Passover and Easter

“Continuing as in past volumes of this series, the editors present collections of essays from both Judaic and Christian scholars regarding these Holy Days. One question dealt with is ‘Have these two highest holy days lost some of their emphasis and practice in our modern day world?’ Volume 5 focuses on the origins and early development of the feasts and the ways that established practices have changed in recent years. Volume 6 deals with the contexts in which these Holy Days occur, the periods of preparations for them as feast days in the liturgical year, their traditional expression in art and music, and their connection to the succeeding season of Shavuot/Pentecost. Collectively they explore the ‘sense of sacred time’ and its meanings in relationship to modern day Judaism/Christianity. And what about attempts by some Christians to enter into their heritage by celebrating a Jewish Seder as part of their annual Holy Week and Easter services? These questions will be of import to specialists and general lay-persons alike as both take our religious practices into a new and more complex millennium.” —Church and Synagogue Libraries

“In these companion volumes of essays, Jewish and Christian liturgical scholars examine, from historical, theological, and aesthetic perspectives, the practices and intricate interrelationships of Passover and Easter. Several essays lament the antisemitism that has infected the Easter liturgy, and one—Israel Yuval’s ‘Easter and Passover as Early Jewish-Christian Dialogue’—pushes beyond the oft-told tale of Jewish-Christian enmity to explore ways the development of worship patterns of the two faiths have influenced one another. Both volumes are required purchases for libraries supporting liturgical studies. Volume 5 would also be a good choice for broader collections in the history of Judaism and Christianity.” —Choice

“These two volumes are a welcomed addition, and provide a good resource for the present state of scholarly opinion on these two related festivals.” —Journal of Ecclesiastical History