Church co-sponsors interfaith forum about Judaism

Bel Air, California—Five Christian leaders discussed their faiths' views on Judaism and the Jewish people at a groundbreaking interfaith forum co-sponsored by the Church's Southern California Public Affairs Council and the American Jewish Congress. More than 100 Jewish and Christian leaders attended the event, held at a hotel owned by Orthodox Jews in Bel Air, a suburb of Los Angeles. The opening prayer was offered by Rabbi Daryl Temkin, who has recently spoken at firesides in the Los Angeles and Santa Monica stakes. Israeli Deputy Consul General Yaron Gamburg then delivered a welcoming message to the gathering. After introductions, the Christian leaders were invited to address the audience. The panelists were Mark Paredes, Director of Jewish Relations for the Church in Southern California; Father Alexei Smith of the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles; Reverend Mark D. Stuart of St. Thomas the Apostle Anglican/Episcopal Church in Hollywood; Dr. Frederick O. Murph of the Brookins Community African Methodist Episcopal Church; and Evangelical Pastor Kevin Dieckilman of Simi Hills Christian Church. Elder John C. Dalton, Area Seventy, and several other local leaders also represented the Church at the event. At the end of the evening, Elder Dalton presented a letter of appreciation to Gary Ratner, Executive Director of the American Jewish Congress, and a gift to moderator Rob Eshman. Elder Dalton also presented the contents of special folders prepared for the event by the Los Angeles Public Affairs office with the assistance of the Church's Public Affairs Department in Salt Lake City. Guests took away from the event a positive impression of the Church's views on Judaism. Honoree Gary Ratner remarked, "As a Jew, I was pleased to discover that the LDS Church has no history of anti-Semitism. This has increased my respect for the Church even more." Moderator Rob Eshman said that it was "very heartening to hear such support for Jews and Jewish concerns. The forum was informative, important, and valuable." Elder Dalton summed up the view of LDS attendees: "The event was another excellent example of how the Los Angeles religious community is accepting the bridge-building efforts of the Church as we further interfaith understanding and acceptance." The forum reflects many years of effort by local Latter-day Saints to build bridges with the local Jewish community. There are many examples of the synergy associated with the Church's efforts to reach out in friendship to Jewish groups in Southern California. Several rabbis have spoken recently at joint firesides with LDS speakers. In addition, the Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles maintains its library in the Church's regional Family History Center.