For the third year in a row, BYU-Idaho is hosting a Passover event in preparation for Easter. The event is April 1 and will include a Passover-style dinner and lesson to teach the meaning behind it.
The Passover meal, also known as a Seder, is a ritualistic meal eaten during the Jewish holiday to remember the deliverance of the Hebrews out of Egypt. BYU-Idaho religion professor Rex Butterfield oversees the event this year.
“The Savior's last supper was actually a Passover meal,” Butterfield said. “So, to commemorate that, and to get the run up to Easter, we have started doing the Passover meal. It's a Passover experience. It's not exactly a Passover meal. There are a lot of similarities, but this is not a Jewish Seder. It's pointed at members of the Church.”
The meal contains lots of symbolism from the Old Testament. Some things found in the meal are lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread.
“In Exodus, they didn't have time for the bread to leaven,” Butterfield said. “They were supposed to eat with their sandals on, standing, ready to go. Crackers do not get moldy as fast as bread. It's the leaven that causes the corruption to happen. So, there's some symbolism there too, that we're supposed to be clean.”
BYU-Idaho is holding the event to show how the symbolism in the meal also points to Christ and His atonement.
“I like how it points towards the Savior,” Butterfield said. “We do love and appreciate our Jewish friends and neighbors. This is not just a cultural celebration. This is pointing towards Easter and what the Savior did for all of us.”
The Passover dinner event will be held on April 1, at the Crossroads in the Manwaring Center Building. Tickets for the event are sold out, but there may be a standby line to fill empty seats. You can find information about the event on the BYU-Idaho ticket website.