Metro

Uneasy Beginnings

"Preparing for the Holy" joins three religious traditions.

Vivian DeGain

Special to the Jewish News

A

weekend of interfaith
services and presenta-
tions gave Jewish,
Muslim and Presbyterian mem-
bers of three local houses of wor-
ship a better sense of under-
standing, especially at a season
special to them all.
Jews were approaching Rosh
Hashanah and the Days of Awe;
Muslims were entering the
month of Ramadan; and the
Presbyterians celebrated "World
Communion and Peacemaking
Sunday."
The three groups visited each

other's place of worship over the
weekend of Sept. 30-Oct.2, start-
ing with a Shabbat evening serv-
ice at Temple Emanu-El in Oak
Park, followed on Saturday by a
visit to the Islamic Center of
America (ICA) in Dearborn and
then to a service Sunday at the
Fort Street Presbyterian Church
in Detroit.
There was potential for dishar-
mony with these three groups,
considering the complexity of
issues involving religious differ-
ences and international relations.
Nationally, the Presbyterian
Church (USA) passed resolutions
in 2004 championing divestment
from Israel, questioning Zionism

and branding Israel's security
fence a human rights violation;
and Muslims and Jews have dif-
ferences over a solution to the
Israeli-Arab conflict. Plus, Imam
Hassan Qazwini of the ICA has a
record of anti-Zionism, including
hosting of Lebanon Liberation
Day at his mosque where cheers
were given to the Iranian-backed
Hezbollah, designated a terrorist
organization by the U.S. govern-
ment and Israel.
Rabbi Joseph Klein of Temple
Emanu-El explained the genesis
of the joint program. "I was
approached this summer by the
leadership of the Presbytery of
Detroit, asking my input for and

participation in an interfaith
weekend that would bring
together members of our three
faith communities.
"If there is going to be world
peace, it begins with people
meeting and talking face-to-face
and actively pursuing peace," he
said. "Shalom cannot be legislat-
ed or mandated by governments;
it begins with individuals," he
said.
Dolores Galea of Temple
Emanu-El said she had some ini-
tial concerns about attending
events at the mosque and the
Presbyterian Church.
"I finally decided I would par-
ticipate, because in any conversa-

tion about world peace, there is a
real significance to meeting with
people who are not necessarily
our friends:' she said. "It is easy
to attend peace meetings with
friends — but meeting with peo-
ple who don't necessarily agree
with us is much harder — and
where we really begin to make
progress towards the intended
goals."

Genuine Interest

Events began with Kabbalat
Shabbat at Temple Emanu-El fol-
lowed by a vibrant question-and-
answer period that lasted past 11
p.m.

October 20 2005