Caught In Conversation

Interfaith gathering promotes unity.

Judy Greenwald | Contributing Writer

T

he expression “to dialogue” can
sometimes be quite imposing. But
with an idea as simple as sitting
down to share a meal and some conversa-
tion, three spiritual leaders created an event
where more than 100 Metro Detroiters from
three different faiths — Judaism, Christianity
and Islam — were able to experience dia-
logue in a comfortable, friendly and mov-
ingly productive way.
The concept for the event, “Caught in
Conversation,” was born of a five-year-old
idea of Mary Gilhuly, her husband, Hazzan
Steve Klaper and Franciscan Brother Al
Mascia, OFM, co-founders of Song and Spirit
Institute for Peace in Berkley, and Imam
Mustapha Elturk, president of the Islamic
Organization of North America in Warren.
Their idea? To meet several times during
the year for lunch to discuss theology, scrip-
ture, religious ritual, mysticism, local and
world events, and to share personal and fam-
ily stories. They would film those gatherings.
“These free-form, very informal sessions
were filmed as we were … caught in con-

versation,” Gilhuly explained. “We were so
delighted by the results of these get-togeth-
ers, we decided to extend the idea for these
roundtable discussions to a larger interfaith
gathering.”
That gathering took place Monday, Aug.
22, at the Muslim Unity Center in Bloomfield
Hills and was hosted by Imam Muhamed
Al-Masmari, the center’s leader.
Jewish, Christian and Muslim invitees
were shown video excerpts of their lunch-
time discussions, which included each of the
clergymen singing and offering their respec-
tive blessings over food. They talked about
topics ranging from the origin of the soul, to
the Christian idea of original sin, to Moses
bringing the word of God to the people, to
the Muslim experience in America echoing
the hardships and triumphs of Jewish and
Catholic immigrants.
During dinner, guests could speak about
topics of their own choice, or they were pro-
vided cards with different questions to spark
conversation.
“We came together just to have a meal

Mary Gilhuly, Hazzan Steve Klaper, Imam Mustapha Elturk and Brother Al Mascia at one of
their roundtable luncheons.

and to talk,” Klaper said, “not because of
any emergency, but because we can. Here in
America, Jews, Christians, Muslims — we
want to, and can, get along. I see a room full
of people sitting together, sharing a meal,
enjoying each other’s company and delving
into our similarities and differences. The
Divine shines through us by actions like this,
which is part of the idea of tikkun olam. We
are all here to finish God’s work of creation
together, in harmony.”
Brother Al agreed. “Sharing a meal and
having a conversation can go a long way to
healing a broken world. Conversation can
transform strangers into friends and helps
bring about the unity we share as children
of God.”
Imam Elturk added, “All of creation is
God’s family, regardless of who we are. We
all hope for peace and togetherness, which
are difficult to achieve in today’s world. The
different faith and ethnic communities in

Detroit, as well as in America, are a sign of
God’s diverse creation. That is God’s purpose:
that all people should know one another as
one family.”
All the participants enjoyed camaraderie,
laughter and a sense of discovery.
“My soul was hungry for something like
this,” said Claire Horton of Berkley. Horton
was raised Catholic and found out that her
German-born father was Jewish and had
been raised Catholic to avoid the horrors of
the Holocaust. “I’ve been profoundly affected
by this evening, sharing the same experi-
ences with people and being in a group free
from prejudice,” she said.
Gilhuly summed up the evening: “Who
would have thought our idea from five
years ago would have blossomed into
something like this? The music of people’s
talking and laughter has created a beautiful
beginning to continue what’s been started
here tonight.”

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September 29 • 2016

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