An Interfaith Trip for the Ages
March 22, 2010
Several weeks ago, I was one of several Temple members helping the children of Rabbi Robert and Charlotte Shapiro (both of blessed memory) in the difficult but necessary job of sorting through a number of file boxes and keepsakes in preparation for the cleaning and sale of our “rabbinage.” We were trying to make the determination of which items had either intrinsic or sentimental value for the surviving family members or for our congregation, which they had been part of for some forty years.
There was one item in particular that caught my attention — a plaque given by the leaders and membership of Old North Church, honoring Rabbi Shapiro on the occasion of his retirement, which the family didn’t wish to keep, and which I felt carried no small amount of historical value as part of Judaism in America. The story of our two communities of faith sharing a covenantal bond of friendship for nearly half a century is the kind of story that could ONLY be told on these shores, and so along with a lengthy explanatory note, the plaque now resides in the American Jewish Archives in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Our covenant with Old North has, nearly from our establishment, been an important part of our very identity as a Temple community, and even though Old North preceded our founding by more than 300 years (!), that same covenant is looked at with both pride and seriousness whenever Old North tells its own story as a church and community. But to be both candid and direct, I believe that the strength of our relationship has diminished in recent years, and it is clear to me that, as a whole, our current membership seems to hold it with somewhat lesser appreciation than had been the case in the decades prior.
I have discussed my feelings quite openly with Rev. Calhoun, and he agrees that a combination of our Temple’s demographic changes and Old North’s period of several pastoral transitions are key factors to consider. But more importantly, we likewise both agree that the time is ripe to do something dramatic that will re-invigorate our precious and historic relationship.
And that is why we will be travelling to Israel together – Temple Emanu-El and Old North Church, and that, too, will be of historical importance, particularly for our two congregations. News of our plans have been slowly getting out (the trip will take place from February 13 – 24, 2011), and during Rev. Calhoun’s recent Friday night sermon, as part of our ongoing and annual “Pulpit Exchange”, he described most eloquently what this trip will mean to him as a pastor and even more, as a Christian. When I preach at Old North later this month, I’ll also be reflecting on the significance of the trip.
I am grateful that the Reverend gave me the opportunity, based mainly on my years of experience visiting Israel, to shape our itinerary, and I devoted a great deal of time during my recent “mini-Sabbatical” to do just that. As I’ve expressed in the past, I have always found great beauty and spiritual inspiration, not only from the “Jewish sites” in Israel, but from the Christian holy places as well. So for instance, a little over a year ago, during a break from my Convention activities, I took the opportunity to tour the grounds and gardens of Notre Dame de Tsion, a French monastery located high in the Jerusalem hills, dedicated to contemplation, hospitality, and interfaith understanding.
As part of our trip with Old North, I’ve arranged for us to share a lovely lunch up in those gardens – a place that the vast majority of Jewish tourists never venture. And it will follow immediately on the heels of our trip to Yad VaShem, the newly re-built Holocaust Memorial which can be seen from afar. Of course, on our journey we’ll see the ancient and contemporary Jewish holy places in Jerusalem. We will explore the fortress of Masada, dig for archeological treasures from the days of the Maccabees, and learn the story of Israel’s modern independence through the architecture of Tel Aviv. And of course, we will worship together on Shabbat.
But we will also worship together on the Sunday following, and we’ll do so near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City’s Christian Quarter. We will follow in the footsteps of the New Testament Apostles, as we sail aboard a ship across the Sea of the Galilee, dine in the cellar of a hillside winery, climb the Mount Of Beatitudes (the site of the famous “Sermon on the Mount”), and walk inside an ancient synagogue in Capernaum, where Jesus himself used to worship as a Jew.
Designing this trip has truly been a “labor of love”, and I’ll admit that the days will be rather full, but still with enough free time for folks and families to explore on their own. In case you can’t tell, I couldn’t be more excited. More information will be coming soon. Feel free to be in touch with any questions in the meanwhile. As we’ve said for centuries: Next year in Jerusalem!
