Once again, our faith traditions have something in common: how our religious obligation to give and to be charitable is carried out similarly and differently.
We extend a warm invitation to all our Central Reform Temple (CRT) women members — and their guests — to our next meetings. It is a real pleasure to build friendships with women from the Turkish Cultural Center (TCC) of Boston for over two years. Each meeting attracts continuing and new participants along with friends of Temple members. The discussions are lively and open to different interpretations. Some of us bring cultural food to share. We do hope that you can join us.
The focus of our February 23 meeting will be on Tzedakah, literally meaning fairness or righteousness but commonly used to signify charity. This tradition is shared in Islam and called Sedaqah (pronounced just like Tzedakah). Jennifer Coplon, a CRT member and a founder of Sisters in Spirit, and Esra Cansizoglu from TCC will lead the conversation, with off-line assistance from Rabbi Devon Lerner.
Our congregation is excited to be renewing our past connection with Peace Islands: Boston Dialogue Foundation, a Turkish Islamic organization with whom we have cooperated in interfaith dialogue and other programs over the past four years.
In the midst of the continuing imperative for dialogue and relationship building between all of America’s faith communities – highlighted in this decade following September 11th – there is a special compelling need for American Jews and Muslims to reach out to one another. Peace Islands is a progressive Islamic community and a unique voice in the Muslim community, offering a particularly compatible counterpoint to our Temple’s liberal Reform Jewish commitment.
Our monthly dialogue conversations focus on various issues of our two faiths – our views on Torah/Koran, on belief and practice. We celebrate our respective holidays together, with our Muslim partners joining us for Chanukah and Passover Seder, and our own participation in Ramadan celebrations and other observances. The women of both Central Reform Temple and Peace Islands join together in an additional regular gathering named Sisters in Spirit, sharing their own spiritual experiences and traditions as committed women of faith.