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September 3, 2004
Jews, Muslims still talk
Latest interfaith venture attracts people of other faiths.
PAT JOHNSON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
The Jews and Muslims were having such a good time together, Christians,
Hindus and Sikhs decided to join in.
It seems like a fantasy story from a world where soda pop flows
from water fountains and butterflies land on carefree shoulders.
But it reflects what has happened recently through a modest effort
to bridge cultural differences here in Vancouver. About 100 people
gathered Aug. 22 at the Mount Pleasant Community Centre in a casual
forum followed by home baking.
The event was the latest in a series of interfaith meetings originated
by Rabbi David Mivasair of Vancouver's Ahavat Olam congregation
and Imam Fode Drome of Masjid ul-Haqq. A small group of British
Columbia Muslims, Jews and others have participated in this series
of online and real-time discussions and social events over recent
months. The goal is simply to build interpersonal bridges across
the various cultural divides that exist between people of different
faiths, ethnicities and experiences.
The dialogue group had originally been intended as a place where
Muslims and Jews could come together to break down preconceptions.
Word of the meetings and the e-mail list-serve has spread and brought
enthusiasm from unexpected quarters. Christians and people of other
faiths have jumped on board. At Mount Pleasant last month, representatives
of various faith communities lauded the effort to gather in peace
before spending the afternoon chatting.
Imam Fode spoke of the interconnectedness of people and the universe.
"Our link to God is important," he said. "Our link
to ourselves is important. Equally important is how we relate to
other human beings and to our environment and the cosmos in general."
Janina Diodati, superintendent of independent Catholic schools locally,
said she was nervous before speaking to the meeting, despite the
fact that she speaks publicly on a regular basis. After considering
her emotions, she said she realized it was the significance of this
particular afternoon that struck her.
"I am almost speechless at the thought of all of us sitting
here," she said. "All of us striving in our hearts for
peace."
Diodati said her parents may not have been typical Catholics, in
that her father carried a photo of the death camp at Auschwitz with
him as a reminder of inhumanity's potential. Her mother's hero was
Mahatma Gandhi. She wanted to participate in this interfaith gathering
because of the potential small acts have of expanding.
"If we can do it in this room," she said. "If we
can do it in our city, then what of our province, our country, our
world?"
A Sikh leader spoke of finding commonalities by emphasizing shared
values and de-emphasizing different religious practices.
Capt. Muhammad S. Mahtab, a Muslim who is a former officer of the
Pakistani navy, spoke of the harmony that can flow from dialogues
like the one at the community centre, which focused on the similarities
all people share.
"People want shelter," said Mahtab. "They need food
to survive. They want security. They need respect. They want to
love and they want to be loved."
Mivasair recited a Psalm and reminded those Jews who were in the
room that an ancient Jewish dictum implores them to begin the work
toward peace, even if they do not have the possibility to finish
it. He also spoke of the pluralism of religious understanding inherent
in the Jewish tradition. At Sinai, said the rabbi, where the voice
of God came to the Hebrews, the word had seven voices and each voice
spoke in 70 languages, symbolizing the multitudinous experiences
of divinity.
"So many are hearing God in many voices," said Mivasair.
The task of respecting the spirit of the divine word is an obligation
for people of faith and Mivasair, reflecting the challenges before
the group, quoted the ancient Rabbi Tarfon: "The day is short.
The task is so great, the workers are lazy, the reward is very great
and the master is demanding."
Karamud Din, a mosque official, expressed the hope that the small
endeavor would blossom into a larger phenomenon.
"Our dream is to carry this mission into the public, to keep
spreading this message that we can all live together," he said.
Pat Johnson is a Vancouver journalist and commentator.
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