From: SEANNA@bnr.ca (S.M.)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: The Lord's Table (Part 2 of 2)
Date: 31 Jul 92 06:01:20 GMT
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ottawa, Canada

In article <Jul.29.03.46.39.1992.25322@dartagnan.rutgers.edu> mayne@sun16.scri.f
su.edu (Bill Mayne) writes:
>In article <Jul.28.02.52.49.1992.24735@dartagnan.rutgers.edu> NU169273@vm1.noda
k.edu writes:
>>           The Lord's Table -- In the Light of the Passover
>>           ================================================
>>  The broken piece of matzo is called the 'afikomen.'  Jewish
>>scholarship suggests, 'This word may be connected with a Greek term
>>having something to do with aftermeal entertainment or dessert.'
>>Factually, to rabbinic consternation, the three pieces of matzo speak
>>of the triune God -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit...
>
>I am not even Jewish and I find this highly offensive. Who are you to
>tell others what the symbols of their religion mean? This is just one
>blatant example from the long two part post. I believe that
>soc.religion.christian and in particular the author of this trash
>owe an apology to Jews.
>
>Bill Mayne

Well, I am Jewish (though I have been a Christian for 18 years), so I
thought I would contribute my perspective on this.

It is certainly offensive to tell Jewish people what *they* mean
by the symbolism, and the way vm1.nodak.edu puts it does appear to be
doing this.  But all of the original Christian traditions are
derived from re-interpreted Jewish ones; if this, in and of itself
is offensive, then it is impossible to be a Christian without being
offensive.

In the traditional seder, there are 3 matzos on the plate.  The middle
one is broken, and half of it is wrapped in a napkin, and hidden by the
leader.  It is usually found by children, and returned in exchange for
money or other treats.  In order to end the Passover meal, everyone
present must have a piece of the afikomen, and all of it must be con-
sumed.  The afikomen represents the Passover lamb of the Exodus story;
similarly, none of the lamb was to be left, and every person was to
have some.

Now, here is some speculation:

If the afikomen tradition existed in Jesus' time, it is likely that
he would have been using the afikomen as the bread he distributed
to his disciples (Take, eat, this is my body...).  (On the other
hand, since the afikomen is supposed to represent the Passover
Lamb, the tradition probably was not instituted until after the
destruction of the Temple made sacrifice impossible.)

The afikomen is a very good symbol of Jesus--it is the middle matzo,
as Jesus is the middle person of the Trinity; it is broken (ie crucif-
ixion); it is wrapped and hidden (ie burial), and must be retrieved
(ie resurrection); it represents the sacrificial Paschal lamb.  This
is, of course, Christian symbolism.  It is not what Jewish people mean
when they celebrate Passover.  But Jesus used Passover to institute
communion, so there are precedents for a Seder to be a Christian
celebration, with Christian symbolism.  (In fact, I have lead Christian
seders at my (gentile) church on Holy Thursday.)

I wonder how the first Christians celebrated Passover the next year?

-----
Seanna Watson   Bell-Northern Research,
(seanna@bnr.ca) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Opinions, what opinions?  Oh *these* opinions. | It's hard to seize the
No, they're not BNR's, they're mine.           | day when you must first
I knew I'd left them somewhere.                | grapple with the morning.