Bridges
About 50 people gather at the Oct. 16 interfaith service at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue that involves members of Charleswood United Church. (Photo by Mike Sudoma / Free Press)
Some might be surprised to hear about a United Church joining a synagogue for prayer, given the historic tensions between the United Church of Canada and some Jewish organizations. In December 2023, the United Church of Canada called Israel’s destruction of Gaza in retaliation for the Oct. 7 Hamas attack a genocide and called for a ceasefire, a move that upset the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. The United Church of Canada has also angered Jewish groups by supporting boycotts of certain goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Wilson said he was aware of those tensions, but they weren’t the focus of the exchange. “I don’t think our congregation is totally on board with some of the positions the United Church has taken, and in the United Church you’re allowed to do that,” he said.
The focus, he said, is on being “good neighbours” with another spiritual community in Winnipeg.
As the service was about to begin, Emery translated a quote from the Torah inscribed in Hebrew on the front of the lectern — “love your neighbour as you love yourself” — familiar words for anyone from a Christian tradition.
“I feel like I’m welcoming some neighbours into our sacred space today,” she said.
A member of Charleswood United wanted to know why Hebrew is read from right to left.
“You think that’s difficult? I was a rabbi in Japan,” Rose said, gesturing vertically. “That’s a whole other story.”
As Emery tuned her guitar, Rose explained the cantor’s role. “The cantor is the minister of music, the heart and soul of what happens up here. Much of what we do is singing, because we know that music moves the spirit and allows us to feel the presence of the divine in our lives.”
Rabbi Carnie Rose: ‘We want to be in fellowship, sharing what makes us tick, what makes us feel, what makes us special and unique. Below, Cantor Leslie Emery leads the service in song.
Emery encouraged the visitors to do their best to sing along with a transliteration of the Hebrew text, which was projected onto a screen next to the original.
“Nobody in the history of Jewish tradition has ever been thrown out of synagogue for singing too loud or off key,” Rose said. “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord. That’s what it’s all about.”
The service opened with the Kaddish, a mourner’s prayer for those who have recently died. Then the congregation sang a prayer welcoming the Sabbath, followed by Psalms. At least one melody — written by Judaism’s most famous bard, Leonard Cohen — was familiar to most.
After the prayer service, the two congregations mingled over a meal of roast chicken and vegetables. They talked about differences and similarities between their traditions and the challenges each congregation faced.
How did a bar/bat mitzvah differ from a confirmation? What does the cup of wine symbolize in Jewish tradition? (It symbolizes joy, not blood, as it would in a Christian communion service.)
And what was happening in the Blue Bombers game that night, which observant Jews weren’t allowed to watch because the Sabbath had begun?
“Unless someone else turns on the TV and you just happen to walk through the room,” Rose said.
Nancy Jeffries, a lifelong member of Charleswood United, said her congregation worried about dwindling attendance and few young families. “How do we make it relevant for parents and their children?” she asked.
Cantor Leslie Emery leads the service in song.
“It’s not just the Christian community asking those questions,” said Paulie Rose, who is married to the rabbi.
Karen Riddell told the story of how Charleswood United decided to become affirming of LGBTTQ+ people. “Every person voted yes,” she said, “even people in their 80s and 90s.”
Wilson asked Rose how Jews and Christians read the Scriptures differently. Rose explained that in the Jewish tradition the sacred texts are always read together with a commentary.
“We believe the Messiah is still on his way, and you believe he’s on his way back,” he said, smiling. Then, turning serious: “It’s nice to talk about the things that are different. Not because they divide us, but because they’re interesting.”
Josiah Neufeld covers issues of faith in Manitoba and nationally for the Free Press and Broadview as part of a joint Religion in the News partnership.