Interfaith Discussion

A discussion about the three Abrahamic faiths was held on Apr. 9, as part of the Voices Library Lecture Series.

The event was organized by Brenda Hazard, director of the Marvin Library, and Cylon George, Campus Chaplain. It consisted of panelists from the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Community.

The panelists were Imam Djafer Sebkhaoui, from the Muslim Community of Troy, Rabbi Dan Ornstein, from the Congregation Ohav Shalom in Albany, and Dr. Jack Simeone, Chief Program Officer at Catholic Charities in Albany.

Djafer said that the Muslim Community of Troy is made up of a small student group who come to the mosque, and also composed of people from different backgrounds all over the world that moved to the area.

“One of the things that we cherish is that as people practiced their faiths as Muslims, they are all of different cultures,” said Imam Djafer.

Ornstein said that he is one of the two rabbis at Ohav Shalom, an egalitarian Conservative synagogue affiliated with the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism.

“We’re a pretty big place and we’re very blessed to do good work for the community and within the community, as well,” said Ornstein.

Simeone informed us that Catholic Charities services those in need in 14 counties in Upstate New York. Simeone has been with Catholic Charities for 35 years.

“In three years, we’ll be a 100 years old, so when we look at how we respond to people in need, particularly how we organize ourselves is usually around a Catholic Charity organization in these 14 countries, as well as people from their parish who have a desire to serve,” said Simeone.

The speakers talked about why people serve others.

Djafer told a story from Islam about Abraham. “When we go back and study his history, it’s said that he used to have a tent next by the side of the road, where he expected people to pass by, and needed to be fed, but the day that no one passes by, he would be upset, so he was that kind of generous,” he said.

Ornstein said, “The goal of the individual is to become a person who is holy. Holiness is a whole quality of striving to imitate god. In order to do that, just as god clothes the naked, feeds the hungry, and helps the poor, you do the same thing,” said Ornstein.

Simeone said, “I think Jesus insisted that when we serve those in need, we are serving him, and that’s the image of those who are particularly of the Catholic and Christian traditions.”