More than 200 people joined clergy of all faiths at a Thanksgiving holiday service held Nov. 18 at Temple Beth El in Oakhurst.

The occasion was the first time the annual service, sponsored by the Greater Long Branch Ministerium, was hosted at a synagogue.

The service included prayers, readings, and songs led by clergy belonging to the ministerium, an interfaith organization.

"The Thanksgiving holiday is a great time to participate in worship along with our Jewish and non-Jewish friends, give thanks for the blessings we enjoy, and celebrate the gift of being part of the greater community," Rabbi Gordon Yaffe, religious leader at Beth El and vice president of the ministerium, told NJ Jewish News. "I hope the service will act as a catalyst and encourage community cooperation about other shared concerns, such as the promotion of family values, respect, tolerance, mutual understanding, and diversity."

The interfaith organization was founded by Protestant clergy during the 1950s, although in the years since, it has grown to include Catholic and Jewish congregations.

The Nov. 18 service was a day of joy and music, said Beth El Cantor Marcia Lane, who directed 25 adult choir members from local houses of worship, along with the temple's seven-member youth choir, during the interfaith service.

"Hosting this service was a very special occasion," said Lane. "It was a chance for those who came from other synagogues and churches to develop a sense of ease and understanding in different places of worship. And music is a unifying force that can always bring people together."

The choir performances added elements of peace and goodwill to the service, said Sister Gerrie Contento of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Long Branch.

"This was a wonderful opportunity to sing and worship in this beautiful facility," she said. "When people come together in this way, doors are opened and friendship grows. And praying and singing together is a shared and joyful experience."

It was a special experience for Jordan Zawodniak, 12, of Wall, who sang with Beth El's youth choir during the service. "It really was fun to sing and I like to meet new people," he said. "I want to be part of something like this again."

The needs of community members who rely on area food banks for assistance were not forgotten. Donations from attendees at the service resulted in the collection of $800, which will be divided among three area food pantries.

"It's really all about what happens after we leave this service," said Yaffe. "I hope the spirit of community will last far beyond today. Prayer helps us realize what we need to pray for, and this kind of worship can help us focus on the meaningful things in our lives."