WCC NEWS: WCC sends Passover Greetings to Jewish people everywhere

World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca sent greetings to Jewish people across the world as they celebrate Passover. A man and his daughter pray by the Western Wall, on the first day of Pesach (Passover) Jews gather to pray by the Western Wall in Jerusalem, considered as the most sacred and holy place for the Jews, Jerusalem, Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 22 April 2022 “It is with special joy and abiding friendship that, on behalf of the full membership of the World Council of Churches around the world, I send our greetings to and prayers for you, Jewish people, groups and communities everywhere, at this time of Passover,” wrote Sauca. "Passover is a season of celebration, liberation, and renewed dedication.” Sauca reflected on the Passover story of God’s deliverance of the Hebrew people from their captors in Egypt. “May all Jewish generations learn the story of their freedom, and may God continue to liberate our minds and hearts from all contemporary forms of slavery and bondage,” Sauca wrote. “And in the story God’s sustaining presence through years of trials and desert wandering, we celebrate the faithfulness of God and God’s people in history, forming a people eager to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.” Sauca added that he especially cherishes the WCC’s solidarity with Jewish groups and communities to address COVID inequities, to dialogue on ways to secure peace and security in the Holy Land, and to share the Bridge Builders Award for interreligious efforts and peacemaking. “In the coming years, may our friendship and solidarity grow and issue in deeds that bring God’s justice and peace to the whole human community and to our planetary home in God’s creation!” the letter concludes.   Read the letter   See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland