Residents of all faiths, as well as those who don’t follow a faith, are invited to a multicultural spiritual celebration to give thanks as one at the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service set for Saturday at the Beth Jacob Synagogue.
Food, prayer, music, an opportunity to give to the Imperial Valley Food Bank, and a discussion on the meaning of charity are just some of the things happening during this Thanksgiving event hosted by the Imperial Valley Interfaith Council.
“This is absolutely an educational event and people who are curious should come (and) check it out,” said organizer the Rev. Suzi Jacobson.
“This is the first time we are having it (Interfaith Service) at the synagogue; that is pretty exciting because we had it at churches, the mosque, but never at the synagogue,” said Jacobson.
And because the Jewish faith is hosting the event, “we are going to share Jewish traditions with other people,” said organizer and member of the Jewish community Susan Massey. “We are putting a lot of effort into it. … It’s going to be really nice.”
Songs will be sung in Hebrew and English and participants will be able to witness the closing of the Sabbath.
Rabbi Zach Zysman of Santa Monica will lead the service. Moreover, chaplain Lt. Jared Smith of the Naval Air Facility El Centro, Farooq Ahmad from the Muslim community and others will speak at the event.
This multi-faith collaboration of a unifying Thanksgiving service will be present in the meals and drinks served that evening as well.
“The Jewish community is dong the main dish, the Muslim community is doing the sweets and Christians are bringing the drinks,” said Jacobson, who hopes that in the future more faiths can be represented.
Especially because “we may worship differently and may hold different beliefs, but still have a great deal in common,” said Jacobson who added that with this event the Interfaith Council is pushing “to find ways to build peace in our little community and hopefully have that radiate into the world.”
Staff Writer Alejandro Davila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpressonline.com
If you go
What Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
When 6 p.m. Saturday
Where Temple Beth Jacob 530 Adams Ave., El Centro
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