Interfaith Chaplain Andrea Thompson McCall recalls her recent trip to Israel: Memorial Day weekend, a time in the U.S. when Americans take advantage of sales or barbecues, rather than reflect on the strong veterans, heroes, and wars of our country. Instead of seeing consumers racing to store after store, she saw Jewish citizens reflecting on the high price they paid, and still pay, to have a land of their own.
Thompson McCall recalls seeing old tanks and beaten up jeeps from wars past along the countryside covered in flowers to remember battles fought. Memorial Day is a somber day for the Jewish people, who celebrate their Memorial Day the day after America does.
She watched as Orthodox Jews prayed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. In Israel, Thompson McCall witnessed the personal and intimate connection of the Jews and their faith. She now hopes to bring the USM community to learn not only of Judaism, but to learn and try to understand all faiths.
Recently Thompson McCall held a Judaism discussion in an effort to increase awareness for religious diversity. Throughout the fall and spring semesters Thompson McCall will hold discussions on other religions such as the Baha’I, Islam, and pagan religions.
“This is a chance for students to grow, discuss, and appreciate diversity,” said Thompson McCall.
During the conference students watched a video describing the philosophies of Judaism. The video showed images of a traditional Jewish wedding, a scribe copying the Torah, the Jewish Bible. After the video, students stayed to discuss the historical aspects of the religion. Thompson McCall discussed the covenant the Jewish people have with God. The Jewish people believe God will strengthen and sustain them as a people as long as they remain faithful and obedient.
The recent celebration of the High Holidays brought about the discussion of the nuances of the holidays. Rosh Hashana is the celebration of the New Year. Most Jews begin fasting at sundown on the preceding day. During the day the faithful pray and reflect on what was missing that year. The fast is broken by a sweet food to remind them of the sweetness of the year.
Following Rosh Hashana are the Days of Awe, 10 days when Jews are called on to reflect on the wonder and the gift of life. They also reflect on what may have been lacking in their relationship with God. Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, is a day filled with sorrow and reflection. Jews fast as a sacrificial gift to God.
Passover recalls the mass Exodus of the Jewish slaves in Egypt. During Passover Jews tell traditional stories of the direct intervention of God in Jews’ lives. They eat a symbolic dinner of lamb, which symbolizes the sacrificial lamb. Eggs are eaten to symbolize new life, with bitter herbs to invoke the bitterness of slavery and green herbs to remind them of the tears they have shed.
The food eaten reminds Jews viscerally of what ancestors had to endure. All stories are told in first person to create a sense of immediacy and intimacy.
Discussion was later taken over by ideas of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, with both cultures trying to live together in a land they were both promised.
Thompson McCall guided the discussion to personal stories of diversity.
“There’s no way to know the traditions of other cultures except to learn and ask questions. We have to help each other understand,” said Thompson McCall.