Source/Credit: New Hyde Park Patch
By Jazlyn Beltre | November 21, 2011
Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Buddhist faiths join together in giving thanks.
Temple Tikvah in New Hyde Park brought together groups of different faiths for their annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Sunday afternoon.
“We are here to awaken ourselves to happiness and to kindness,” said Rabbi Randy Ellen Sheinberg, leading the service.
Although there were different congregations present as well as different languages being spoken, one thing they had in common was the giving of thanks to one God.
The congregations included Temple Tikvah, Hillside United Methodist Church, New Hyde Park Korean Church, Arsha Vedanta Center, Stony Brook University Buddhist Study and Practice Group, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and Temple Judea of Manhasset.
“[It was] very moving and beautiful,” said Rama Vora, who is a Hindu. “It was good to see all of the religions come together.”
The service began with a song, conducted by Cantor Guy Bonne, “Hodu L’ Adonai” meaning "let us give thanks." The service proceeded with the leaders of each congregation sharing their own religion with the room. In their native tongues, each leader traditionally sang songs of thanks to the Lord. In each personal sermon, there was little to no acknowledgment of individual beliefs that would interfere with the message in uniting for the sole purpose of giving thanks.
“This is the gathering of different branches of the same tree,” said Rabbi Todd Chizner of Temple Judea of Manhasset.
In the middle of the service, Rabbi Sheinberg stepped down from the podium to allow members attending the service to speak on what they give thanks for. Members responses ranged from being thankful for the service, to being thankful for the service men and women protecting our country.
A young member of the crowd even expressed his thankfulness for animals.
The service ended with the singing of “America the Beautiful” by the children of the choir and the members of the congregations.
“Beautiful doesn’t do its justice,” said Nasrin G. Ahmad, wife of Ahmad Naeem of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, about the service. “Jews, Buddhists, mostly no one brought up their prophets, they were thanking only one God.”
Sheinberg said she hopes that this is "a cornerstone to a bridge of peace.
Read original post here: Temple Tikvah Helps Bridge Faiths
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