Redlands Interfaith Leaders Honor MLK at Congregation Emanu El Service
By David James Heiss
Redlands News Collective
Ahead of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Congregation Emanu El in Redlands hosted a special Jan. 16 interfaith service focusing on King’s messages of peace, unity and diversity at its temple.
The program was led by Rabbi Cantor Jennifer Bern-Vogel of Emanu El and included remarks from Mark Chitjian of the Center for the Realization of Spirit, the Rev. Bill Dunn of Trinity Episcopal Church, Kawa Shwaish of the Islamic Community Center of Redlands, Pastor Darrell Wesley of Redlands First United Methodist Church and Rozita Samidani of the Baha’i faith.
Bern-Vogel joked to guests that they would not need to try to read Hebrew scripture from right to left, noting that for their convenience a special program had been printed for those who wanted to participate.
Dignitaries who came to show their support included Mayor Mario Saucedo and Councilwoman Denise Davis.
Invoking King, Bern-Vogel said, “We’re reminded that he was a symbol of unity and peace,” and that his inspiration “reminds us of the work we still need to do.”
A candle-lighting ceremony was held in honor of friends and supporters who have passed on.
Chitjian, a spiritual director for the Center for Realization of Spirit, or CRS Redlands, said, “Martin Luther King said that ‘Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and that justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.’ ‘He who is devoid of the power to forgive, is devoid of the power to love.’”
Chitjian continued, “In its most simple terms, diversity can be described as a rich tapestry where all the threads are equal in value, no matter their color. This metaphor beautifully suggests that our unique backgrounds, whether based on race, ethnicity, gender or gender expression, religion, language, sexual orientation or any other differing characteristic including life experience, weave together to create a stronger, more complete picture of society.”
He cited a letter written by King while the civil rights leader was held in a Birmingham, Alabama, jail: “All life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects us all indirectly.”
Shwaish, a member of the city’s planning commission who is a board member of the Islamic Center of Redlands, lauded King.
“May his words echo as a reminder of God’s love,” Shwaish said, paraphrasing verses from his faith that suggest “responding to a blow with a blow brings spiritual darkness,” while responding to negative measures with more virtuous acts of forgiveness is preferable and reconciliatory. “Responding with grace builds friendships,” Shwaish said. “Look past our own echo chambers and treat every human with the dignity they deserve.”
Dunn, a pastor at Trinity Episcopal Church, said, “Friends and neighbors, how appropriate it is for people of different faiths to come together in this Shabbat to remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, to reflect on the lessons he taught, and to renew our commitment to the causes he championed. Dr. King recognized that ‘we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny'.”
Dunn encouraged the community to “renew the commitment to the causes (King) championed,” and cited King as saying, “A man dies when he refuses to stand up for what is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.”
“This is our time to stand,” Dunn said.
Wesley, a pastor at Redlands First United Methodist Church, said, “We are that community that is like a tapestry of different colors, woven together,” and quoted King as preferring to practice love, as “hate is too heavy a burden to bear.”
Samidani, representing the Baha’i community of Redlands, chanted a healing prayer in Farsi, part of which translated as, “Ask whatsoever thou wishest of Him alone; seek whatsoever thou seekest from Him alone. With a look He granteth a hundred thousand hopes; with a glance He healeth a hundred thousand incurable ills; with a nod He layeth balm on every wound,” and, “With a glimpse He freeth the hearts from the shackles of grief.”
Temple President Greg Weissman addressed the congregation, concluding with the enduring sentiments of King.
“How remarkable after 60 years, how one person can change the world and make a difference. It’s no secret that we need this today more than ever before,” Weissman said.
