Deepened Interfaith Ties

I hope that everyone has been making the most of the past days to reflect upon the previous year. We are not to remain passive during the days in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Rather, we are to seek out those we have hurt in any way and do the best we can to atone.

At the same time, we are to look with optimism and hope to the year that will be. We have been invited to take part in a valuable interfaith gathering on Oct. 14, a mere 16 days after Yom Kippur. This will be an amazing way to start 5770 with style.

You Think Only Jews Fast?

I have a running joke with a local imam (Muslim religious leader): Whenever we serve on an inter-religious community panel discussing a particular topic, we both want to go first. Why? Because after I give my answer about what Judaism teaches, and it’s his turn, he can only say, “ditto.” If he goes first and gives his answer about what Islam teaches, I can only say, “ditto.”

Through my 11 years of being a rabbi, I have learned that much more unites Islam and Judaism than divides us.

On Tuesday evening, September 8, at 7:00 at Temple B’nai Israel’s Blumenthal Wing, we will learn what Muslims and Jews share about fasting.