Through friendship, church becomes temple for Yom Kippur

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 9/29/15

Differences in religion can often be a source of contention amongst groups of people, but last Tuesday night, the beginning of Yom Kippur, the West Bay Community Jewish Center (WBCJC) was welcomed …

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Through friendship, church becomes temple for Yom Kippur

Posted

Differences in religion can often be a source of contention amongst groups of people, but last Tuesday night, the beginning of Yom Kippur, the West Bay Community Jewish Center (WBCJC) was welcomed with open arms into the Pilgrim Lutheran Church and returned the favor by asking Pastor Dennis Kohl to deliver the sermon on the holiest of Jewish holidays.

Yom Kippur, also known as a day of atonement, where those of the Jewish faith observe over 24 hours of fasting and intense prayer.

Although ceremonies for Yom Kippur are more often than not hosted in a synagogue, the WBCJC does not have a building of its own and regularly holds service in Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence.

For High Holidays though, such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Rabbi Richard E. Perlman thought it best to be in a house of worship, even if that house is of another religion.

Perlman said that although Pastor Kohl didn’t “bat an eye” when asked if the WBCJC could use the Pilgrim Lutheran Church, he knew that there would be members of his congregation who wouldn’t attend the services in a Christian church or would hesitate in doing so.

Although not a common practice locally, Perlman pointed out that across the globe economic hardship has brought many faiths together to share a space of worship.

Much of the Christian memorabilia was removed from the space to make the Jewish congregation feel more “welcomed and comfortable.”

“There may have been a few who felt uncomfortable at the beginning of the services, but that was gone within the first few moments of the ceremony,” Perlman said.

This partnership is actually a result of a longtime friendship between Kohl and Perlman as well as other religious leaders in the community.

Kohl explained that the friendship is one that grew out of “working together to feed the community.”

“We have all worked hard to bring the community together and we realized we all worship the same God. We may call him different names, but we share the common goal to bring people closer to him,” Perlman said.

Inviting Kohl to give the sermon last Tuesday was just one of many from Perlman in the continued effort to bring the community closer together.

He said that he hopes in learning and working together, some of the “xenophobia and misconceptions” that exists when others don’t understand a culture or faith can be dispelled.

Kohl was “amazed and humbled” at the opportunity to not only sit in on a Jewish ceremony but to present the sermon. He said it was a chance to witness how others connect with God. During the ceremony he spoke of atonement, how God wants his people to reconcile and find peace with one another.

“When hatred and violence are so often taking the center sage what we are doing tonight changes that tone,” Kohl said. “For if we don’t seek peace who will.”

He said that the sermon is not unlike one he would present to his own Christian congregation. “It’s one of those messages that resounds with everyone,” he said the next day.

Perlman said members of the WBCJC were happy to be a part of such an unusual and unique service. They were “touched by Kohl’s “honesty and realness.”

Perlman was moved by the attendance at the ceremony. Over the past 10 years he said he has seen a “dwindling” of attendance, but at last Tuesday’s Yom Kippur service he saw nearly double the amount in attendance from the year before.

Comments

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  • TheSkipper

    Did I miss something or did Kelcy Dolan forget to introduce us who (Mr.?), (Rabbi?), "Perlman" is?

    Tuesday, September 29, 2015 Report this

  • longtimewarwickite

    Sacrilegious! On the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, the Day of Atonement, the day we ask forgiveness for our sins, to be praying in a church, with the stained glass cross shining down on them. And to have a Christian pastor delivering the sermon? For shame!

    Tuesday, September 29, 2015 Report this