A large contingent of Jewish, Christian and Muslim clergy and congregation members gathered at the Martin Luther King Bridge on President’s Day, Feb. 16 for a “Rally to Bridge Faith and Justice.” The MLK Bridge served as a symbol to build bridges and create a loving, healing environment.
More than 1,000 participants of the interfaith community marched to the center of the bridge to demonstrate solidarity, kindness and compassion, according to Rabbi Andrea Goldstein of Congregation Shaare Emeth.
“It was to show solidarity with the members of the immigrant community, and show that there are many, many, many people in St. Louis who appreciate everything that immigrants have contributed to St. Louis, and who want to serve, if necessary, as a protective presence for people who are feeling threatened right now,” Goldstein said.
The program included speakers, prayers and music from the Bosnian Muslim Community, the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, the Archdiocese of Greater St. Louis, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church, the International Institute and the Ashrei Foundation.
Jewish groups represented in the march included Central Reform Congregation, Congregation Shaare Emeth, Jewish Community Relations Council, Shir Hadash and United Hebrew Congregation. Parkway United Church of Christ, which partners with Shaare Emeth on a range of interfaith initiatives, also took part.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sharon Kaufman was one of the Jewish community members who attended. She said she was motivated to march, “because of all of the cruelty that I see in the newspaper and everything that’s coming out that ICE is doing to people. I cannot imagine that human beings would treat other human beings like that. I’m here because I’m very, very angry.”
The Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis led the event, with remarks by Rev. B.T. Rice, pastor of New Horizon 7th Day Christian Church, and CRC Rabbi Emerita Susan Talve, who told the gathering they were assembled because of a need to address violence, fear, and death, as well as hope and wholeness.
“Today it is our moral call for unity and compassion, a call to open the broken heart of the world by being as inclusive as possible, remembering that none of us can be free until all of us are free,” Talve said. “We are grateful for every single faith, tradition, and–oh my G-d, look around–we are all here!”
As Talve introduced a live musical interpretation of the 23rd Psalm by Rabbi James Stone Goodman and Cantor Shirel Richman, she recruited Congressman Wesley Bell to recite the words of the prayer.
