By Rabbi Michael Beals, Temple Beth El
With the exponential rise in antisemitism, post-October 7th 2023, there has been a need to create more interfaith bridges between our Jewish and non-Jewish neighbors.
We got a first taste of that bridge-building last month, when Maestro Simone Tartaglione, Music Director of the Newark Symphony Orchestra, created Delaware’s first-ever Jewish Heritage Concert, featuring Bernstein’s Jeremiah Symphony, Fuhrman’s Avinu Malkeinu Fantasia on a Jewish Prayer, Tumbalalaika, and an all-synagogue choir original arrangement of Oseh Shalom. The fact that this was initiated by a non-Jewish organization in order to help build bridges with the Jewish community was extraordinary.
This month, the Newark Interfaith Council, also worried about the rise in antisemitism, voted unanimously to hold their annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration at Temple Beth El. It has been many years since Newark’s only synagogue was asked to host this celebration. But because of the rise of antisemitism, the interfaith clergy, representing different denominations of Christianity—as well as Seikh, Muslim, and Jewish houses of worship—felt that hosting the event at the synagogue would help build ties with the local Jewish community. This is now the second time in recent memory that a non-Jewish organization reached out to the Jewish community to extend an outstretched hand of friendship.
These extraordinary examples of reaching out as caring allies to Delaware’s Jews exemplify the true spirit of Thanksgiving.
Temple Beth El’s Choir Director, Susan Shertok, will be gathering choirs from all the local houses of worship to learn a familiar setting of Oseh Shalom, the Jewish prayer of peace.
Aside from great music, each religious leader will present a sacred text both in English and in the native language of that house of worship elevating this year’s theme: Celebrating Commitment to Community, in their unique faith tradition.
Judaism is replete with texts spotlighting community, from the Pirkei Avot maxim: don’t separate yourself from the community, to the Pesach Haggadah describing the Wicked Son as the one who uses the language, “this is on account of what the Lord did for YOU” instead of “what the Lord did for US,” as he excludes himself from the community. And, of course, in the Torah itself, in the Book of Exodus, Moses is successful in building the mishkan (the Tabernacle), because ve’yakel. Why? Because Moses creates a community of givers by being inclusive, and lifting up all the givers, from those who bring gold, to those who bring multi-colored yarn, to those who provide their skills and craftmanship.
The Newark Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration will be held on Tuesday, November 25 at 7:00 PM, at Temple Beth El, 301 Possum Park Rd., Newark, DE 19711, and is free and open to the public.
