by Rosemary Jackson,  Redbridge Faith Forum Member The main festivals celebrated by Christians are Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. These festivals are inextricably linked. Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Easter is when we remember His sacrificial death and His resurrection. Pentecost is when we rejoice that God sent His Holy Spirit, fulfilling…

Read More

What Pesach means to me… by Angela Banner, Jewish representative of Redbridge Faith Forum     This is the festival of Passover. This remembers the exodus of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. We eat unleavened bread (Matzo) as the Israelites didn’t have time to bake bread because of their speedy departure from Egypt. …

Read More

What means to me… by Angela Banner, Jewish representative of Redbridge Faith Forum   The festival of Tu B’Shevat falls in February. Tu B’Shevat This is the new year for trees and in the Holy Land very many trees are planted. School children are encouraged to take part in tree planting ceremonies. This is an…

Read More

What Purim means to me… by Angela Banner, Jewish representative of Redbridge Faith Forum   The festival of Purim falls in March this year. It is to celebrate the survival of the Jewish people in Persia. Queen Esther, wife of the King,  Ahasuhearus, petitioned the King to protect his Jewish subjects. The Chief Minister, Haman,…

Read More

Chanukah … by Angela Banner, Jewish representative of Redbridge Faith Forum This festival notes the reclaiming of the Jewish Temple by a group of freedom fighters called the Macabees. When they entered the Temple to light the everlasting light (a feature in many places of worship) there were only one, still sealed, container of oil.…

Read More