EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK Coming Together T o forgive unconditionally is the ultimate path to reconciliation, the keynote speaker said at an interfaith holy day of peace service Satur- day night, Jan. 27, at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills. You dilute your sincerity when you apologize for yourself and your religion, then seek an apology - in return, said Marianne Williamson, the Texas-born Jewish spiritual leader of the Christian-based Church of Today in Warren. "Let us not dwell on what was done to us, or to our reli- gion," she said, speaking at the second annual World Sabbath of Religious Reconciliation. Maintaining that every religion represented at the service has been persecuted, and has caused persecution, she said, "It is a tragedy of human history that some of the greatest evil has been perpetrated in the name of God." ROBERT A. Meanwhile, she took delight in the various religions repre- SKLAR sented among the 425 congregants and on the pulpit Saturday. Editor "There is a presence of peace," she said, "that heals us all." The World Sabbath of Religious Reconciliation service was inspired by the ecumenical observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 15. It took spiritual aim at the cultural and economic forces that cause religious people to hate and oppress people whose faith is different. And it was a time to remember victims of atrocities throughout the ages, including the Holocaust. It was also spiritually uplifting. Jews, Christians, Muslims, members of the Baha'i community and people of other backgrounds came together for this celebration of spiritual diversity. Chanting, dancing, drumming, a blast from a ram's horn and a "procession of the faiths" that included display of the Star of David signaled the call to prayer. Much of the credit goes to the Rev. Rodney Reinhart, pastor of Trinity Episco- pal Church in Farmington Hills: He organized the service in cooperation with the Rev. Edward Mullins, rector of Christ Church Cranbrook. The American Jewish Committee's metro Detroit chapter was a sponsor. Last year's inaugural service featured the impas- sioned words of the Rev. Kenneth Flowers of Greater New Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit and a stirring tribute to Waterford's Arnold Michlin, Detroit Jewry's beloved ambassador to inter- faith outreach. This year's service included a respectful exchange between Rabbi Emeritus Ernst Conrad of Temple Kol Ami and Muslim leader Chuck Alowan on control of holy sites like the Temple Mount and al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, a revered city for Jews and Muslims alike. "Only when people of good will recognize the Marianne Williamson dreams and prayers of others will there truly be peace in Jerusalem," Rabbi Conrad said, calling for peaceful co-existence among all who live there. We're a long way from fulfilling Dr. King's dream of a world free of religious tyranny. But the World Sabbath of Religious Reconciliation clearly is a step in the right direction. Williamson came to metro Detroit from Los Angeles three years ago; she maintains she has not forsaken Judaism in her personal search for spiritual reso- nance. Woven into the fabric of Saturday's service, she said, "was all the hope and desire and tension" that binds the great religions of the world. Common spiritual themes resonate from these religions. One theme, she said, is that "God works miracles," providing a sort of gateway to what she called genuine reconciliation — "reconciliation of the heart." But we must do more than just come together in a house of worship to cele- brate diversity. We must try to atone, she said, and in so doing, "together feel God's spirit." That was the essence of this World Sabbath, at least from the comfort of my place in the pews. ❑ LETTERS Letters are posted and archived on JN Online: www.detroitjewishnews.com Politics, Religion Indeed Mix The Jewish News carried a story of Ari Fleischer ("The Front Man," Jan. 12, page 29), who will be serving as the White House press secretary for the new president of the United States. Fleischer was quoted as saying, "I believe deeply in my religion and I believe in the principles of my party. I don't commingle the two." As a Jew who has been involved in politics for many years, I take excep- tion to how deeply he believes in his religion if he doesn't commingle his politics and his religion. My politics is always against the backdrop of my religion. The values that Jews bring to life in America are the values that they learn from their religious belief. These values include things like fairness, respect, the need to care for those who are less fortunate, that I am my brother's keeper, that I must pay a fair tax to support our government, that no man or woman should be enslaved and on and on. The lessons of the Torah should Jot be left at home when you are expected to help with the running of our government. You need those lessons that are in your head and close to your heart to do what is right. Deborah J. Goldberg Farmington BECAUSE EVERY CHILD IS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY JARC Merle and Shirley Harris Children and Family Division Services for children with special needs and their families. Pk* ✓ Outreach, support, information, referral and advocacy for families ✓ Educational and social programs for families Affiliation Not A Requisite Sharon Luckerman's story ("Just Jew- ish,"Jan. 19, page 6) touched many important aspects of Jewish identity formation and the fact that "one size definitely does not fit all" when it comes to understanding the complex and varied ways in which Jews feel connected — and get connected in the first place — to Judaism and Jew- ish peoplehood. Eilu v' Eilu, the adult Jewish learn- ing project of the local Conservative movement, makes it a top priority to offer learning opportunities in "open venues" to reach out to adult learners who would not be comfortable corn- ing to classes in a synagogue or day school setting. In addition, many of our bookstore events are offered free of charge, with no reservations required, to increase their appeal to potential participants for whom the ✓ In-home respite care with a trained JARC staff person ✓ Case management with a person-centered focus ✓ Funding for aides so children with special needs can participate in recreational activities with their non- disabled peers ✓ Comprehensive supports to help children with special needs successfully attend religious schools Thanks to The Jewish Fund and Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit for their support of the Harris Division. Call JARC at 248-352-5272 r 28366 Franklin Road Southfield, MI 48034 www.jarc.org 2/2 2001 5