JCMA Winter Conference 2011: “The Hand of Welcome - Hospitality in our three Faiths"

Good news stories of hospitality in Nazareth and Gaza featured in the opening address by Reverend Dr Merrill Kitchen at the Jewish Christian Muslim Association Winter Conference held at Pallotti College, Milgrove.

Working with her surgeon husband Paul, Merrill related how doctors from Jewish, Christian and Muslim backgrounds saved the lives of a young girl in Gaza and a stabbed Israeli soldier in Nazareth. Doctors continue this work every day but reports are rarely heard of their work for reconciliation and the saving of lives. In archeology the three faiths have also been working together as was demonstrated by the discovery of an ancient winepress on hospital land. A Jewish archeologist supervised the preservation of the winepress and various Christian denominations supported the project while school children from the three faiths came to see the press and learn about life back then.

Not so dramatic but still remarkable is the fact that 40 people from the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths met together around the theme of hospitality and shared each other’s traditions, texts, and rituals.

‘Welcoming of the stranger’ stemming from the story of Abraham and Sarah providing hospitality for three strangers, was a common theme of the text study. Rabbi Ian Goodhart spoke of a tradition of Abraham’s tent being open on all sides to welcome the stranger from any direction. Imam Riad Galil spoke of reserving the best for the stranger while Reverend Harry Kerr told of Jesus’ message to go out to welcome those on the edges of society.

With the fasting month of Ramadan beginning on August 1^st Muslim participants offered the hospitality of a model Iftar dinner. Islamic customs and the breaking of the fast with dates and water was learnt about by all present as they shared together. (As this was a model no one had actually fasted!)

Practical issues around food restrictions and hospitality in the three faiths were also discussed. The Winter Conference also heard about aspects of community hospitality: homework tutoring by Jewish university students offered to Somalians in Preston, the work of Springvale Neighbourhood House and an Asylum Seeker Project in Middle Park. Jewish, Christian and Muslim participants brought to the Conference practical gifts of hospitality in the form of food and medicine to be given to these projects.

Rev Dr Coralie Ling, Chair of the 2011 Jewish Christian Muslim (JCMA) Winter Conference Committee