Friday Friends
 Here’s a great proposition. You can make progress in
solving one of Charlotte’s larger problems simply by eating lunch and
making a new friend. In a study of major cities and the racial trust
that exists among its citizens, Charlotte ranked 39th out of 40. While
on the positive side, we are nationally known in our Queen city for our
tremendous philanthropy, on the negative, we are known for the ways in
which we fail to reach across racial lines. This month, I invite you to
join me in building bridges with those of other races and cultures, not
by attending a service at another church or mosque, but by making a date
at a restaurant.
Mecklenburg Ministries has expanded upon a program called
“Race Day,” first conceived several years ago by community advocate and
business leader Joe Martin. In his memory and in effort to heal the
divides of our city, this new “Friday Friends” program invites you to
reach out to someone who is different from yourself either racially or
culturally and make a date to get together for lunch on the last Friday
of the month for six months in a row. Through the process you will get
to learn about each other’s background, barriers, culture, challenges,
find common ground and most of all make a new friend.
If you want to meet someone new as a part of Friday
Friends, we will be working together with our partners from Greenville
Memorial AME Zion Church and their Pastor Sheldon Shipman to match
members of our congregation with theirs. Just as their choir lit up our
sanctuary with their voices on MLK Shabbat, and just as their Pastor
inspired us with his passionate preaching, so will our continued
connections with them light up our Friday afternoons, broaden our own
horizons, and bring healing to our city.
If you plan on taking part in this program, please send
me the name of your Friday Friend and if you’d like us to help in
finding a “Friday Friends” partner feel free to contact me (rabbijudy@beth-el.com.)
|
A Rabbi's Reflections