Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration at Temple Beth El

An Interfaith Thanksgiving program took place on Sunday evening Nov. 24 th at Temple Beth El. Participating with Temple El were Grace Church on Carpenter Street,
Westgate Baptist Church on Harrisburg Pike, Trinity United Church of Christ on State
Street, and Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Manheim.

Approximately 80 people attended. Songs and hymns were sung by representatives of
the churches and TBE Glee. There were several readings. After Ed Moran, from
Westgate Baptist, read the verses from Psalm 136, everyone responded for the refrains
in Hebrew, saying “ki l’olam hasdo” (“for God’s love endures forever”.)

Charlene Martin, from Westgate Baptist Church, explained why she launched this interfaith dialogue in February, when she brought petitions signed by 90 members of
three churches, decrying the rise in antisemitism and expressing support for the Jewish
community.

Pastor Mark Ammerman told how his (5 times or more Great) Grandfather, Roger
Williams, settled Rhode Island and made it a place where all religions could be
practiced, including Judaism.

Terri Ammerman described the important work being achieved by Blessings of Hope,
based in Ephrata, to provide large quantities of food for the needy. Over $400 in
donations were deposited in baskets as attendees left the sanctuary.

After we sang “America, The Beautiful”, Cantor Chesler concluded the program with the three Priestly Blessings, in Hebrew and in English.

There was a full dessert reception in the Katie Weisman Social Hall. Every table had a
mix of TBE members and congregants from the various churches; conversations
continued for over an hour before most people started to leave. The spirit was warm
and friendly all evening.

We thank Pastor Mark Ammerman and Reverends Robert Zimmerman, Kate Warn and
Jack Espenshade, along with the members of the churches, for participating with
Temple Beth El. The hard work by Cantor Chesler and Lizz Keppel to organize the
program is appreciated. We hope to build on this interfaith relationship going forward.

A copy of the program for the event can be found here.