The Interreligious Exchange Spot

Sign to Support Religious Freedom

Friends, members, and supporters of InterAct Cleveland,

As I am sure all of us are aware, there has been growing publicity concerning the building of an Islamic Center near Ground Zero in New York and some indications that members of the Muslim community are fearful about retribution due to the coincidental proximity of Eid al-Fitr and the anniversary of 9/11 this year.

InterAct would like to suggest that this is an opportunity for the interreligious community in our region to respond and offer our support to our Muslim sisters and brothers. If you and your community would join us in signing this statement please indicate that willingness by adding your name in comment box below.

Wishing you peace,

Sister Donna

InterAct Cleveland

 

 

We, the undersigned, stand in support and solidarity with our Muslim Sisters and Brothers during this 2010 celebration of the Holy Month of Ramadan and including the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the festival at the end of Ramadan, which this year coincides with the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania, as well as the start of the Jewish High Holy Days and Rosh HaShana. This coincidence of events, particularly the proximity of Eid al-Fitr and the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks presents very specific challenges.

All of us have the right to feel safe. We have the right to celebrate our religious beliefs without harassment or harm. We are aware that some of our fellow citizens are filled with many mixed emotions and so we are challenged to find a focus that will continue to unite us as a country that not only tolerates, but holds dear the religious liberty and freedom that is the right of each and of all who call this land “home”.  As reported in a recent article in USA Today, some Christians have suggested that this anniversary of 9/11, because it will be at the end of Ramadan, should be remembered with a “Koran Burning Festival.” We are appalled by this invitation.

We do not accept the conclusion that since the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks were Muslim and seemed to have been religiously motivated, that all Muslims are to be held suspect.  We want our Muslim neighbors to know that we respect them and will work to guarantee that they have the same rights to which we all are entitled.

Signed,

InterReligious Partners in Action of Greater Cleveland

Congratulations and Best Wishes to the Jain Community of Northeastern Ohio

Dear Friend,

July 2 – 6, 2010 marked days of prayer and celebration within the interreligious community in Northeast Ohio as our Jain brothers and sisters opened and dedicated their new Temple in Richfield, OH. Toni Sacco and I had the privilege of representing InterAct Cleveland on July the 5 as guests of Dr. Ramesh Shah and with the help of introductions by Mr. Paramjit Singh. The five days of festivities were attended by well over 800 Jains and well-wishers including members of the Hindu community with representatives from Shiva Vishnu Temple, Sikhs of various Gurdwaras in the area and visitors from across our country and from as far away as the birthplace of Jainism, India. The sight of the new Temple in a beautifully wooded area adds the perfect contrast to the white marble and gold edifice.J

After doing a little research I learned that the adherents of the Jain Religion make up less than 1% of the total population of India. In the United States there are approximately 200,000 Jains. As I continued my searching I found that the tenet that I found most compelling to me is that of Ahimsa, total, absolute non-violence toward all living creatures. I find that an often illusive and challenging goal in my own life.

As we approached the Temple on Monday afternoon hundreds of people, many in brightly colored saris, children in traditional Indian garb, wizened elders; the newly born, priests, white-clad monks and nuns were spilling out of the main worship space in the Temple into each of its rooms. Closed circuit TVs helped to create an intimate, though dispersed community. Chant, clapping, and shouts of joy were a convincing sign of the gratitude and piety of this community. Our host, Dr. Shah invited us to be introduced and we were greeted with the traditional Hindi “Namaste’” which loosely translated means, “The divine in me greets the divine in you”. We in turn, offered our congratulations and gratitude for the privilege of being part of such an auspicious occasion. The sense of transcendent presence was as tangible as it is at a Tent Revival, on Yom Kippur, sharing the celebration of Eid or sitting in quiet meditation.  

As I drove north toward home in the late afternoon I reflected with gratitude on the depth of hospitality that I had experienced, the joy in devotion of those who follow the Jain path, and an overwhelming sense of “rightness” that such a celebration should happen in America on the weekend that we all mark our independence and with it the precious gift of religious freedom.  We at InterAct thank our friends at the new Temple and wish the congregants prosperity and much happiness.