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Thanksgiving- Spirited
African-American gospel,
Jewish klezmer
at free friendship concert.
Standing atop Masada in March are missionparticipants Rev. Nicholas Hood
III, Rev. Kenneth Flowers, Rabbi Marla Feldman, Rabbi Jonathan Berkun,
Dr. Benjamin Baker, Rabbi David Nelson, Rev. Robert Dulin Jr.,
Dr. DarrylW Robinson, Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg and Rev. Dr. Ronald Turner.
"On Goree Island (off the coast of Senegal), we saw the site of the expulsion of
millions of Africans into slavery," Rabbi Berkun says. "In Israel, we visited Yad
Vashem and sites of recent terror attacks together. We had moments in those places
where we spoke about the dynamics of the suffering of our two people.
"The foundation of our relationship is partly based on experiencing profound
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
moments together. In addition, we all really became friends."
StaffWriter
Mission participants and concert co-sponsors are the Revs. Nicholas Hood III of
Plymouth United Church in Christ z, Kenneth Flowers of Greater New Mount
onded through their shared travel experience, a group of African-
Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, Robert Dulin Jr. of Metropolitan Church of
American and Jewish clergy are building on the spirit of this month's
God, and Rev. Dr. Ronald Turner of Peace Baptist Church, Dr. Benjamin Baker of
Thanksgiving holiday to introduce their members to one another.
New Light Baptist Church and Dr. Darryl W. Robinson of Community of Faith
"Step one was for the clergy to meet and build a relationship by going
Baptist Church; also, Rabbis Arnie Sleutelberg of Congregation Shir Tikvah, David
on the mission together," says Rabbi Jonathan Berkun of Congregation Shaarey
Nelson of Congregation Beth Shalom and Berkun.
Zedek, who was among those who journeyed last March to West Africa and Israel.
Another participant was Rabbi Marla Feldman, formerly of the JCCouncil and
"Now it's time to build on that relationship and get our communities to get togeth-
now working in New York.
er.
The Thanksgiving program, open to the public, is a joint venture of each partici-
Deciding that the best way to break the ice would be through song, clergy from
pating clergy's house of worship and the Detroit Jewish Initiative.
nine houses of worship have arranged, "Sing Unto the Lord a New Song: Shiru
Performances will include music by the Michigan Detroit Area Fellowship Choir,
LAdonai Shir Hadash," an Interfaith Thanksgiving Concert of African-American
comprised of church members from various denominations, and Schmaltz, a Shir
gospel and Jewish folk music. The concert will take place 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov.
Tikvah-based klezmer band that performs Eastern European Jewish music, tradition-
23, at New Light Baptist Church in
al Yiddish melodies and Sephardic tunes.
Detroit.
While the interfaith concert is a signifi-
"The philosophy behind this kind of
cant step in the relationship of the partici-
interfaith work," says Rabbi Berkun, "is
pating groups, it is not the first post-mission
The Interfaith Thanksgiving Concert is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at
that we can have endless debates and dia-
connection.
New Light Baptist Church, 5240 West Chicago (between Nardin Drive
logues about mending relationships of
"This summer, we brought our [congre-
and Grand River Avenue), Detroit.
African-Americans and whites and Jews
gations] teenagers together to build houses
Roundtrip transportation is available from Congregation Shaarey
and Christians, but when we build relation-
for Habitat for Humanity," Rabbi Berkun
Zedek,
for $10, leaving at 7 p.m. Those interested in participating may
ships on shared experience, that's when we
says.
use the transportation, even if they do not have a reserved space.
begin to build bridges."
Following the Thanksgiving concert, the
Bus transportation to the concert will also be available from
The Bloomfield Township-based Jewish
next step for connecting the communities is
Congregations Beth Shalom and Shir Tikvah. Check with the individual
Community- Council's Detroit Jewish
expected to be a spring 2003 Passover seder.
synagogues
for the cost of transportation and time of bus departures.
Initiative invited the clergy on the 10-day
Rabbi Berkun has already found an inter-
For the concert itself, there is no charge and reservations are not neces-
mission to Senegal and Israel. Rabbi
esting connection. "Coincidentally, the con-
sary. For information, call Nitzana York at the Jewish Community
Berkun says visiting historical sites together
cert is being held in a church that is right
Council, (248) 642-5393.
reminded the clergy of how much they
down the street from our old Shaarey Zedek
already had in common.
building," he says. ❑
B
Going To The Concert
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11/22
2002
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