Festival of Faith

One of the best ways for a stranger to become a friend is by sharing a meal together.

A year-and-a-half ago, we had such an opportunity when Jews, Christians and Muslims gathered at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church to break bread.

On April 13, we have an opportunity to do the same.

With its “Festival of Faith,” St. Luke’s has invited Temple B’nai Israel and the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City to share dinner, preceding a lecture by best-selling author Bruce Feiler.

We had such an amazing experience with St. Luke’s in the fall of 2009; a significant number of Temple members contributed their time and energy to help represent the Jewish community.

For that event, Jews, Christians and Muslims ate together, socialized, prayed, and hopefully learned that more unites us than divides us.

Author Bruce Feiler has devoted much of his professional life to this effort. With his book “Abraham,” Feiler reveals how our patriarch is big enough for the world’s three monotheistic faiths to share; our embracing Abraham is not a zero-sum game.

Feiler’s “Walking the Bible” and ”Where God Was Born” make the Torah’s ancient narratives as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago.

After our dinner at 5:00, Feiler will speak at a lecture open to the public.

His most recent work is “The Council of Dads: My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could Be Me.” This book spoke to my heart. He wrote of his Southern Jewish roots and raising a Jewish family. He described the beauty and challenges of twins and his fears when he confronted a life-threatening illness. Feiler reflected upon the preciousness of life and wondered, if he lost his life, who would be “dad” to his daughters?

As many of you know, I faced my own health crisis when I was only 19. I suffered a brain hemorrhage; if the timing had been different or had the location of the hemorrhage been deeper in my brain, I would never have survived, let alone married or become a dad.

When I read Feiler’s latest work, I too reflected upon the preciousness of life, family, parenthood and friendship. I feel lucky to have become the dad of beautiful twins and look forward to our many adventures to come.

Please join us at the “Festival of Faith” on Wednesday, April 13. Dinner (which is free) will be at 5:00, followed by Feiler’s lecture at 6:45. St. Luke’s United Methodist Church is located at 222 NW 15th Street, Oklahoma City. After the lecture, Feiler will have a book-signing.

I want to thank Sarah Harel and the ICSS committee for having Confirmation Academy students attend Feiler’s lecture.

Please e-mail me if you will be attending the special 5:00 dinner.

Looking forward to seeing you at the “Festival of Faith.”