What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared
to what lies within Us

- this report was written by Lutherans Connect member Anna McRae:

At a synagogue in North Toronto, the 24th Annual Neighbourhood Interfaith Group Dinner was held on May 6. The stated mission of this group is “to achieve respect and appreciation for the religious beliefs of others, praying our work will help to end bias, bigotry and racism in Toronto and the world”.  Certainly during the evening, the mission is accomplished with great success.  The attendees are welcoming to each other and open to dialogue with each other. Muslims, Roman Catholics, Lutherans and Anglicans sit and talk to members of all the faiths represented at their dinner tables.  Girls from the Bishop Strachan School said grace in both English and Hebrew: girls at the podium, another evolution! The guest speaker of the evening, Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl, was truly inspired.

My favourite part of the evening is to witness the deep respect that the rabbis, priests, pastors and imams have for each other. It is never an evening easily forgotten. I also truly appreciate that the many inspiring thoughts and words that I hear at this event create many questions for me to ponder. 

The so-called Golden Rule tells us to love our neighbour (Matthew 27:37-40).The really big question is who is our neighbour? Who should we love? Each year this evening does a better job of defining who our neighbour is. Over the 24 year course of this group’s history, the word neighbour has evolved both in this group and in the world. Neighbourhood used to mean the churches and synagogues in a specific part of the city of Toronto. Neighbourhood has evolved to include the various religions represented at the dinner and in the world. In all the religious groups represented we find both minor and major differences. Often the speakers while telling us how wonderful it is that this group of people is getting also mention what is different about their faith or other represented faiths. No matter what the difference can we love everyone? In this constantly evolving world of ours can we love everyone of a different faith, a different colour, a different sexual orientation and even different abilities? We are making strides in all areas. I wish I could say great strides, but not yet. I’d really love to know how people of all ages and faiths feel about this. Is the world steadily evolving toward a world where we can all love each other? If it is not steadily evolving what can we do to make it happen? To me, the concept of loving your neighbour is at the very core of the ideal of world peace. Is this ideal possible some day?

During the evening it was pointed out that there are many wars, genocides and ethnic cleansings currently going on and recently occurring. It is almost hard to believe that we have made any progress in the last two thousand years. 
The millennium goals are a very worthy subject to continue to revisit, as these goals help to define who our neighbour is. Part of the evening included a challenge by the Major Jim Champ of the Salvation Army. His challenge for all is to Be Informed and Get Involved.  At the same time that the G20 Summit will taking place in Ontario so will the 2010 Summit of Interfaith Leaders’. 
The Honourable Bob Rae responded to the profound challenge with his personal commitment. If we want everyone in our government to be as committed it is up to us to Be Informed and to Get Involved and contact our own member of parliament so that the entire government is as committed as we are.

In order for our governments to effectively act on our behalf, we must each personally accept the Millenium Goals. To quote Rabbi Barach Frydman-Kohl “We can live in peace together because we know each other and we understand each other’s religion.”