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‘Children of Abraham’ together
Jews, Christians and Muslims gather for a Passover meal in Florida
By Richard K. MacMasterGAINESVILLE, Fla. — Passover was different here this year, uniting people of three faiths.
Participants eat and converse at an interfaith “Seder for the Children of Abraham” April 8 hosted by Emmanuel Mennonite Church. — Photo provided by Richard MacMaster
Emmanuel Mennonite Church hosted an interfaith “Seder for the Children of Abraham” April 8 with about 70 participants: one-third Muslim, one-third Jewish and one-third Christian.
Dennis Shuman and Renee Hoffinger of P’nai Or, a Jewish renewal congregation, composed and led a haggadah — the order of service for a Seder — blending Jewish tradition with Christian and Muslim contributions.
Afterward one Muslim participant, Saeed Khan, wrote in an e-mail: “Even though I have Jewish and Christian co-workers and friends, this was my first time to a gathering such as this, and it was a moving experience. Perhaps we can continue this type of activities and learn more about each other’s traditions, thereby learning about each other.”
Arjet Gega, another Muslim participant, said, “I enjoyed every moment of it and met some new friends. I hope to see [everyone] in similar future organizations.”
In conversation at the dinner, a Palestinian acknowledged that “I could not have attended anything like this a few years ago, but I’m glad I came tonight. We are really alike. We all like to eat. We all love our children. We all want to live in peace.”
This ecumenical Passover Seder was the first public event sponsored by United Voices for Peace, a grassroots initiative of Gainesville Jews, Muslims and Christians.
The group was formed after a small number of local Jews and Muslims gathered for a peace demonstration in downtown Gainesville in response to the suffering of the Israeli incursion into Gaza.
Encouraged by the goodwill created by this event, the participants arranged to meet for study and dialogue on Middle East issues. They needed a place to meet, so they contacted their friends at Emmanuel Mennonite Church, which rents meeting space from Westminster Presbyterian Church. Westminster agreed to share their facilities, and Eve and Richard MacMaster of Emmanuel agreed to serve on the steering committee of United Voices.
Emmanuel Mennonite Church has been doing peace work with Jews and Muslims since 2001, sponsoring speakers, panel discussions, peace vigils and prayer services. The Passover Seder was the first event with a majority of Muslim and Jewish participants.
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