Jews and African-American Christians Hold Interfaith Seder, Discussion of Slavery

March 25, 2004

Source: The Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/2004/religion/0403/30/d01-102802.htm

On March 25, 2004 The Detroit News reported, "The issue of slavery is one that both Jews and African-Americans relate to on a personal and painful level. Tonight, more than 400 Jews and Christians from several synagogues and mostly black congregations in Metro Detroit will come together in fellowship and to hear the histories of the Exodus as well as the enslavement of the ancestors of African-Americans. The program, the Passover Interfaith Celebration, is a private event for the congregations and will take place at Congregation Shaarey Zedek. 'We are going to explore the themes of freedom from slavery and the shared experience of exodus that we both have,' said Rabbi Jonathan Berkun of Shaarey Zedek. The event is sponsored by the Detroit Jewish Initiative, a project of the Jewish Community Council. In 2002, the organization sponsored a cultural and history-sharing mission to Israel and the West African nation of Senegal for several local rabbis and black ministers."