Members from the Caulfield congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) spent a Sunday afternoon recently with their Jewish neighbours from the Kehilat Nitzan Synagogue. Kehilat Nitzan is the first Masorti (conservative) Jewish congregation in Melbourne.
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The visit grew out of associations between the two groups during many shared service activities in the Glen Eira area over a number of years. There were approximately 73 in attendance.
There are three types of Jewish congregations: liberal, conservative and orthodox.
Conservative congregations provide traditional egalitarian service in which men and women can participate equally, while orthodox congregations have much more separation in the roles of men and women and are particularly strict in religious observances.
Liberal congregations, according to Wikipedia, “reverence Jewish tradition and seek to preserve the values of Judaism of the past, while giving them contemporary force.
Rabbi Adam Stein led the Church members on a tour of the synagogue and gave an overview of some of the aspects of the Jewish faith. They were then treated to a reading of the scriptures in Hebrew by a member of the Jewish community.
The group from the synagogue were then given a tour of the Church’s meeting house where Bishop Andrew Rancie highlighted our core beliefs. He also told the group about the beliefs and teachings that set us apart from others of the Christian Faith.
A respect for the diverse beliefs and unique contributions of all the world’s faiths is one of the hallmarks of Mormonism. Latter-day Saints accept all sincere believers as equals in the pursuit of faith and in the great work of serving humanity.
It is important to note that interfaith cooperation does not require doctrinal compromise. Though the Church asserts its ecclesiastical independence and recognises its doctrinal differences, this does not prevent it from partnering with other faiths for charitable projects. These efforts are based on universal values.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides humanitarian services in 182 countries around the world.
In her remarks, Sister Leona Scott, the Melbourne Heidleberg Stake Director of Public Affairs quoted from one of the Church’s four standard works of scripture, the Doctrine and Covenants. “Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for His arm to be revealed” (D & C: 123:17).
Rabbi Stein offered a traditional Hebrew blessing on the kosher afternoon tea.
Members of the two congregations are now discussing future service projects.