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Congregations join in events highlighting the needs of children
LOU HIRSH
Managing Editor
Valley Jewish congregations will be among the religious communities participating in an interfaith "Children's Sabbath" event Sunday, Oct. 18, organized by the Arizona Ecumenical Council in an effort to draw attention to the social needs of children.
The celebration, which coincides with the seventh annual National Observance of Children's Sabbaths, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Patriots Park in Phoenix.
Ecumenical council member Patti Phillips, chairwoman of the event, said representatives of many faiths will give performances and presentations at the celebration, which will feature music, dancing and singing by children's groups from congregations around the state. Among those performing will be a children's choir from Temple Chai in Phoenix, led by Cantor Sharona Feller. Several other Valley Jewish congregations are expected to have representatives in attendance, but an exact number or listing was not available from Phillips at press time.
The national observance, sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund in cooperation with more than 200 denominations and religious organizations, is designed to affirm a national commitment of people of faith to the needs of children. This year's events focus in particular on the need for quality child care and after-school programs.
Phillips said the Phoenix celebration will allow congregations to focus on prayer, educational opportunities, community outreach and advocacy initiatives on behalf of children in need.
"It's a chance for everyone to stop and think about what children in lots of places are going through, and to keep in mind what we can do to help them," said Phillips. She noted that the celebration will also serve as the kick-off for a week-long state campaign called "Stop Abuse and Violence Everywhere" (S.A.V.E.), an outgrowth of a call earlier this year by Gov. Jane Hull to take action against child abuse and family violence.
Speakers at the Sunday event will include experts and advocates in areas such as child care and domestic abuse. Phillips said organizers are hoping for a turnout of at least 500 in addition to the participating congregations.
Some Valley synagogues also plan their own events this weekend in conjunction with the national observance. Among those is Temple Emanuel of Tempe, which will hold a "Childcare Now Shabbat" at 7:45 p.m. today (Friday, Oct. 16) at the temple, 5801 S. Rural Road.
Kate Hanley, executive director of the Tempe Community Council's human service planning and administrative arm, will be the guest speaker. Temple Emanuel administrator Evan Du Bro said the program is being coordinated as part of the temple's social- action efforts in the community. He added that his temple will also be among those participating in the Sunday celebration.
The Rev. Paul Eppinger, executive director of the ecumenical council, said Arizona in particular needs to heighten the priority placed on children's issues. Citing statistics from the Children's Action Alliance, a statewide research, education and advocacy organization, he noted that there were 38,000 reported cases of child abuse and neglect in Arizona from July 1996 to June 1997. According to the alliance, one out of every four Arizona children - a total of about 275,000 children - are living in poverty.
"Arizona children are worse off as a group than their counterparts in 41 other states," Eppinger said in a news release announcing the Phoenix event. "It's up to the citizens of Arizona, especially communities of faith, to form a front-line defense against abuse and violence for our state's children and their families."
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