My congregation shares its building with a Reform Jewish congregation, Bat Yam--Temple of the Islands. For years, our congregations have shared a close relationship, but this covid year we have grown even closer. Our various educational offerings have been offered on Zoom, and we have cross-promoted them, meaning there are often folks from both congregations sharing an educational experience. Additionally we developed a drive thru food drive program, and once a month we collect groceries for two local food pantries. Volunteers from both of our congregations staff it.
Last summer one of Bat Yam's educational programs focused around racial justice in our local schools. The guest speaker was a woman who is the only African-American member of the school board. She e;loquently described the challenges faced by students of color. Our Associate Pastor signed into that presentation, and was inspired to ramp up our efforts in terms of help meeting some of the needs. As a result some three-hundred-twenty-five gifts cards were distributed to students and staff members in the poorest schools in our county. Inspired by our Jewish partners, we Christians acted.
A couple of months ago the Bat yam's rabbi was one of those staffing the drive-thru food drive. He was rather appalled to discover many more members of our congregation were bringing by groceries than from his own. That Friday at Shabbat Services he reported out his experience, and challenged his congregants to "do better" next time. They did, increasing their giving twenty times over! Inspired by their Christian partners, our Jewish friends acted.
In the end, the larger community benefitted from our efforts. Our Jewish partners made us better Christians, and we made them better Jews. Ultimately, we are most certainly better when we work together. A fact we celebrated this past weekend at our annual Pulpit Exchange Weekend!
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