1" ANNUAL INDOOR PRE-OWNED VEHICLE SALE ed ministers and others seeking to con- vert Jews in the name of interfaith dia- logue. "It is morally wrong to take advantage of that situation of trust." Father Budde agrees. Following Vatican II, the church stressed relating to other faiths in an effort to achieve greater understanding, not to produce a greater crop of Catholic converts. By and large, the interfaith relations tend to strengthen participants' faith, leaders say. This is mostly because par- ticipants see themselves as representa- tives or ambassadors of their religions and accordingly feel a certain pride. "People don't become less interested in their religion. The opposite is true," Krichbaum said. "They become more knowledgeable because they have to find the answers to questions the oth- ers ask." David Gad-Harf, executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit, said the coopera- tion among religious groups on political, social and moral issues has been the most significant development in inter- faith relations in the past several decades. "It has gone beyond dialogue," he said. "You have to build trust through dialogue, but working together on any issue of shared concern helps to build ties between religious groups. It is hard- er to consider that group as being alien if we have identified a shared goal." A small success story ( ;Th Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield and Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac have created just such a shared goal. After a chance meeting between the church's pastor, Rev. Robert Bailey, and Rabbi Dannel Schwartz of the Reform congregation, a friendship formed that blossomed into a cross-congregational sisterhood affiliation. Members of the Jewish congregation have attended some Sunday celebrations while church members have come to Friday-night services at the temple. Bailey and Schwartz have spoken at each other's pulpits and the choirs of both congre- gations have sung in each other's wor- ship space. More remarkable is the work that has been done in the joint social action and educational projects between the two congregation's youth groups. In the week after Thanksgiving, teenagers from both congregations piled into the church's bus and cruised area streets searchina for homeless men, women and children t' to whom they gave blankets, socks, hats, gloves and toiletries. The groups also visited the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit and the Holocaust Memorial Center in West Bloomfield to gain greater under- standing of each other's histories. The result of the good deeds and learning has been friendships, not just between the clergy but between families in the different congregations and between teens in the different youth groups. These friendships, said Rabbi Michael Moskowitz of Shir Shalom, who heads the youth group activities with Trinity's Rev. Kenneth Jones, are the basis of greater understanding and better ecumenical relations in the future. "The kids are learning that it is about relationships," Moskowitz said. "When you know someone and care about someone, they are important to you. Then respect and trust is that much deeper. Bailey says the interaction will go a long way toward interfaith and inter- racial understanding. "We need to go about the business of teaching people about being human to each other," Bailey said. "This has to happen at the ground level over a period of time." The benefits of doing the ecumeni- cal work are felt beyond the area, indeed on a global level, interfaith leaders say. The Ecumenical Institute's Blewett says the dialogue has led to significant change in the way Christians perceive Israel and to growing support for the Jewish state. Krichbaum said the implications of greater understanding . and respect among divergent ethnic and religious groups will be felt in larg- er proportion with generations to come, in part because of the significant globalization ofthe economic climate. "Our kids are growing up on the Internet," he said. If they want to suc- ceed in business, they are going to have to work with people of a variety of religious backgrounds." Having good interfaith relation skills, he said, "will be a primary necessity for people to succeed in the work world." Gad-Harf said expanding interfaith efforts is essential. We can cite prob- lems and wring our hands that we aren't there yet," he said. "But the ulti- mate goal to reach is having people feel comfortable with each other, under- stand and respect each other's religion. You look around the world and see that people in other countries don't have near the level of interfaith rela- tions that we do," he said. "I believe America is a stronger country today because of the religious diversity, respect and understanding that we have achieved." II What's the difference between new an d pre-owned vehicles? About $20,000. _ Come to Audette Cadillac for our 1st annual indoor pre-owned vehicle sale. All inventory will be inside so you can stay warm and dry while choosing the car of your choice. All vehicles will be priced to sell, so come see the finest collection of pre-owned vehicles in Oakland County. Don't miss this special event, Saturday, January 23 from 10 am to 4 pm AUDETTE (248) 851-7200 ,INC. 7100 Orchard Lake Road (at 14 1/2 Mile) West Bloomfield Open: Mon. & Thurs. till 9 pm • Tues., Wed., Fri., till 6 pm www.autoweb.com/dealershaudette DOOR MIRRORS Reflect Beauty & Dimension with Decorative Beveled Mirrors With 1/2" Beveled Edges for Vanities, Doors and More! size it price special 16 x 68 18 x 68 20 x 68 22 x 68 24 x 68 S67.38 73.08 78.78 84.49 90.18 S47.11 51.16 55.15 59.14 63.13 STANDARD SIZE MIRRORS size list price spec io I 36 x 30 36 x 36 36 x 42 36 x 48 36 x 54 36 x 60 36 x 66 36 x 72 42 x 30 42 x 42 42 x 48 42 x 54 42 x 60 42 x 66 42 x 72 S61.32 71.28 81.24 91.20 101.16 111.12 121.08 131.04 69.94 92.54 103.84 115.14 126.44 137.74 149.04 S42.92 49.90 56.87 63.84 70.81 77.78 84.76 91.73 48.96 64.78 72.69 80.60 88.51 96.42 104.33 REID GLASS Special Savings Many sizes Available NOW AT A Clear Reflection of Quality Since 1964 Visit Our Southfield Showroom at: 22223 Telegraph Road Southfield (South of 9 Mile Road) Or calk (248) 353-5770 For A Free Eclimale or Cwisullalim EXPERIENCING INFERTILITY? The Center for Reproductive Medicine has Opened a Comprehensive New Center in Oakland County! ONE OF THE HIGHEST SUCCESS • RATES IN MICHIGAN AND AMONG THE LEADING CLINICS IN THE U.S.A. Mostafa I. Abuzeid, M.D. THE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE , 3950 S. Rochester Rd., Ste. 2300 , Rochester Hills, MI 48307 • (248) 844-8845 • 1-888-852-6995 Detroit Jewish News 1 /2 1 1999 19