’t veer into unhealthy territory is for us to offer these cultural experiences ourselves. When people have the opportunity to experience another culture with someone from that culture, they can be shown how to appreciate it in a healthy way. It’s a fine line, but it’s one that needs to be approached.

Educating Christians on traditional Jewish rituals and cultural celebrations can play an important role in the ongoing battle against antisemitism in the world today.

Read the rest of the article at Inherit Magazine.