Simultaneously the two men picked up their respective baskets, brought them together, then removed the bread from them and placed all of it together in the center basket.

The baron and the rabbi glanced up at one another as the bread mingled together. Their eyes locked for a moment—the enormous, some would say scandalous, significance of what they had just done not lost on anyone in the room. All watched in silent awe, full of the joy of incredulity; each, in his own way, sensing the presence of God’s Spirit among them.

The lips of both men broke into smiles, neither able to contain the exhilaration of feeling the walls of division being shattered at such a wonderful moment.

They turned and faced their people, both still smiling broadly.

They walked slowly forward among the seated assembly of family and friends, Jews and Christians, aristocrats and peasants, Poles and Germans, and, as the two servant-hearted men they were, began individually to offer the bread to their people. The rabbi took the basket first and served its contents to each of the baron’s family and servants. Then he gave it to the baron, who in his turn now served all the Jews present. There was not a dry eye in the room as, at length, each man slowly and reverently served the other.

The hush of awe that descended over the room was filled with a deeper quiet than mere lack of noise could humanly account for.

The baron now served the wine to the Christians present. When he set the goblet back onto the table in front and once again took his seat beside the rabbi, a long silence of several minutes followed.

Everyone in the room was praying.

Some lips moved in whispered words meant only for the Father. Tears flowed from others. Gradually several of the men sank to their knees and bent their faces to the floor. When at length Baron von Dortmann rose and stood, his face was wet from tears, both of rejoicing and of preparation for his own personal ordeal, which the Spirit told him lay ahead.

He walked to the other side of the room, stooped down, and picked up an empty basin and one of the towels that sat beside them, then poured water from one of the pitchers into it. The rabbi joined him and did likewise.

“There is one final aspect of the supper we Christians recall, which is perhaps the most important of all,” he said. “It is the living example of sacrifice.”

“It is also highly symbolic in our Jewish tradition,” added the rabbi.

“We are told that only in servanthood is greatness achieved in the kingdom of heaven. There is no greater love a man can show than that he lay down his life for his friends. Rabbi—if you please,” said the baron, indicating the empty chair.

Rabbi Wissen set down his basin, then took the seat.