Faiths Act

Recently, New Yorkers gathered to kick-off our Spring of Solidarity campaign. The event exemplified the goal of the campaign; bringing together diverse communities to create lasting relationships and make a difference on the local and global scales through doing service and raising funds.

Enjoying tea and delicious treats, over 50 people from 6 different faith traditions sat around common tables for an afternoon of inspired conversation led by speakers Ruth Messinger, President of American Jewish World Service, and Reverend Chloe Breyer, Executive Director of the Interfaith Center of New York. Both speakers, effective leaders in their fields, encouraged attendees to acknowledge the interdependency of people around the world and to act in a way that increases the bonds between all people, regardless of faith.

When asked why it is important for faith communities to work together on international development, Reverend Breyer expressed that multi-faith work is necessary not only because of increased impact but because it bridges deep religious divides in our own country and builds bonds among communities. Ms. Messinger highlighted that by working together, people of faith begin to knit together the world's broken fragments.

Ruth Messinger and Reverend Breyer called upon the wisdom of their faith traditions, Judaism and Christianity respectively, as they challenged the attendees to take action on the crises and injustices of our time. Reverend Breyer called reconciliation "the mission of G-d." Ms. Messinger cited Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel when he said, when injustices are allowed to go on "...some are guilty, all are responsible." Ms. Messinger called upon the members of the Spring of Solidarity to claim responsibility and use their privilege to right wrongs on the local and global scales...

Read this article in full at indiawest.com

Nomi Teutsch, Faiths Act Fellow