Monday, July 13, 2009

Man, I love Jews.

From the Baltimore Sun:

On a typical summer Sunday, the doors of Temple Oheb Shalom are locked tight. With observances of the Jewish Sabbath taking place on Friday night and Saturday and religious school out until fall, the Park Heights Avenue building sits empty.

Not yesterday. Hundreds of congregants of a different faith poured into the sanctuary, bringing along their love of God, their upbeat music and their fervent prayer to the otherwise quiet house of worship. A fire July 1 damaged the historic Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Upton and left its flock with no place to come together. But an offer from the synagogue's leaders gave them temporary refuge as their landmark building is repaired.

. . .

"It solidifies what I've always believed," said Joshua Lawton, 23, of Towson, a relatively new member of the church. "It doesn't matter what religion you are - it's all about God. Period. End of story. Everything else is just about details."
I like this story, and wanted to share.

7 comments:

gartlande said...

I pass this temple frequently, and was taken inside a few years ago by a friend who belonged there. It's a beautiful synagogue. I remember thinking it reminded me of the Catholic church where my grandmother went. How wonderful that others can feel that welcome when they need it most.

Self said...

"It doesn't matter what religion you are - it's all about God. Period. End of story. Everything else is just about details."

Hooray for sensible people!

Hypatia said...

Sort of the inverse of this story: When I was a kid, the synagogue a few blocks from my house caught fire, and the church on our corner (which also had "people with AIDS are welcome" signs up in the early 80s) offered their space while the roof was being repaired.

Jocelyn said...

Hypatia - That sounds like a great church.

Meanwhile, I had a teacher at Catholic school who told me (in like 2001) that everyone with AIDS deserved it.

ntsc said...

St. Johns the Unfinished in NYC has had Jewish congregation that uses it's space. I don't know that this is currently true, but it has been in the past.

Anonymous said...

You can love them a little less now.

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/08/01/three-shot-dead-during-gay-youth-support-group-meeting

Friend Of Dorothy Zbornak

Jocelyn said...

Anonymous - Well, there's crazies in every religion. Obviously.

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