Dallas Week of Faith and Kindness

Featured Photo: Rabbi Jack Bemporad, left, and Harold Edwards. Photo by Ben Lewis.

Interfaith work in Dallas isn’t new. Over sixty years ago, Rabbi Jack Bemporad wondered why religious leaders in the area weren’t talking to each other. “As simply as that,” dialogues began, he said. Among those involved were Karl Kuby, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Peter Stewart, a Dallas businessman whose vision and relentless work led to the building of Thanks-Giving Square. This venue has welcomed faith leaders from around the world including the Dalai Lama. President George H.W. Bush dedicated the space in November 1991.

History, as interesting and important as it is, can only reflect the impact of faith in communities and, indeed, in the world. Examples can be given, but two principles guide the discussion.

First, it doesn’t matter what you know. It matters what you do. A children’s hymn— “I Am a Child of God”—originally had this refrain: “Teach me all that I must know/To live with Him someday.” President Spencer W. Kimball asked if Naomi Randall, the writer, would consider a minor change. She agreed, and this is what we sing today: “Teach me all that I must do/To live with Him someday.”

Second, we can begin by “doing the good in front of us,” said Rabbi David Stern of Temple Emanuel. That isn’t limiting if a problem affects our community or us. Dwaine Carraway, Michael Davis, and the late Bishop Larry McGriff worked toward closing down several sleazy motels in their neighborhood. Imam Yahya Abdullah and Marzuq Jaami joined forces with the police to clear Jamaican drug gangs out of South Dallas.

The struggle for understanding is personal for Rabbi Jack Bemporad. His family fled Italy in 1938 after Jews began to be targeted. “If you go to Florence and look at the plaque on the synagogue, you’ll see the names of eight Bemporads who were taken to Auschwitz and killed,” he said. When he learned of imams preaching Holocaust denial, he didn’t use words to convince them differently; he arranged to take them to Auschwitz. Their lives were changed.

Dee Silverstein and Jackie Waldman founded The Kindness Foundation in Dallas. They believed that a week devoted to the discussion of faith and kindness would showcase the different positive influences in Dallas. From May 3-May 7, speakers from more than a dozen faith traditions shared inspiring messages and specific strategies for improving life for many.

On Wednesday, the topic of technology as it benefits the faith community featured speakers who shared insights into their experiences. David Patterson, a Latter-day Saint in far south Dallas County, explained the use of an app readily available on users’ devices. He demonstrated how vast amounts of information are available at our fingertips. At Gospel Library, besides all the scriptures, users can find information on such topics as addiction and finances in the Life Help section.

Imam Yahya Abdullah explained his use of a YouTube channel and Facebook Live to reach over 25,000 people worldwide. His messages there have improved the lives of girls and women in Afghanistan, for example, when he quoted the Qur’an regarding the importance of educating girls.

Brad Pelo, a prominent media CEO and executive producer of The Chosen, shared the history of the popular television series centered on the culture and events during the life of Jesus Christ. “It couldn’t be done in Hollywood,” he explained. “It’s the largest crowd-funded show in history.”

Thursday events included discussions at the Perkins School of Theology on the impact of Saint John Paul II on interreligious dialogue. A separate event, the National Day of Prayer luncheon, featured the theme of the day of Higher Ground.

Friday evening, women from ten different faith traditions spoke on the challenges of working in today’s world. Light, hope, and truth united each message as the women talked of positive changes in their lives and the lives of others. A highlight was a concluding song by Hiromi Wakabayashi, a member of the DFW Family Church.

The culminating event happened on May 7, when groups from both sides of the Trinity River met in the middle of Ron Kirk Pedestrian Bridge. Dallas has long been divided, with wealth, justice, and services being among the prominent issues. Dallas District 4 Councilwoman Carolyn Arnold read a proclamation about the symbolism and realized dream of the day. Religious groups shared their sacred texts. Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, a Christian congregation, based in Nigeria, led singing with the refrain “We are One.” Those words represent the theme echoed throughout the week, nurturing understanding and progress.