Florida Catholic | Catholics and Jews Gather To Celebrate Common Ties

Catholics and Jews gather to celebrate common ties

Young children participate in an interfaith day with Jewish temple.

LINDA REEVES | FLORIDA CATHOLIC PALM BEACH BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 04.04.08

Amanda Marsenison and Jackson Gockman work together decorating a bag for groceries that students from Temple Beth El and St. Joan of Arc schools brought in during their interfaith school day to share through the parish food pantry.
LINDA REEVES | FC

BOCA RATON | Catholics here joined with their Jewish neighbors last month for an array of religious and scholastic dialogue and activities involving adults, children, priests and rabbis.

“It will pay dividends for years ahead,” said Msgr. Leonard Badia, a retired priest of the Brooklyn Diocese and a supporter of interfaith efforts.

Msgr. Badia lives in the Diocese of Palm Beach, and serves various parishes as well as teaching at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. He was involved in March in St. Joan of Arc Parish interfaith activities in conjunction with Temple Beth El, a Jewish reform movement community, across the street from the parish.

“Children learn early — good things and bad things. These children will never forget the interfaith lessons they are learning now. They will grow up with less hatred and misinformation than many other Catholic and Jewish children,” said Msgr. Badia.

St. Joan of Arc Parish is a leader among parishes in the diocese for ongoing efforts to establish good relationships and communications between Jews and Catholics. The parish runs an annual interfaith program that includes teacher and student gatherings, joint projects, dinners and church and temple programs.

“This is our 22nd year,” said coordinator Victoria Farrington, about the program, which began March 6 this year. “The overall idea is to get people together to show that we all have a common God (and) faith. We try to break down walls. We have built relationships over the years. It is very unusual. Every child attending St. Joan of Arc School has the interfaith experience. It is a hands-on experience.”

Msgr. Badia is active in today’s interfaith movement, which is attempting to bring Catholics and people of all faiths and beliefs closer. He publishes an interfaith
magazine, Dialogue Today, dedicated to educating people about the different faiths and religions of the world and the common links and spiritual ties that they share.

“To see that these two holy places have been working together for 22 years, very active congregations and two unusual clergymen: Msgr. John McMahon and Rabbi Daniel Levin. It is unique in southern Florida, and I would say many places in the United States — truly a credit to the interfaith movement today,” said Msgr. Badia.

Prekindergarten students and teachers of St. Joan of Arc School closed the activities March 26 after having one last Catholic-Jewish day. Teachers and students from both schools gathered at St. Joan to celebrate and honor the faiths of each group. The theme of the day was “We All Do God’s Work.”

“We have about 50 students of St. Joan and they have 19 children,” said teacher Marie Young about the event designed for 4-year-olds.

Temple Beth El students, escorted by teachers, arrived at St. Joan as the bells rang for classes.

The Catholic and Jewish children spent some time on the playground, singing songs, sharing snacks and creating an art project.

“It is about meeting different people,” said Young. “At this age level, it is about meeting new friends across the street. It is all about doing God’s work — God’s love. It is all about the simple things — caring for the poor and helping each other.”

Temple Beth El students and St. Joan students brought canned food as part of the day’s lessons and projects. Some of their activities included creating colorful grocery bags to hold donations.

LINDA REEVES | FC
Andrea Acuna reads to St. Joan of Arc and Temple Beth El students during an interfaith day at St. Joan of Arc School.

“The day is all about our similarities not our difference,” said Andrea Acuna. four year old?? parent?? “Christ was Jewish and he is our savior. We are all neighbors. The focus is diversity.”

The bagged food will be distributed to the St. Joan of Arc food pantry, and the children were given a keepsake to remind them of the day.

“Everyone gets a participation certificate,” said Young.

Msgr. Badia was main speaker for a Temple Beth El service March 7. The topic of his talk was “The State of Israel — Why is it Holy to Jews and Catholics?”

An interfaith Mass was held March 8 at St. Joan of Arc and Rabbi Dan Levin, temple leader, was featured guest and speaker along with Msgr. John McMahon, pastor of St. Joan of Arc.

“I picked out sacred places like Jerusalem, the Western Wall, Bethlehem, Mount Nebo, etc,” said Msgr. Badia. “These places are sacred because God touched them. That makes them holy. When we come into contact with them, we become holy because God is touching us. We become a better person. Therefore, Jews and Catholics are united like fraternal twins. We differ on the political scene in Israel but never on the religious scene of Israel.”

A procession started the temple’s March 7 Shabbat service, or the weekly Jewish service held at sundown on Fridays symbolizing the “seventh day” that God took to rest after creating the world.

“I was given the honor of carrying the sacred Torah scroll throughout the 500-(member) congregation,” said Msgr. Badia about the Jewish sacred scripture, which includes the first five books of the Bible. I was deeply touched as religious Jews touched the Torah as we processed. I thought this could never have happened 50 years ago — a Catholic priest carrying the sacred Torah scroll in a Jewish temple. We certainly have made major progress since Vatican II Council, and the great work of the late Pope John Paul II.”

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