In the Press

Interfaith dinner draws 130 participants -- 10-07-2005

Alex Newman
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Posted: 10/7/2005


Sisters Nadia and Hannah Khan of Sparks broke their Ramadan fast Thursday with three Carmelite Sisters from Reno.

"We're Muslim, and they're all sisters," said Nadia, who fasted all day in observance of Ramadan. "It's amazing how much you learn about other religions and how they view each other."

Both sets of sisters were among the 130 people Thursday night at the second Interfaith Dialog Dinner at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. The event was organized by the Sierra Foundation, an interfaith group of mostly Turkish Muslims.

A Catholic priest, an Episcopal priest, a Methodist pastor and the Muslim president of the Sierra Foundation spoke about living with other religions and learning tolerance, but most learning came from the dinner conversation before the speeches.

Nadiah Beekun, a board member of the Northern Nevada Muslim Community, was impressed with the diversity.

"This gentleman just came from Tunisia," she said, pointing to a man to her left.

She pointed out newlyweds from Turkey, a group of international students from the University of Nevada, Reno and a man from Morocco.

"We've got a lot of different opinions and that's just at this table," she said.

The Rev. George Wolf, of the Holy Cross Community in Sparks, greeted people in an unusual way for him.

"Salaam," he said. "It's a word (meaning hello in Arabic) I just learned today."

Wolf said that 60 years ago he never would have attended an interfaith gathering.

"I was taught by people who meant well, but taught that we were right," he said. "Thank God, literally, that has changed within the church and within the community."

The Rev. Rick Sorenson of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Reno said he looked for "commonality in diversity."

"This is, in my perspective, my turn to tell my story," said Sorenson, who laid out the basics of the Episcopal faith during his speech. "I really think this kind of dialogue is critical for the health of your own spiritual life, for broadening your view of God and for the health of the world."

Ismail Ozdemir, president of the year-old Sierra Foundation, said he tried to arrange for a Jewish speaker, but no one was available. The dinner cost the organization about $7,000, raised through member donations.

Ozdemir said the interfaith dialogue dinner is held during Ramadan because it is a month of sharing for Muslims.

"We would like to share one of the iftar (when Muslims break their fast) dinners with people of different faiths," he said.



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