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Over the years, a relationship of mutual respect has developed between neighbouring members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and those of the Jewish faith at the Kehilat Nitzan in Caulfield, Victoria.
Spending time to learn more about each other’s faiths has allowed this relationship of trust and respect to flower into friendship.
This friendship has led to the use of the Caulfield building of The Church of of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (recreation hall, kitchen, and toilets) for the Jewish children’s services celebrating Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashana.
Security is taken very seriously and since the Caulfield chapel site in now surrounded on three sides by a Jewish Nursing Home and has secure fences, gates and well locked doors, this covers their needs.
Rabbi Yonaton Sadoff said, “We are very grateful for the generous hospitality of our LDS Church neighbours and their willingness to work with us.”
This expression of gratitude is evidenced by the Jewish leaders and children leaving the building much cleaner than when they found it.
A treasured relationship which began with a simple interfaith conversation some years ago has now extended to pleasant and informative meetings and conversations as common beliefs and challenges are shared.
Members of both congregations look forward to future interfaith connections and conversations.
Perhaps the statement from the Old Testament in Micah 6:8 illustrates how these near neighbours feel about each other. ‘’He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God”.