Rabbi Avi Weiss leading attendees at the interfaith service in song. Pictured from left to right are: Naomi Wolfensohn, President of Congregation Ahavas Israel, Jascha Preuss, Treasurer of Congregation Ahavas Israel, Reverend Robert Czok, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua-St. Alphonsus Parish, Fuad Hageb, of the Greenpoint Islamic Center, Ahavas Israel member Marvin Levine, Keynote Speaker Rabbi Avi Weiss Lorenz Wolffers

It's All-In At Interfaith Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving Eve, Greenpointers of all faiths gathered for the community’s eighth annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service. The inter-denominational service, which is hosted in a different house of worship each year, was held at Noble Street’s historic synagogue, Congregation Ahavas Israel and featured keynote speaker, Rabbi Avi Weiss.
The host synagogue was founded in 1893 and has been operating continuously at 108 Noble Street (Manhattan & Franklin), its landmark 1904 synagogue building. Alternately, known as the Greenpoint Shul, Congregation Ahavas Israel is open to Jews of all backgrounds and has a membership of all ages, reflecting Greenpoint’s changing demographics.

Ahavas Israel President, Naomi Wolfensohn, opened the evening’s program by welcoming the attendees, specifically acknowledging the various clergy in attendance, as well as community leaders Assemblymember Joe Lentol and Community Board 1 District Manager, Gerry Esposito.

Pastor Ann Kansfield of the Greenpoint Reformed Church was the first member of the clergy to address the crowd. She recognized the assistance the Reformed Church receives from other community religious leaders and congregations, specifically in their monumental effort to provide food for the needy at their soup kitchen.

Pastor Ann Kansfield, Greenpoint Reformed Church
(photo credit: Talia Bloch)

Pastor Ann was followed by Chuck Chesnevage from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, who concluded with the Iroquois Prayer for Thanksgiving, thanking Mother Earth’s elements (sun, water, etc.) for their uses, and “the Great Spirit, in whom is embodied all goodness, and who directs all things for the good of his children.”

Fuad Hageb, spokesman for the Greenpoint Islamic Center, greeted the assembly with the traditional Hebrew “Shalom Aleichem” and Arabic “Salaam Alaikum” greeting meaning “Peace be with you,” to which the audience responded in turn. After announcing that he would be stepping down from his role at the Islamic Center at year’s end to travel abroad, Hageb called upon Imam Saber Al-Kilani’s wife, Sister Nur Al-Kilani, to speak on behalf of the Mosque, as the Imam Al-Kilani is currently on the Hajj).

Sister Nur Al-Kilani wife Greenpoint Islamic Center Imam Saber Al-Kilani
(photo credit: Talia Bloch)

Sister Nur began by apologizing for her public speaking skills, calling herself “the new kid on the block.” Her apology was completely unnecessary, as her speaking (at least the English), was excellent; although her American accented Arabic may have been the cause for her concern. She received several nods and a few chuckles when she quoted Sartre’s “Hell is other people,” and reminded that, at times, each of us is “someone else’s hell.”

Wolfensohn retook the stage to introduce keynote speaker, Rabbi Avi Weiss, founder and President of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah (YCT), a Jewish rabbinical school in Manhattan where students are encouraged to work with diverse communities around the world, ranging from New Orleans to as far as Ghana, El Salvador and Nicaragua. YCT students have attended monthly interfaith dialogue meetings with Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Greek Orthodox and Unitarians. Weiss is also the Senior Rabbi at The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, a Modern and Open Orthodox synagogue in the Bronx with more than 800 families, which hosts numerous interfaith events, open to all.

Rabbi Avi Weiss, Founder and President of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and Senior Rabbi at The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale
(photo credit: Talia Bloch)

Weiss’ speech stressed inclusivity among the major religions. He discussed some of the different interfaith events with which he is involved, such as an annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day event held with the Green Pastures Baptist Church choir at The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, and the pleasure he derives from watching members of the different faiths join together to worship as one. He gave the example of watching four Latino rock guitarists play “This Is the House” at Pope John Paul II’s Yankee Stadium appearance.

Then he began to sing. And sway. “Lean on me when you’re not strong, And I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on. For it won’t be long, ‘Til I’m gonna need, Somebody to lean on.” Some audience members joined in with Rabbi Weiss and two kids (we’ll call them the Perlmutter kids for this article), had what seemed like a great time running through the synagogue’s balcony.

Getting back to the Thanksgiving theme, Rabbi Weiss gave his thanks to the United States, our troops, and their families. He cited the US’ strict separation of church and state, and specifically that there is no state sanctioned religion, as the main reason people of all faiths can worship together in mutual respect.

He then led the congregants through two more songs, encouraging each congregant to put his or her arm around the person next to them, while they sang. And swayed.

Following Rabbi Weiss’ presentation, Father Czok, Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua-St. Alphonsus Parish, closed the ceremony with a short prayer.
With the evening’s speeches and prayers at an end, Wolfensohn invited the attendees, who in addition to those mentioned during her welcoming remarks, included a who’s-who of local leaders such as State District Leader Steve Cohn and representatives from Assemblyman Vito Lopez’ and Councilmember David Yassky’s offices, to join her in the synagogue’s newly renovated basement for what was erroneously described as light refreshments in the program. “Actually, Jews never have light refreshments,” she said.

All-in-all, it was a terrific event bearing a positive and infinitely important message of inclusion, diversity and tolerance, especially as the service was performed in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, when religious extremists killed more than 100 people in India.