Discussing interfaith peace-building during an Abraham’s Table panel discussion are, from left, Rabbi Laurence Malinger of Temple Shalom in Aberdeen, Pastor Loril Hawk of the Matawan First Presbyterian Church, and Dr. Levent Koc, executive director of the Interfaith Dialogue Center in Newark.
Photo by Jill Huber
November 4, 2008
An Aberdeen rabbi joined Muslim and Christian colleagues in a discussion of interfaith peace-building.
Rabbi Laurence Malinger, religious leader of Temple Shalom, said peace among the three faiths can be achieved by dialogue, tolerance — and the grace of God.
“Dialogue is essential in promoting understanding of these three faiths,” Malinger told NJ Jewish News. “And belief in God and his teachings is also essential, and the result can be a more peaceful world.”
Malinger was one of three panelists at the Oct. 23 Abraham’s Table luncheon. Sponsored by the Interfaith Dialogue Center in Newark, a nonprofit founded by Turkish-Americans, the event took place at the Matawan First Presbyterian Church.
Joining the rabbi was the church’s Pastor Loril Hawk and IDC executive director Dr. Levent Koc.
The gathering, which attracted a diverse audience of 60, was intended to promote interfaith peace and understanding, said Koc, who presented the Muslim perspective.
“The Muslim religion encourages dialogue, and we need this type of dialogue in today’s world,” Koc told NJJN. “It is one way of finding solutions to many of the problems that face us, such as war, poverty, and political and religious differences. And talking in this way is an encouraging thing; it can plant the seeds of peace.”
The desire for peace is a common thread among the Abrahamic faiths, each of which believes in a sovereign God, said Hawk, who has been the pastor at the Presbyterian church since June.
“I’m a huge proponent of interfaith dialogue,” she told NJJN. “Too often, we let barriers get in the way of peace and redemption, but dialogue helps us focus on our similarities rather than our differences. Each faith emphasizes that we all should work toward peace and that can happen if we learn to see each other in each other.”
Hebrew scriptures, the New Testament, and the Koran all sound a call for peace, said Malinger.
“Abraham is a common ancestor among Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and each Abrahamic faith identifies God as a model for how to live,” he said. “And none of these faiths condones violence. The common belief is live and let live, and that can only be achieved through mutual understanding.
“Each attempt at dialogue moves people in the right direction,” he continued. “Talking like this challenges and deepens our own faiths and encourages us to explore other beliefs.”
As a result, tribes and nations can learn to understand each other, Koc said.
“Diversity is God’s choice,” he said. “We’re permitted to educate others, but it’s not all right to force our beliefs on others.”
A higher covenant
Sometimes, however, different belief systems clash, Koc said.
“The Koran praises that which is peaceful, virtuous, and righteous,” he said. “These values are recognized by God. Sadly, war is sometimes inevitable, but only as a last resort, and even our enemies should be treated with mercy.”
When the values of each Abrahamic religion are passed from generation to generation, a “higher covenant,” is formed, Malinger said.
“The belief in one God allows us to celebrate our common ground, and this is reflected in the sacred texts of each of these religions,” he said. “There is something there for all humanity.”
The path through nonviolence is reflected in the religious texts, Hawk said.
“The entire Bible promotes the concept of peace making, with God at the center,” she said. “Peace can serve as the positive relationship between people, nations, and communities, and righteousness and justice equal peace. Because of these concepts, hope can endure, even through disappointment.”
Regarding people of other faiths as equals and promoting dialogue beyond our own lives and circles of influence will move society closer to peace, the panelists said.
“It’s easier to be frightened if you don’t see that all people are equal,” said Malinger. “Interaction and acceptance lead to social justice. Each of us must ask ourselves how we can help our families, our communities, and our places of worship, and interfaith dialogue is a means to achieve those ends. The message of God is acceptance and tolerance.”
Information about the IDC is available at www.idcnj.org.
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