News from Kol Ami

Peace Train Sounding Louder

During our last Chanukah celebration, A Night of a Thousand Candles, you may recall that there was a group of approximately 30 Muslim women who sat at the back and enjoyed our musical celebration. These wonderful women were from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association and reached out to us in friendship. They had never been to a synagogue before and were curious about our ritual practice. After seeing all the candles, listening to the wonderful music and enjoying the delicious food, one of them shyly asked me, “Is it always like this?”

The Ahmadiyya are a group of devout Muslims who live by a simple message: Love For All, Hatred For None, and their practice is one of faith to their religion and their country. They abhor violence. Their huge mosque in Maple includes two separate structures: one for prayer; one for administration and community. It is really quite an impressive place, but more importantly their values closely align with Reform Judaism.

The Ahmadiyya Women’s Association invited the women of Temple Kol Ami to attend their annual Women Only Peace Conference, titled My Faith and Canadian Values. I participated on a panel representing Judaism. I was initially a bit uncomfortable accepting the invitation, mostly because I did not feel I could possibly represent all Jews. There was the further requirement to address the material using a religious text, which I found daunting. Rabbi Streiffer to the rescue!

At the conference, there was a small but mighty showing from Kol Ami. My sister panelists spoke of their pride about Canada, inclusiveness, health care, human rights, refugees and the importance of building bridges between us. As I listened, I was awash with hope for the future and the song Peace Train began playing in my head.

When I spoke, I took the opportunity to explain what being a Jew means through the lens of Tikkun Olam and Mitzvot. Next, I took some time to kvell about some of the attributes of Kol Ami. I spoke proudly of our work with the Indigenous community and the initiative that we undertook to recognize the territorial lands that we are situated on. I challenged them to do the same in their own communities. I shared with them our experience of standing in solidarity with our friends at the Noor Center after the tragic Mosque shootings in Quebec. I listed some of the great things our volunteer social action committee has done. Other initiatives that were highlighted were the blood donor clinics, our upcoming Organ Donation program and our Interfaith Committee. I am delighted to say that I had a very long list of accolades to choose from. On the Peace Train, we are indeed the little congregation that could. I concluded my talk by singing Oseh Shalom – and gave the English translation - May the One who makes peace in the high places make peace for us and for all the world.