For over two decades, Temple Beth Or has welcomed nearly 100 teens from Cardinal Gibbons High School (a private Catholic high school here in Raleigh) to join us for an annual Erev Shabbat service in the autumn. Their visit begins with a tour of our building, continues with participation in our worship service, and concludes with our Oneg Shabbat and a meaningful Q & A with one of our experienced teachers.
This long-standing relationship has created not only mutual respect but also deep bonds of curiosity, shared learning, and genuine appreciation. Together, we nurture a spirit of hospitality, openness, and the recognition that we have much to gain when we step into one another’s sacred spaces.
In a world fragmented by conflict, political strife, violence, and war, we need these kinds of enduring interfaith connections. They serve as anchors, holding us steady amid the storms swirling around us. They protect us from isolation, cynicism, and the temptation to harden our hearts. They remind us of our shared humanity and our capacity for compassion, dialogue, and peace.
Interfaith dialogue has been a cornerstone of my rabbinate since my ordination. In my experience, many faith traditions across North America engage in interfaith dialogue, education, and programs that enrich our communities and strengthen our relationships with one another. In the painful aftermath of October 7, 2023, when our Jewish community felt isolated and alone, we longed for the support and love of our interfaith partners. At times, that support did not come in the ways we had hoped. In moments of crisis, of political division, and in the face of deeply embedded antisemitism and anti-Zionism, we discovered who truly stood with us as friends and allies.
Prior to October 7th, the late Pope Francis (z”l) reminded the world that the future of humanity depends on recognizing one another as brothers and sisters, and that religious communities must be agents of peace, not ideology, of encounter, not walls. For him, interreligious dialogue was not only a theological imperative but also a political and humanitarian one. The Catholic Church has steadfastly stood by those teachings, as have many of my colleagues in the Protestant world.
Our Jewish tradition resonates with this vision. The prophet Isaiah taught that in the days to come, “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4). Our sages taught in Pirkei Avot: “Who is wise? The one who learns from all people” (Pirkei Avot 4:1). Dialogue and shared learning open us to wisdom beyond our own walls, and strengthen our ability to work together for the sake of peace.
As we approach the High Holy Days, our season of introspection and renewal, we are called upon not only to examine our personal relationships but also to reflect on how we engage with the broader world. Selichot, which we will observe tomorrow night at Temple Beth Or beginning at 6:30 pm, invites us to soften our hearts, to seek forgiveness, and to prepare ourselves for the journey toward teshuvah, returning to our best selves.
This sacred season asks us to do the work of repair. Just as we strive to mend what may be broken in our families, friendships, and community, we are also required to strengthen bonds across lines of faith, culture, and experience. Dialogue and education are not abstract ideals, they are practical steps each of us can take: listening with open hearts, engaging respectfully with those who think and believe differently than us, and extending a hand of welcome. In so doing, we become partners with God in creating a world of greater harmony and peace.
Every year, when the students of Cardinal Gibbons High School join us, they remind us that understanding is not theoretical, it is lived, experienced, and practiced. Each sacred encounter plants seeds of connection, harmony, and hope.
May we continue to cultivate these relationships with faith and courage, so that together we can be steady anchors of peace in a turbulent world.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Sharon L. Sobel
Interim Rabbi
Temple Beth Or
rabbisobel@tboraleigh.org
