The Interreligious Exchange Spot

The Importance of Interreligious Partnerships

Dear Friend, On September 17, 2001 a man rammed his Ford Mustang into the doors of the Islamic Center of Cleveland doing nearly $100,000 in damages. That event was one of many reactions that followed 9/11. After the attack, Cleveland stood together in an outpouring of support for our Muslim neighbors. Today our concern, support, and vigilance must continue.  Let’s seize this opportunity by reaching out to all those who are marginalized solely because we identify them with a “group:  white/black; Muslim/Christian; woman/ man. An interreligious world is possible, but only if we continue to work together to increase our interreligious literacy and to expand our comfort zone by asking questions that cannot be left unasked anymore. Our community today deserves our knowledge, relationships, and vigilant dedication to a better, stronger Greater Cleveland tomorrow. Offering thanks to those who came to the Inaugural Showcase Watch our new Meals Video on You Tube Print out the new Interact Cleveland HSD 2010 information Increase the holiday spirit by learning about religious holidays year round Discuss Women in Religion and Society with five local religious leaders Rock on with our new Dia-Partnership contact Community Shares Meet the author of Beyond Tolerance Celebrate turkey day with an Abrahamic Thanksgiving Volunteer and serve Thanksgiving with SEVA Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out essay contest Listen to Jewish Gospel and support the HSD Last month, we talked about the separation of church and state, we witnessed the beauty behind the the impact of an interreligious community (each petal on the flower to the left represents one program that benefited Cleveland this year), and we recognized those who stood for interreligious Dia-Logue, Dia-Practice, and Dia-Partnerships. More in the next InterActions newsletter. Thank you to everyone who came out to the Inaugural InterAct Cleveland Showcase! The Inaugural Showcase also kicked off our Annual Campaign. InterAct creates opportunities for individuals and communities to forge relationships across diverse religious traditions. At the very heart of it all, our mission is about people. You can help provide support for these programs with your gift made today! Meal updates for November! Contact Toni for a Volunteer Campaign packet which include: InterAct Cleveland's Community Meals DVD, Posters (personalized to your congregation), and more.  Congratulations to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Kirby Colwell) and Mickey Friedman for their outstanding contributions to the community through the meals program. Please start thinking now of who to nominate for next year.  Average meal size at Calvary Presbyterian in October: 86 (highest was 100, lowest 72) Compare that to October's meal numbers.  Attention everyone! Learn more about what you can do with the InterAct Cleveland Homeless Stand Down 2010! Become a part of our movement of congregations, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals to serve in a dignity affirming manner those who are experiencing homelessness this February and March! Learn more about the program Watch what we did last year Review the stats from last year Learn more about how you can support this cause  Learn more about volunteering * *Volunteers will be able to sign up for specific jobs and times in December   Expand your interreligious literacy! Learn more about different cultures and traditions with the 2010 Multi Faith calendar! The Multifaith Calendar identifies and explains observations for 14 major world religions and 140 significant religious and cultural occasions. Calendars cost $18.00 (with shipping and handling). Please make checks out to InterAct Cleveland or e-mail Pam for an invoice. An all female panel will discuss “Women in Religion and Society” in InterAct’s 2010 dialogue series. Join us on Jan. 26th at the Shiva Vishnu Temple at 7 pm for the  “Sharing Paths”: Religious Traditions in Dialogue where we will ask what has your spirituality and your religious tradition taught you about the role women play in religious practices and leadership, and in society? Presented by Ms. Devi Gursahaney of Shiva Vishnu Temple, with Sr. Donna Wilhelm, ssj-tosf, Executive Director of InterAct Cleveland; Ani Palmo Rybicki, Executive Director of Songtsen Gampo Buddhist Center of Cleveland; Rabbi Susan Stone; and Ms. Julia Sherson, Executive Director on Cleveland’s Council on American-Islamic Relations.  InterAct Cleveland is pleased to be a partner with the organization Community Shares. Shares "generates essential operating funds for nonprofit organizations that are working for positive community change and is Cleveland's only workplace giving federation with a focus on social justice."  Join us for an evening of local music and activism on Dec. 4th at 8 pm all to benefit Community Shares. Justice Rocks! will feature performances from local bands tastycakes, oldboy, Early Girl, and Vitium. Tickets are $10.  Wednesday, Nov. 18 7:30 pm Trinity Cathedral Bulletin Board: Event Author Gustav Niebuhr of Beyond Tolerance: How People across America Are Building Bridges between Faiths, will speak at Trinity Cathedral. The event is free and open to the public. His book tells the story of his conversations with Americans-- Buddhists, Christians, Jews, and Muslims who are all reaching out to find common ground among their beliefs. Copies are available at Trinity Commons Books and Gifts, and Niebuhr will sign copies after his presentation. Friday, Nov. 24 noon Trinity Cathedral Bulletin Board: Event    Representatives from all three Abrahamic faiths will lead an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at noon on November 24.  This service represents a joyous opportunity for people of faith to come together, pray, and give thanks for the gifts and blessings we have received from God. Friday, Nov. 24 6:30 pm India Community Center Bulletin Board: Event  If you are interested in giving back and volunteering this Thanksgiving than partner with Project SEVA. SEVA is hosting its annual Thanksgiving dinner at the India Community Center on Tuesday, November 24 at 6:30pm.  Project SEVA is the community service end of the Federation of India Community Associations of NE Ohio, or FICA. For more information please contact Paramjit at(216) 923-1265.  Wednesday, Dec. 16 Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage Bulletin Board: Announcement STOP THE HATE: Youth Speak Out! 2010 Essay Contest for Middle and High School Students with $100,000 in Scholarships and Prizes.  What will you do to stop hatred and discrimination? After disease, humanity’s deadliest scourge has always been hate…hate has killed hundreds of millions. It knows no season and no limit. It is in us all. And it will live forever—unless we choose to stop. Deadline for students in grades 11‐12 essays is Wednesday, December 16, 2009. More information here Saturday, Jan. 16 7 pm Fairmount Temple Bulletin Board: Event He sings gospel, Kosher Gospel that is. Join us for this musical experience by the talented Joshua Nelson with all proceeds to benefit InterAct Cleveland’s Homeless Stand Down 2010.  Please join us at Fairmount Temple on January 16. Admission is either $5 to purchase a bus ticket or a pair of men's new, warm winter gloves sizes M, L, XL. Add your event here: Date Time Link Bulletin Board: Event  Spread the word about your interreligious events or achievements here! InterAct Cleveland is offering free announcements and event advertising for all member organizations and partners. Please send in information on who, when, where, a description of your event and image to pmarvinney@interactcleveland.org to be put into the next monthly e-bulletin board. Find InterAct Cleveland on facebook. We make great friends!

InterAct in Gratitude

Dear Friend,

Today there was a revival of sorts. Thanks to the Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth Jr., Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio, The Episcopal Church,  there was the revival of the gathering of the judicatory leaders from many of the religious traditions represented in Greater Cleveland to join in interreligious Thanksgiving. This year’s celebration focused on the three Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in our area. We were welcomed by Bishop Hollingsworth as he reminded us that gratitude is the best preparation for peace and happiness. Together, we the participants, are “Ambassadors of Peace” and bearers of hope.

Three passages from the scriptures, the Prophet Micah, read in Hebrew by Rabbi Steve Weiss, senior rabbi of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation; a letter of Paul to the Christian Community at Thessalonica, read by The Rev. Leonard Thompson, Sr., Executive Minister, Cleveland Baptist Association, American Baptist Church, and The Surah An-Nahl from the Q’uran proclaimed in Arabic by Imam Abbas Ahmad of First Cleveland Mosque provided the basis of the reflection offered by Bishop Hopkins of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church.  He reminded us how important it is not to be deluded into believing that we are in control of our destinies. "It is", he continued, "the God behind the harvest to whom we give thanks."

Secondly, Bishop Hopkins admonished us, “Circumstance does not define happiness.” We have only to spend time with those we may label “disadvantaged, or poor” to see that relationships and faith are the foundation of joy. “What we posses in our hands is not nearly as valuable as the peace we have in our hearts.”

Finally, he said, “Pay close attention to what’s going on around you. There is no application that we can download for thanksgiving.” Gratitude is born of seeing beauty where it is, not only in those places where we expect to find it. Whether we pray in Hebrew or in Arabic , in English, or in any other language it doesn’t matter. What is important is the gratitude from which our prayer arises. May you find gratitude not only while surrounded by your family and friends this week, but in all your days after.

Happy Thanksgiving!