Outgoing Tents of Jacob Rabbi Lydia Zaslow and daughter Rachel spent time with the new rabbi, Paul Kugelman, and his daughter Elizabeth before the Passover Seder began. photos by Amy Flowers Umble/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

The Seder retells the Exodus story through food. The plate is complete when horseradish is added. photos by Amy Flowers Umble/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

This year's Passover bittersweet for Tents of Jacob congregation

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

Date published: 4/7/2007

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

Passover combines the bitter with the sweet: It is a time when Jews remember the trials of slavery and celebrate the joys of freedom.

For members of the Tents of Jacob Messianic Jewish congregation in Spotsylvania County, this Passover was especially bittersweet. It was a time to say goodbye to an old rabbi and welcome a new one.

Messianic Judaism is a religious movement of those who believe in Jesus as Messiah, but retain their Jewish identity. The religion follows the traditional Jewish holidays, including Passover, which was held this week.

At the Seder, a ceremonial dinner held during the first or second day of Passover, they eat parsley dipped in salt water and then horseradish to experience the bitterness through taste. And they eat honey and apples for the sweetness.

At the Tents of Jacob Seder, the horseradish was unusually spicy this year, making the honey and apples seem sweeter.

Connie Van der Haeghe, a Tents of Jacob member, said she was excited to spend this year's Seder with the new rabbi, Paul Kugelman, and his family.

But she will miss the outgoing rabbi, Lydia Zas-low.

Van der Haeghe was one of the original members of the Tents of Jacob, which started about six years ago, meeting in members' homes. The congregation of about 40 now meets in a small building on Courthouse Road.

Zaslow became the rabbi of the Tents of Jacob four years ago. She is leaving because her husband will complete his master's degree in May and the family feels ready to take on new challenges, she said.

The congregation didn't know where it would find a rabbi. Kugelman learned about the congregation through his rabbi in Richmond, where he lives and works as an attorney. Kugelman is also studying for his master's degree in rabbinical studies.

Van der Haeghe said Kugelman was "the answer to a lot of prayer."

He began meeting with members of the Tents of Jacob about six weeks ago, just as they were getting ready for Passover. Zaslow said she prayed about how to handle the Seder. Should she lead it as her last act before she goes or let Kugelman take over?

Just a week before the event, which was held Tuesday night at the Lee Hill Community Center, she decided that Kugelman would lead the Seder.

The dinner, Kugelman said, is steeped in history and tradition. For Messianic Jews, it is doubly meaningful. They celebrate Passover as Jews have done throughout history.

But Passover was also one of the last events of their Messiah's life.

Messianic Jews celebrate Passover but not Easter, Hanukkah but not Christmas. They observe the Jewish Sabbath on Saturdays and follow kosher laws.

"Everything you would see in a Jewish congregation, you would see here, except that we believe in the Messiah," Van der Haeghe said.

Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973
Email: aumble@freelancestar.com

Three matzos commemorate the unleavened bread the Jewish forefathers ate in their hasty departure, unleavened because there was no time for the dough to rise. Also, Jewish believers in the Messiah see the three matzos representing the love of God; the middle matzoh (which will be broken during the ceremony) represents the Messiah who was broken for his people. The roasted shank bone represents the Pashcal Lamb. Paul called Yeshua the Messiah, the true Passover Lamb. The roasted egg symbolizes the voluntary peace offering given on the second day of Pesach. Moror, or bitter herbs, symbolize the bitterness of slavery, as well as the bitterness of selfishness and sin. The charoses (a mixture of apples and honey) is similar to the color of the mortar used by the Jewish slaves while building temples in Egypt. Its sweet taste symbolizes the freedom that comes from the Messiah. The karpas is a green vegetable, which coincides with the arrival of spring. It symbolizes the hope that come from the resurrection of the Messiah. The four cups of wine symbolize the promises God instructed Moses to tell the Israelites. The religion centers on the teachings of Jesus, whom members call by his Old Testament name, Yeshua. They follow the teachings of the Torah, as they believe Yeshua or Jesus did during his lifetime. While traditional Jews wait for a Messiah, the Messianic Jews believe he has already come and wait for a second coming. Like Christians, they believe that he was born to a virgin and that he was resurrected after his death. Among their membership are many ethnic and cultural Jews.

Date published: 4/7/2007