Soccer, kite flying, hamburgers, lemonade, music, bean bag toss – not typical ingredients for memorializing a terrorist attack. But organizers promise those and more at a 9-11 Interfaith Family Day in Boca Raton.

The free event, planned for 1 to 4 p.m. at Patch Reef Park, will take the form of a family outing, with food, sports and music. Its organizing committee purposely planned it as a family outing on the anniversary of the terrorist attack.

“Ten years ago, we saw the tragic consequences of teachings by people who said ‘My religion is right and yours is wrong,’” said Rabbi Barry Silver, one of seven religious leaders at a press conference at the park Aug. 8. “But in the United States, we use religion to unite, not divide. Religion can be a source of harmony and cooperation.”

Besides Silver, the organizing committee includes Methodist, Catholic, Bahai, Buddhist, Muslim and Unitarian Universalist leaders.

A “continuous picnic” at the event will feature vegetarian hot dogs and hamburgers, along with lemonade and iced tea. Sports will include soccer, basketball, tennis, volleyball, kickball and frisbee throwing. Other events will include a bean bag toss tournament and kite making and flying.

The idea for a 9-11 family day was hatched at a meeting of the local chapter for the Network of Spiritual Progressives. During a meeting of the liberal group, members Tom Tift and Paula Winker suggested the idea to Silver, and the three brought others in as well.

"I can’t think of a better way to commemorate 9-11," said Winker, of an interfaith group in Boca Raton called The Hearth. "This is a way to break down some misunderstandings, and to know one another on a personal level."

For Barbara Roth of Catholic Relief Services, the social facet is a crucial part of the observance. "This is a family activity, and that draws me. Food and music are important."

The day won’t be all fun and games. During an “Interfaith Interlude” at 3 p.m., leaders of the various sponsoring religions will offer their beliefs and reflections on the day. Attendees will also be invited to sing together.

A time of silent meditation will be offered by the Southern Palm Zen Group. Children will use paper, markers, scissors and paste to assemble a poster of the "human family."

Mohamed Abushadi, a member of the organizing committee, said American attitudes toward Muslims have actually improved since the 2001 attack.

"Americans have gotten more mature since then," said Abushadi, outreach director at the Islamic Center of Boca Raton. "People are no longer shocked to see a Muslim praying in the open. But we'll have to continue interaction with others to lift the cloud. It’ll be a longterm process."

Not everyone in the organizing committee agrees on the "interlude." Silver plans to discuss causes of the 9-11 attack, such as fanaticism and "acceptance of one literature as the inerrant Word of God." Tift and Winker said the day should focus on fun and friendship. They’ve simply decided to let each speaker choose a topic.

The disagreement may actually be a strength, said Silver, who heads Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor in Lake Worth. "The attackers [on 9-11] thought that if they disagreed with someone, they should kill him. We want to show we can disagree and play, sing and be friends."

Going beyond the law Rabbi Barry Silver, Lake Worth

Other community posts: Founder and co-chair, Palm Beach County Environmental Coalition; founder, Interfaith Justice League.

Awards: Most Effective Environmental Legislator, Sierra Club of Florida; Consumer Champion, Florida Citizens Action Network; Feminist of the Year, Broward National Organization for Women.

Education: Degree in political science, Florida Atlantic University; law degree, Nova Southeastern Law School; rabbinic ordination by his father, the late Rabbi Sam Silver, then by New International Seminary, New York.

You've had a successful career as an attorney. Why did you want to become a rabbi, too?

Being an attorney didn't fulfill my goals and hopes and dreams. I enjoy law, but it's limiting to what you can accomplish. And you're pretty much at the behest of a judge. And they say a jury can never use justice and fairness and compassion, just rule upon the law. I find that abominable.

Address issues of peace and justice and fairness and interfaith harmony. I still use the law as much as I can. But I can also call on my training and activities as a rabbi. I do a lot of public speaking and protests and demonstrations.

Some people think religion and government and politics should be totally separate. What do you think?

Government should stay clear of joining forces with any particular religion. But people within that system should use their moral and ethical belief systems to help guide them.

"Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" by Carl Sagan. I also like "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins and "The Encyclopedia of Biblical Errancy" by C. Dennis McKinsey. The Bible has thousands of inconsistencies and statements that are inconsistent with science and logic.

(chuckle) Probably. Jefferson said that to shoot down an incorrect belief is as important as to come with a correct one. In my opinion, much of religion is plagued with inconsistency, irrationality and intolerance, which causes much harm. My goal is to bring out the beauty of religion and spirituality, and to challenge the erroneous notions that are all too prevalent.

I do lots of different things. I play frisbee all the time. There's all kinds of games. One is called Ultimate Frisbee. It's like aerial soccer. You move it down a field. You throw and catch but don't run. And there's no referee. You play it on the honor system.

You also have Dutch Frisbee, where you whip it back and forth. And Frisbee Golf, with 18 baskets. And Freestyle Frisbee, where you play tricks. I can spin it on my finger, hit it off your head and elbow and knee and head.

I do trampolines; there's one at my house. I play tennis four or five times a week. I have a ping-pong table in my house. I play basketball and lots of chess. I still play basketball. And I coach kids' soccer.

"Star Trek" is my all-time favorite. It was created by a bunch of Jews, and it has pretty much Jewish values, projected into the future. I still watch it with my kids. I even use it from the pulpit.

But I also like oldtime shows: "Gilligan's Island," "I Dream of Jeannie," "All in the Family," "Get Smart," "The Beverly Hillbillies."

"Contact." It went into issues about science and religion in a very sophisticated manner, and on how science and religion can be compatible. And the wonder and love of exploration and discovery and searching. And awe of the universe, which is the basis for all science and religion.

[Albert] Einstein. He was one of the most famous people on the planet, yet he was completely unaffected. There's a famous picture with his tongue sticking out. He said, "The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science."

If you're not sure God exists, doesn't that hurt the basis for a monotheistic religion?

There is certainly a power and force in the universe that is beyond our comprehension. But as far as the characteristics go, that is beyond Jews to understand.

Doubt is my faith. I have faith in the rational, skeptical mind to uncover truth through logic and reason. As Newton said, "I cannot conceive of a God who would endow us with reason and then abjure us to forgo its use." My faith is in the human quest for knowledge of what lies beyond, the appreciation of beauty, and the prophetic, biblical vision of a world of justice, harmony and shalom, of peace.

Einstein said, "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." I live like everything is a miracle.

Do you know someone we should profile? Tell James D. Davis, Religion Editor, Sun Sentinel, at 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL. You may also e-mail him at JDDavis@Tribune.com or call at 954-356-4730.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/religion/faith-and-values/fl-fv-qa-barry-20110715,0,6172990,full.story

Holocaust Remembrance Week At RPBHS

On Friday, May 6, Royal Palm Beach High School Holocaust and Jewish history teacher Darrell Schwartz took his first-period class down to the courtyard to plant a tree in remembrance of the Holocaust.

Holocaust Remembrance Day was May 1. Schwartz extended it to be Holocaust Remembrance Week, speaking on the announcements every morning, giving information and reading poetry. The weeklong commemoration culminated in the tree-planting ceremony.

“I chose an oak tree because it is strong, it lives a very long time and will continue to grow,” Schwartz said. “It represents the strength of mankind, the strength of the future and the strength to prevent further atrocities.”

Before planting the tree, Rabbi Barry Silver spoke a few words to the crowd to explain the significance of the ceremony.

“Trees convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into action and growth,” Silver said. “Hate and indifference were what caused the Holocaust. This tree will symbolize growth and spreading our branches.”

On May 1, 1945, Germany announced to the public that Adolf Hitler was dead. Sixty-one years later, the death of Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda’s leader was announced.

“Their humanity was dead long before they were,” Silver said. “We are here to combat indifference and silence, because we shouldn’t be silent. Silence kills. Education doesn’t end here; we must be motivated to act.”

In attendance was Principal Jesús Armas, who said he hopes that through education, repetition will be prevented.

“This should encourage students to break the silence in more ways than what has been said today,” Armas said. “By breaking the silence we can take down bullying as well as many other problems. This tree will serve as a reminder to all students to break the silence.”

Schwartz was grateful for the opportunity to share this information with the school and proud that he was able to bring a living symbol of remembrance to the campus.

“I was very excited about the participation of my students and that I was able to share what I did on the announcements this week,” Schwartz said. “Through this, students learn that they should speak up against injustice.”

Schwartz’s students didn’t hesitate to begin digging through the soil to make a spot for the new addition to the courtyard. They understood the significance of the event and were fully supportive.

“I’m really glad we’re planting the tree,” said Alexandra Jordano, a student involved in the planting. “A lot of people don’t remember or don’t really care about what happened so long ago, so I think this tree will help remind them and will encourage peace.”

Schwartz plans to expand the memorial to include an area where students can pause for reflection.

“It will be a garden with trees, a reflection bench and a plaque to commemorate the area’s purpose,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz said he hopes the symbol will teach tolerance among everyone in the community and will encourage them to step forward and stand up for what they believe they should.

“With all the forms of technology today, we can just turn off the television or the computer when we see something we don’t like,” Schwartz said. “But things that are happening in the world don’t just go away with a click of a button.”

— Andrea Aguirre
http://gotowncrier.com/holocaust-remembrance-week-at-rpbhs-p24394-75.htm

Seder saves seat for Earthman
By Shani McManus Florida Jewish Journal
10:55 AM EDT, April 26, 2011

www.Earthman.TV

http://www.floridajewishjournal.com/news/palm-beach-county-news/fl-jjpn-earthman-0427-20110426,0,7313390.story

Free.... All are welcome to attend.
For more information
call Mae Folb @561-964-5062

Fun, games and 9-11: Interfaith gathering aims at building friendships

Just as the terrorist attackers on 9-11 used religion to divide, an interfaith group wants to use faith to unite

Going beyond the law Rabbi Barry Silver, Lake Worth