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June 6, 2003/Sivan 6 5763, Vol. 55, No. 41
What about intrafaith dialogue?
BARRY COHEN
Editor
Recently, I returned a phone message from Scott Coles, who said he had a story idea.
He explained that at the end of Passover this year, he was fishing with his family at Munds Park in Pinewood. A van pulled up, and adults and children piled out. After a while, though Coles did not know who they were, he eventually walked over to the group and offered to share his extra fishing poles.
They struck up a conversation, which led to Coles' inviting the strangers - the Rihan family - to his Pinewood house, for a meal and for the children to ride ATVs on the expansive property.
What makes this story worthy to be covered?
The Coles are American Jews, and the Rihans are American Palestinians.
Coles forwarded me one of their e-mail exchanges.
"We were able to put politics and stereotyping aside and just be humane and kind," wrote Samantha Rihan.
"This is an example of people getting along with just people. ... (Of) families that share values and kindness towards other families," responded Scott.
Constructive interfaith dialogue should be celebrated. I have written about my close friendship with Dr. Mohammad Jasser, a Valley resident and Muslim who grew up in Syria. Jewish News has reported the unique Muslim-Jewish dialogue, spearheaded by Jasser and Temple Kol Ami's Rabbi B. Charles Herring, and covered the groundbreaking of the Islamic Cultural Center of the Northeast Valley, attended by Muslims, Jews and Christians.
But we need more than interfaith dialogue.
An incident with a radically different outcome than the hand of hospitality the Coles extended to the Rihans recently took place in Israel.
As reported in the Jerusalem Post May 29, vandals sprayed graffiti - "Bet Kenesset me'urav l'erev" (a mixed synagogue for the rabble) - on the walls of a Masorti synagogue.
The Masorti movement is Israel's version of Conservative Judaism. Me'urav l'erev is a reference to the "mixed multitude" that went forth with the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Someone or some group - undoubtedly Jews - does not like the way Masorti Jews are expressing their Judaism.
What a contrast between how some Jews and Muslims are interacting in the Valley.
Though interfaith dialogue should be encouraged, we cannot overlook the need for intrafaith dialogue.
In the Valley, while violence between Jews has not broken out, clear divisions exist. There are two boards of rabbis - one representing the Orthodox and the other representing Conservative, Reform and Renewal - but next to no communication between the boards takes place.
And I would argue that little to no interaction occurs between Orthodox and Reform synagogues, between Chabad and Humanist.
The Jewish people have enough problems and controversies - even enemies.
Through dialogue, we can lessen the divisions that separate us, rediscover the values that bind us, and absolutely refuse to turn on ourselves.
Contact the writer at barry_cohen@jewishaz.com.
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