The Timely Prophetic Plea of Passover—
“Let anyone who is hungry come and eat”
COVER STORY—As we reach Passover, this week, we invited Rabbi Roy Furman—author of the upcoming book, Torah Wrestling—to share his reflections as he and his family approach this annual spiritual milestone in 2025. You will find that Rabbi Furman’s inspiring column is a call to unity among all Americans—people of all faiths—as we remember our responsibility toward the world’s most vulnerable people. If that remembrance leads us to action, Rabbi Furman writes—then, we are fulfilling the call of Passover.
FOR MORE ON PASSOVER TRADITIONS, and recipes as well, please enjoy this story by Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton.
In 2025, the first seder of Passover is on the evening of Saturday, April 12.
Easter(s) soon will converge
STAY TUNED for our coverage of Easter(s), which will converge in both the Christian West (Catholic, Protestant and Anglican calendars) and the Christian East (Orthodox calendars) on Sunday April 20. The last time East and West celebrated Easter on the same date was 2017. (While most Americans know the holiday simply as “Easter”—Orthodox refer to the holiday as Great and Holy Pascha.)
But, first, Palm Sunday is coming
HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS COLUMNIST Stephanie Fenton reports on the colorful festival coming on Sunday, April 13, in Christian churches—East and West—usually called Palm Sunday in the U.S. but also known as the Triumphal Entry of Our Lord.
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WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com
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News from our Authors—
Dave Larsen—
Maximizing an author’s ability to sell books
IN OUR FRONT EDGE PUBLISHING column this week, we share the story of author Dave Larsen—whose upcoming historical novel Green Street in Black and White already is touching off a remarkable buzz. Dave and his wife decided to maximize their opportunity to sell the book themselves by ordering an entire pallet load of paperbacks. We’ve got the story—and photos.
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Rodney Curtis—
A News Photographer at one of the 1,000-plus ‘Hands off!’ rallies
AUTHOR, FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER and COLUMNIST Rodney Curtis channeled his many years as a newspaper photographer and photo-editor to capture the vivid outcry at one of the 1,000-plus “Hands off!” rallies held this weekend. Clicking on this link will take you to Rodney’s website, where you can see collection of Rodney’s news photos.
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Suzy Farbman—
Remembering lifelong friend Michael Kramer’s warm humor and strong commitment to justice
THE RECENT PASSING of Michigan attorney Michael Kramer is mourned by many leaders across the state. GodSigns columnist Suzy Farbman remembers the warm, humorous side of her family’s lifelong friend.
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Faith & film
How does Holland look from Holland?
Version 1.0.0
JEFFREY MUNROE—whose Reformed Journal publishing house is based in Holland, Michigan—gives us his “take” on Holland. And—spoiler alert—he’s definitely not happy with the Holland these filmmakers have served up. Click here to read Jeffrey’s entire review in the Reformed Journal website.
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AND HERE’S A TIP—If you follow Jeff’s recommendation and skip the film—you can, instead, enjoy some far more compelling stories in Jeff’s own book, Telling Stories in the Dark.
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Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time film critic Edward McNulty died. In 2025, we will continue to publish important reviews—sometimes by drawing on Ed’s considerable body of work and sometimes by welcoming other writers.
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