Yesterday I met with members of different faiths at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. The idea of this coming together was to work collectively to provide food for the needy. There were around 20 members of different religious denominations and local food banks and soup kitchen providers. This was a great chance for me to catch up with Gregg Mast, John Larson, Esther Reed, Tasneem, and others. In the past I enjoyed meeting with the interfaith group on topics such as prayer, hospitality, and service to the community.
Last Sunday we came together to celebrate a spirit of giving. There were tons of can goods and food boxes for the local food banks and Elijah Soup Kitchen. It was a very genuine feeling of how we could all work together despite our differences. Our humanity bind us together. I remember Sister Tasneem quoted the ayah from the Qur’an on how God has created people as nations and tribes so we can get to know one another. However, the best amongst us in the sight of God is the one who is most mindful of God. I urged the group to aim for open interfaith sessions so students from Rutgers University and New Brunswick Theological Seminary can join hands with us.
The best way to fight against prejudice and bigotry is to work together. This way we can lay a solid foundation for mutual understanding and respect. As Gregg Mast mentioned, we have to go beyond tolerance of others. We must not only accept but welcome others as partners and members of our community.
At the end of the meeting we read the following statement together from America’s Table, A Thanksgiving Reader, Celebrating Our Diverse Roots and Shared Values:
“We are the stewards of America,
her ideals and institutions, her cities and natural beauty.
We are entrusted to understand America’s past and guide her future.
To create an ever more just America that is secure and free,
abundant and caring for all her inhabitants.
We are thankful for the freedom to worship.
We are thankful for the freedom to speak our minds.
We are thankful for the freedom to change our minds.
We are thankful for the freedom to chart our lives.
We are thankful for the freedom to work for a better world.
We are thankful for the freedom to celebrate this day.
In America, each of us is entitled
to a place at the table”.
Amen!
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