Posted March 25, 2015

Archbishop Charles Chaput sent letters to three rabbis and greeted the Jewish community in Philadelphia on the coming observance of Passover.

This year Passover begins at sundown Friday, April 3 and ends Saturday, April 11.

The letters, dated March 19, were sent to Rabbi Elisa Goldberg, president of the Philadelphia Board of Rabbis; Rabbi David Strauss, chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council; and Rabbi David Glanzberg-Krainin, all in Philadelphia.

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The text of the letters follows:

“On behalf of the clergy and people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, I want to take this occasion to extend to the local Jewish community our prayerful best wishes as you observe Passover.

“At the heart of the Passover Seder is the gathering of family and friends. In this familial context, the divine acts of redemption are recalled. One generation shares with another the concrete deeds of liberation done by the heavenly Father. This shows that the family is not simply an image of divine love in human fellowship. It is a supremely important means by which this divine love is recalled and relived in our challenging times.

“It is my sincerest prayer that this Passover will be particularly strengthening for your community’s families. May the renewed awareness of divine redemption be an unending source of peace and joy for all.”