By Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman
(Cross Posted with the RACBlog)

The Chappaqua Interfaith Council has always been a diverse group. Chaired by my senior rabbi, Rabbi Joshua Davidson, we have not only Protestants and Catholics, but Baha'i, Quakers, and Muslims, as well. With Rabbi Yoffie emphasizing Jewish-Muslim dialogue in his Biennial Address, and with Rabbi Davidson's relationship with the Upper Westchester Muslim Society, this year felt like a perfect time to bring Temple Beth El and the Upper Westchester Muslim Society together to begin some discussions.

On Tuesday, May 20, we had our first session. The dialogue was scheduled to begin at 8 PM, but before we could begin talking, one of the Muslim participants told us that at 8:10, it would be time for evening prayer. He wondered if there was a space they could use, and Rabbi Davidson realized this was an opportunity for us not just to talk about different faith traditions, but for members of Temple Beth El to see first-hand what another tradition's prayers might look like.

Just to make sure the Muslim participants would feel comfortable, he asked if it would be appropriate for us to watch the evening prayer. When the answer was, "Sure, that's fine," Rabbi Davidson smiled and made a rather unique suggestion: "How about you pray where we pray. Would you like to use the bimah?"

And so with the congregants and clergy of Temple Beth El sitting in the pews, six members of the Upper Westchester Muslim Society spread out their mat, turned northeast towards Mecca, knelt down and proclaimed, "Allah Hu Akbar." For fifteen minutes, we were transfixed as Arabic was chanted in front of both the Israeli flag and our ark, which has in Hebrew the words "Beit Ya'akov, l'chu v'neilchah b'or Adonai" - "O House of Jacob, come let us walk by the light of Adonai."

It was both surreal and inspiring at the same time, and yet it also felt like a way for us to live out the words inscribed on our ark doors - with one small change. It was no longer Beit Ya'akov - it was Beit Avraham. And as our Muslim friends proclaimed God's greatness, we could see a glimpse of the light of God, shining the way for us to walk together on the journey to a kinder and more just world.

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