A Community that welcomes a diverse range of worshipers is on its way to progress on all fronts. And a place of worship that gets to know its community face to face is worthy of its spiritual mission. This past year, as a member of the Affirming Diversity/Celebrating Community group in Sharon, Massachusetts, I've seen firsthand that devotion to God and His laws, love of the sacred texts, and eagerness to be kind and to do good deeds are central to all the religions in our town.
Vandals threw rocks through the windows of two temples two years ago.
A suburb of Boston, Sharon is home to six synagogues, eight churches, and the Islamic Center of New England. But this diversity of religions in town doesn't necessarily mean there is tolerance for all worshipers. In fact, until recently the reverse was true. Vandals threw rocks through the windows of two temples two years ago. But this hostile act proved to be a catalyst for the townspeople's getting to know and appreciate each other more. David Blocker, a past president of Temple Sinai, had already felt a growing affection for the Arab owners of the local convenience store, and he wanted to feel closer to all the townspeople. So, in conjunction with the Sharon Clergy Association and the Anti-Defamation League, he felt the time was ripe for forming the Affirming Diversity/Celebrating Community committee. Its goal is to help stamp out prejudice by finding areas of commonality and learning to appreciate each other's differences. The committee sponsors and helps facilitate events that build interfaith understanding.
