|
|
Concert aims to bridge interfaith gap with music
RANDI BAROCAS
Staff Writer
Members of nearly a dozen different religions will come together from across the Valley on Thursday, Aug. 20, at Phoenix Civic Plaza, to teach each other about their different faiths through song.
The Interfaith Action Coalition of Arizona's multi-faith, worship-music concert, "Voices of Faith," is an extension of last year's "Faces of Faith" lecture event. The goal of the concert, much like last year's oral presentations on creation beliefs, is to educate the greater community about the practices and beliefs of different religions. Such knowledge can only help "tear down the walls of fear ... and judgment" that exist between faiths, said Priscilla Sharp, a member of the Bah 'ˇ Fellowship and secretary of the interfaith coalition.
"The three watchwords of (the Interfaith Action Coalition of Arizona) are understanding, respect and support," Sharp said. "We find that it is such a wonderful experience when you understand your neighbor, why he believes what he does and the way he practices (his faith)."
Even though last year's community event drew about 1,300 - many more than expected, according to Sharp - organizers wanted to try something different this year. Rabbi Robert Kravitz, Arizona area director of the American Jewish Committee and a member of the interfaith coalition's steering committee, said organizers felt that a concert format would appeal to an even wider audience, while at the same time providing "another aspect of each other's religions that we don't know enough about."
"This is a phenomenal opportunity for people to learn about the worship traditions of their neighbors," Kravitz said. "We had heard from our individual communities that there was a very strong desire to learn more (about each others' religions) in a non-threatening, safe environment. This concert gives us an opportunity to share the sounds and feelings of (each others') worship."
The Voices of Faith concert will include representatives from the Bah 'ˇ, Buddhist, Catholic, Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), Protestant, Christian Science, Hindu (Gaudiya Valshnavism), Jewish, Muslim, Quaker (Society of Friends) and Sikh faiths.
The concert will feature everything from Eastern mantras to American gospel, as well as selections of traditional Jewish music performed by Hazzan Devin Goldenberg of Har Zion Congregation and Cantor Sharona Feller of Temple Chai. Goldenberg will perform a trio of works, including his own Torah-based composition for gospel choir.
Those attending the event, which begins at 5:30 p.m., will be greeted by the sounds of Birds of Steel, a steel drum band. Shortly thereafter, the concert will begin with a Muslim call to prayer, presented in Arabic, followed by chanting from the Koran and explanations of the significance of the music to members of the Muslim faith.
Other faiths represented will perform music of religious significance as well, while also providing concert-goers with explanations about the use of music in their various religious traditions, either before, during or after their performances.
Kravitz said he expects about 3,000 people to attend the event.
As for next year, "Who knows? Maybe America West Arena!" Sharp joked.
"We're taking it a year at a time," she said, adding that the interfaith coalition already is discussing next year's format and is considering "offering something about lifecycle events and rituals from the different faiths."
For more information about the Voices of Faith concert, call the American Jewish Committee at 248-8845.
|
