at Congregation Beth Shalom in Pompton
Lakes
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North Jersey Interfaith Initiative
Headlines focus on mass destruction and
conflicts in the Middle-East that
sandwich Christians between Muslims and
Jews. An interfaith “think tank” has
formed in New Jersey to initiate ongoing
interaction that models a different type
of behavior. The group represents a
dream of what could be if Christians,
Muslims and Jews learned to work
together and share their common values
in an environment of mutual respect.
It began in 1996 when St. Luke's
Episcopal Church, a small rural
congregation in Hope, New Jersey hosted
its first Interfaith Seder. The Seder
was led by Marvin Fish, a local Jewish
attorney and the Rev. William A. Potter,
the Rector of St. Luke’s.
Following 9/11/2001 when Fr. Potter
served as an emergency chaplain at
Ground Zero in New York City, he reached
out to the Islamic Center of Passaic
County in Paterson, NJ and invited them
to join this interfaith Seder. And, soon
Congregation Beth Shalom in Pompton
Lakes, NJ became involved in what has
now become annual celebration.
The jointly authored haggadah (liturgy),
"The Journey to Freedom", shares what
Jews, Muslims and Christians hold in
common in the Exodus deliverance from
Egypt story. "The Journey to Freedom"
contains elements of the Jewish Passover
Seder, the Christian Last Supper and the
Muslim Day of Ashouraa. The liturgy
involves reading from both the Bible and
Qur’an. Readings, prayers and songs are
in English, Hebrew and Arabic. In
sharing what each faith group holds in
common, the sponsoring congregations
hope to bring greater understanding
between the faith traditions and further
the cause of world peace. This year "The
Journey to
Freedom"
was hosted by Congregation Beth Shalom
with Christ Episcopal Church of Pompton
Lakes also sponsoring the event. More
than 100 were in attendance.
Furthermore, with the support and
assistance of the current bishop of the
Episcopal Diocese of Newark, the Rt. Rev.
John P. Croneberger, arrangements were made
for members of the Paterson mosque to speak
on Sunday mornings in an interfaith
educational initiative involving more than
75 churches in northern New Jersey.
Father Potter of St. Luke’s, Rabbi David
Senter of Congregation Beth Shalom and
Imam Mohamed Qatanani the Islamic Center
of Passaic County and the members of
their congregations are now meeting
regularly to identify areas of common
concern and initiate projects that allow
Christians, Jews and Muslims to work
side by side and address human suffering
on these shores and abroad. This
interfaith “think tank” consists of
clergy, educators, medical professionals
and lay people. The group actively seeks
and welcomes other congregations
interested in joining this effort.
