The Welcome Mat

Returning from the synagogue, we made it just in time to get on the bus and make our way to The Hassan II Mosque, sometimes nicknamed the "Casablanca Hajj". Built on the shoreline of Casablanca, it is the largest mosque in Morocco and Africa and the 7th largest in the world. Its minaret is among the world's tallest at 60 storied high with a laser light that shines toward Mecca.

My "dance partner" for the day is Nancy Nolan, a self identified Jewbuliccan. Jewish- married to a Jewish man she raised a Jewish daughter and celebrates Jewish holidays.
Buddhist- A student and practitioner of Buddhist meditation
Catholic- Born Irish Roman Catholic, she is both spiritually and culturally Catholic
Wiccan- Interested in indigenous, Native American earth based religion. Just as importantly, she identifies as a warrior, which is evident by her strength and energy.  Rarely is she without a twinkle in her eye, a generous spirit and a joy inducing robust laugh.

Together we explore the plaza and watch the ocean waves before our tour begins of this majestic sacred space.

As we enter what is most intriguing to me is that this masjid boasts glass insets in the floor where the sea bed can be seen and a retractable roof where the sky can be seen.  There water, air and earth meet and the element of fire is added by a flame. 

Standing in the space, pigeons fly across the vast expanse. The guide says that over 100,000 people can pray within and outside the mosque's grounds.  It is massive.

It was certainly beautiful and inspiring and yet not surprising that the decision to build this mosque was controversial for Moroccans, on one hand clearly a point of national and religious pride and on the other, such a vast amount of resources poured into a project that could be directed to feed and care for people. Over 12 million people donated by the end.

I shared with Nancy that as my community moves into its own building, that is even humble in comparison to the 300 person sized synagogue in Casablanca about the nature of space.  I question the value of opulence in the name of religion.  The beauty of  both spaces were magnificent and special beyond belief. I understand that we often feel that way about God.  Our enthusiasm wants to interpret that fervor of adoring God through adornment. 

As an art lover and a fan of architecture, I can relate.  But the Tower of Babel comes to mind in all our structures. Even when the impetus is to exult God not overthrow God, the building itself can distract.  It's a contrary notion to how we are wired.  It is in the ocean, or the mountains that I feel the Godly magnificence of creation more than any palatial cathedral or temple. We agreed that Nature unlocks our awe more than anything 

Perhaps more than the grandest ark, or the most vivid stained glass windows or the highest minaret--we should all keep our eye on the most important symbol: the welcome mats of our homes of worship.

There's nothing like the feeling of being embraced and having a sense of "Welcome Home."

 

Meeting Elijah

Traveling with 30 people can be like trying to keep frogs in a barrel long enough to make it to the destination.

Making it through customs and out of the airport in Casablanca, we were challenged keeping it all together. One pilgrim was led a different way out of the airport so by the time we met our tour guide, Faed he was frazzled and we were all ready late.

Groggy from traveling, we rode on the bus adjusting to the sights.  We had a lovely (if not a tad cliché) dinner at Rick's Cafe.  My partner for the day was Amina, an Ismaili Muslim physician who was incredibly curious and interested in the world around her.

Arriving at the hotel, I convinced two pilgrims to join me on a 10 min walk to find the synagogue Beth El. Father Jeffrey Ott and Dr. Keith Wood who used to lead a Seventh Day Adventist informed community.  A fierce triad we were.

The first clue that this would be an adventure was that on my GPS app the address was on one street and the location symbol was on the next. Then as we started walking the bustling streets of Casablanca, my GPS stopped functioning.

Walking in the direction of the synagogue, three young men ran out in front of us and started fighting blocking our way.  The three of froze silently trying to assess the situation.  More men began to join the fight and I felt torn.  Wrestling with what was the responsibility of our own safety and of protecting another, especially as foreigners.

We wandered a good bit the wrong way but then found the right street.  There were a handful of places with high gates and no signage where I wondered if a synagogue took refuge behind those high walls.  Eventually on a small offshoot of the street we were on at the end of the street was a "beit menachem mendel".  I had found the Chabad. 

As we headed back four kittens ran out into street crying for food.  We made it back to the hotel only partially successful.

The next morning, two of the Jewish pilgrims asked if I had been successful in finding the synagogue.  We decided to head over.  We found the chabad again.  We were allowed in and heard the davening above as we explored the beit hamidrash.  We met a few of the Moroccan Jews and were on our way.

Jeffrey pointed to a gate saying that he thought a synagogue was behind the door.  Just before we headed across the street, a man appeared and walked to the gate and opened them.  Timing wise, it was like he was Elijah.

We approached, he was apprehensive at first but we explained we were Jews in broken French. He saw my yarmulke and let us into the beautiful courtyard.  We followed him into the sanctuary as he welcomed us in and Beth El was beautiful with stunning Chagall inspired stained glass windows with each tribe and beautiful chandeliers.

There's a sacred nature of space.  To be in Jewish space across the world binds us.  To add a blessing where my Moroccan brother and sisters had been before felt like an honor.  It was like encountering buried treasure.

Our Elijah was patient, it seemed as if he was the shamash. He appreciated our witness and excitement at discovering this spiritual home of our community. We embraced as we left. 

When seeking Jews around the world, there's almost always Elijah waiting to greet you.

Wild animals and Peace

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, other souls.” – Anais Nin

There is something about the physical and emotional demands of travel that breaks down barriers and encourages people to form alliances. 

At the airport in Atlanta, with anticipation the World Pilgrims began to gather.  As we account for everyone, we all join together for a few instructions and we say the Traveler's Prayer from the Jewish Tradition:

 May it be Your will, Eternal One, our God and the God of our ancestors,
that You lead us toward peace, place our footsteps towards peace,
guide us toward peace, and make us reach our desired destination for life, gladness, and peace. May You rescue us from the hand of every foe, ambush, bandits and wild animals along the way, and from all manner of punishments that assemble to come to Earth. May You send blessing in our every handiwork, and grant us peace, kindness, and mercy in your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us. May You hear the sound of our supplication, because You are the God who hears prayer and supplications. Blessed are You, Eternal One, who hears prayer.

The bandits and the wild animals bring a smile to people's faces.  With this blessing, more connective tissue is binding us together.

I find the  repetition of shalom in the prayer comforting and surprising.  It is not just that our journey be a peaceful one, but that the very purpose of our travel be for peace.

International travel is long, it takes a toll. Peace is not a necessarily obvious description even when things go smoothly.  There are many things we must internally contend with like our practice of patience, the taming of our personal will with that of those around us.  Traveling is vulnerable. We are at the hands of forces we cannot control and sometimes at the whim of others. It can be trying, but when the goal is peace it can reframe the entire experience. 

Let our experience be for the sake of peace.

In Abraham's Shadow

*This blog is from my own viewpoint and does not represent World Pilgrims as a whole.

World Pilgrims was founded to cultivate greater understanding and cooperation between the three "major" Abrahamic Faiths in Atlanta.  (Let's also be aware that there are many Abrahamic faith traditions like the Baha'i tradition, Rastafarianism Samaritanism and  Druzism among others.) We use this term Abrahamic as a way to bind us to a common ancestor.

Sounds good, no?!  It did to me and it didn't.

I have been open-hearted and respectfully curious of other faith traditions since I was a teenager. Yet there was a tension. I was introduced to Abraham at a very young age.  He was my oldest Jewish relative.  He was the revered ground zero of Judaism. The patriarch of journeys, hospitality, arguing with God and covenants--Jewish-style. He was so Jewish in my first exposure to him and it was such a formative part of my education.  Even when I understood rationally that Abraham was the father of other faiths, his heart was Jewish.

Learning his importance to Christianity was not instinctive. Growing up in the South I had experienced violence and repetitive proselytizing by Christians at an early age. As early as 1st grade, I was confronted by accusations of murdering Jesus and of hiding my horns.  The fear was also reinforced by an education at Hebrew Day School that emphasized a history of persecution. It was confusing.  Somehow, I knew that this was only a version of Christianity --and that my own tradition had its sharp edges. I considered Christianity am erratic and more powerful daughter of Judaism. I was open but closed or rather I had quite the obstacle to travail.

I never really considered Christianity's connection to Abraham except I assumed he was some distant relative. 

When thinking of Islam, the few negative messages I received early on seemed more like caricatures and thus someone inherently untrustworthy teachings.  While it would not be until much later that I would understand more than just what is covered in a High School World Religions class, I knew ever since I read Genesis that Ishmael and Isaac were brothers who loved their father enough to bury him together.  Their estrangement seemed to be due to misunderstandings and their parents poor choices.  But with a clear link to Abraham, it made the separation painful, yet still hopeful.

In my traditional education, Abraham was the Jewish father.  His path was the Jewish one, embracing Isaac and expelling Ishmael.  Learning that the binding of Abraham's son was told different on the Qu'ran illuminated that there was a different claim on Abraham.

It's complicated to claim the same father when all of us have grown up thinking we are the favorite.  Can we give that fantasy up? The myths of triumphalism that can be found in all faith traditions are comforting on the surface but they force us to give up something far more valuable than "God's favorite" status or Abraham's only beloved child. 

And it is the act of confronting and overcoming those limited stories and early teachings that can lead us to discover what the more valuable understanding is.  And that is a wisdom worth  pursuing...

Go Forth

The Shabbat is nearing.  The idea of rest is tantalizing but also out of reach when a journey is waiting on the side of it.  I have been working around the clock to leave everything in order at the synagogue and to prepare for my leadership responsibilities on the pilgrimage. Rest. Breathe. Reflect. Meditate. They are also important parts of the preparation.

Jews read from the part of Torah this week called Lech Lecha, where Abraham is urged to Go Forth and leave his homeland.  Not only is this appropriate wisdom for preparing for a pilgrimage but it is my Torah portion.  This is what I chanted at my Bar Mitzvah.  I have discovered that one can read this portion as directed to the seeker.  It is perhaps what transformed me into a seeker at 13.

As a seeker, I am warmed by fellow travelers.  Not because they have answers, though at times they do, but because they understand the sacred nature of the journey. Pursuing wisdom is its own reward and sharing the endeavor with others can be rewarding. It is one of the intentions I set for this journey.

As I prepare to leave, I pack stories.  Here is a Chasidic Tale inspired by Lech Lecha and journeying forth and perhaps a metaphor for what happens on a Pilgrimage. 

A man was on a journey that took him through a forest. There he lost his way. After several days of wandering, he encountered another person. To this one he appealed: Can you show me the way out of this forest? The other replied: I too have lost my way. Each path I have taken has been wrong. But at least I know what paths not to take. Let us search for the way out together.

Yes, let's.

Mom 1 Josh 0

I have the unique privilege of having my divorced parents as members in my synagogues. They can make life interesting--and there is a humility built into the experience.  Nothing like parents to remind you of your own humanity and foibles.

As a good Jewish Mom, she worries when I take trips out of the country.  

Once my mom loudly rustled in her purse as she pulled out her sunglasses to "hide" her tears as I explained to the congregation why I was not canceling my trip to Israel even though the Lebanon War had just begun.  Last summer, she endured my return to Israel during the Gaza War. 

Tonight when I tried joking around with her about going to Morocco, she was on her witty A-game.

Yes, Mom 1  Josh 0

Josh, I don't think I will make it to services tomorrow night."

"You do know that if I don't make it back from Morocco that it might be the last time you see me lead services."

"Aren't we having lunch on Sunday."

"Yes, but that's not services."

"It's ok, I still remember the High Holy Days."

"Alright. By the way, I hope it's OK that I have asked in my will that someone read the Jewish Times article where they quote you about me becoming a rabbi. I just want to let you know that people will understand why you weren't there."

"The one where I said, 'I thought you would have become a marine biologist."?

"Well, Mom actually it read, 'I always hoped he would have done something more interesting with his life."

"I was misquoted."

"Try explaining that at my funeral."

"Well if YOU had become a marine biologist you would be in Hawaii now."

Touche, Mom.  Sunday lunch, Round 2!

You Have Packed Your Suitcase, Prepare Your Soul

Dear World Pilgrims,

‘Adventure is a path… your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way, you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind- and perhaps realise that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black and white’ – Mark Jenkins.

As we prepare for this magnificent journey, I wanted to offer all of us the reminder that more than mere travel we are embarking on a beautiful spiritual adventure together.  I have discovered that not only do I return with a greater appreciation for the countries and the peoples we encounter, but my pilgrimage is also a journey within my own soul.

As important as it is to pack our suitcases with our necessities, I would like to suggest that we also be attentive to our own spiritual and growth needs. To that end, I wanted to make a few suggestions to support your experience.

1.  Reflect

Consider taking even a few minutes of silence to reflect on this amazing opportunity.  What does being on a pilgrimage do to you?  What feelings arise? Is there anything you need to do or complete before you to leave to be the most available you can for the experience?

2. Set an Intention (or two)

Ponder what a successful pilgrimage  would feel like?   Is there an intention you might set to help you achieve your personal goals and hopes? For some writing it down and bringing it with you may be resourceful. You also may notice that it serves as your compass or it way transform.

3. Write

Writing can often help us connect to our feelings beneath the surface or serve as a reminder to follow up on an area of interest.  You may like to use a small journal to jot down some thoughts, ideas, prayers or ideas.

4. Bring Your Authentic Full Self

While we are grouped by faith traditions, we are more complex or varied than just our faith tradition. No one is expected to be a paragon of their faith; the only expectation is for you to be you.

5. Pray

If it makes sense in your personal practice, offer a prayer for a meaningful and secure adventure.

May you find the next few days filled with ease and grace as you prepare to leave.  Remember that while there are limits on the size of our luggage, there is unlimited space to bring our fullest sense of kindness, patience and compassion.

See you soon,

Joshua

Revisiting the Declaration of Common Ground

            Twenty pilgrimages and 13 years later, it is hard to understand how groundbreaking and risky the first pilgrimage felt.  We were truly strangers going on a sense of trust and goodwill. We had to iron out many differences and we were formulating the process as we traveled.  Yet, we witnessed a profound transformation of strangers to community.  On the last days of the pilgrimage, we came together and broke into groups to formulate this Declaration of Common Ground. Rereading this as I prepare for our upcoming pilgrimage, I am moved by the integrity of the process and the hopefulness in the pledge.  While the language is a bit “constitutional” for my taste, the sentiment resonates and it brings me great hope even in dark times that we 45 Muslims, Christians and Jews came together and pointed towards a better way.

WORLD PILGRIMS^© DECLARATION OF COMMON GROUND

PREAMBLE

We the inaugural group of World Pilgrims – 45 Jewish Christian and Muslim clergy and community leaders from Greater Atlanta, Georgia – traveled together through Turkey from October 20 -30, 2002, seeking Common Ground.  During this time we build upon our mutual belief that God is the Creator of all human beings and discovered in each other the spiritual abundance that God bestows upon us all.  We prayed, laughed, wept, argued and celebrated together, openly sharing our personal religious journeys and our faith traditions.

We are here to declare to our communities that we have found hope, trust and an abundance of Common Ground.

DECLARATION OF COMMON GROUND

WHEREAS we find the current state of relations among our faith communities strained by misunderstanding and animosity;

WHEREAS people of faith are mandated by God to create conditions in which all human beings may live in harmony and experience their highest potential;

WHEREAS all people are created equal and loved equally by God;

WHEREAS we affirm that remaining faithful and passionate about our own traditions is critical to the continued vibrancy of religious and community life;

WHEREAS we have found commonalities that supersede historical tensions;

AND WHEREAS we are committed to building faith communities based on mutual understanding;

WHEREAS we recognize our obligation to continuously examine our own understanding and practicing of our religions;

THEREFORE, we affirm that we will:

·        Strive to deeply comprehend and respect one another’s views and defend each other’s rights to express those views;

·        Move beyond acknowledgement and tolerance and engage in education and exploration of both our Common Ground and our differences, in order to remove or minimize misunderstandings, misconceptions, myths and stereotypes;

d

·        Create a common agenda to enhance spiritual and social conditions of all faith communities individually and collectively;

·        Cultivate safe spaces where strong convictions are heard without defensiveness and held in mutual trust;

·        Work to build understanding, respect and trust among our clergy and leaderships, and our congregations and constituents;

·        Support each other in our efforts to build interfaith dialogue and cooperation;

·        Challenge the forces in our own communities that promote fear over faith, violence over dialogue and disrespect over understanding.

RESOLUTION

We, the World Pilgrims of Atlanta, commit to hold each other accountable to upholding these principles in the same spirit of friendship and love shared on this Pilgrimage.

We invite all people of faith who agree with these principles and who seek Common Ground to join this movement to build communities guided by God’s World, Grace and Peace.

We are leaving in 4 days! Let these words be our guide.

An Imam, a Reverend, a Rabbi and a Community Organizer Walk Into a Plane: The Leaders

Let me introduce you to the leaders of this World Pilgrims pilgrimage. Who better to be Pursuing Wisdom with than my fellow leaders, Jan Swanson, Imam Plemon El-Amin and Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley?! Their collective wisdom has strengthened our city and has reverberated globally.  

With a full generation of experience and trailblazing on me, I am as humbled to be co-leading this amazing adventure as I was when I met them--perhaps more so as I even more aware of how much I can learn from them. 

I met Jan and Imam Plemon early in my rabbinate. Shortly after 9/11, the faith community in Atlanta woke up to the realization that we must know each other better and build strong alliances.  Together we met working together on the founding board to create the Faith of Alliance of Metro Atlanta.

We grew close as we brought great intentionality and integrity as we planned a heart-rending and heart-opening service commemorating the first anniversary of 9/11 at the city's behest.  Hosted at the historic center of civil and human rights, Ebenezer Baptist Church, as a city we grieved, prayed for hope and issued a call for greater understanding.

 Throughout this time, as a new rabbi, I learned so much from Jan and Plemon. Despite many differences, we grew to respect, trust and rely on one another.  I am grateful for their influence on me, they helped shape the rabbi I am today like the many other teachers in my stead.

A little over a month after that service, I would join Plemon, Jan and Gerald on the inaugural pilgrimage to Turkey.

While I know Rev. Gerald was involved in forming important interfaith alliances, it was not until my experience traveling with him that I saw how his warmth and humor created am opportunity to connect with a man who had a legendary reputation preceeding him as a civil rights leader and charismatic preacher. Perhaps more than anyone, I have laughed with him as much as I have learned from. Teaching about the importance of sacred time, Gerald combines prophetic vision with pastoral presence. 

To be leading with these three teachers is the first piece of gold to be treasured as we explore the mythic Golden Age of Spain.  Whether the legendary openness of Andalus proves to be truly a Golden time, I know we will working together diligently to foster a time to treasure and to continue to build a growing stewardship of an Atlanta that shines in its example of coexistence and mutual understanding.

Here are their bios:

Jan Swanson was the Outreach Director of the Christian Council of Metropolitan Atlanta until 2002, an organization supported by the Archdiocese of Greater Atlanta. Because of her position, Jan was invited to important multi-faith dinners as the "Christian representative. Invitations came from Muslims, Jews , Hindus, and Buddhists. After 9/11, she was called on by the city of Atlanta and the Christian religious community to bring the world faiths together for a worship service. She agreed to convene the group if all the groups had an equal say in the worship service.

Rev. Wayne Smith, now deceased, asked Jan to organize a group of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian leaders to go on a spiritual pilgrimage to Turkey.

Jan currently is the program director of World Pilgrims. She and Interfaith Community Initiatives Chair and President Imam Plemon El-Amin have led ten World Pilgrimages to places of spiritual significance for groups of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Jan also assists in Dr. Ben Johnson in conducting interfaith Immersion weekends where participants experience the sacred spaces and people from five major world religions.

Jan is a founding board member of the FAMA , the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta.

The Community Organizer: Jan Swanson

Imam Plemon El-Amin serves on various religious and civic councils, including the Boards of the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta, the Atlanta Majlis Ash Shura, the Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters, the World Pilgrims, and the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority.

As part of the World Pilgrims, he has led 10 Pilgrimages with over 300 Muslims, Christians and Jews through the religious and cultural landscapes of Turkey, Morocco and Spain, Jerusalem and Palestine, a Istanbul, Athens and the Greek Isles, and Jordan --to deepen their intimate personal friendships and working relationships with one another.He performed the greater Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca in 1978 and in 2006, and has enjoyed 5 minor pilgrimages (Umra).

The Imam: Plemon El-Amin

The Rev. Dr. Gerald L. Durley is the former Pastor of the historic Providence Missionary Baptist Church of Atlanta, where he has served for nearly 25 years. At Providence, Rev. Durley worked to ensure that people with disabilities in the congregation are able to share their gifts, skills and abilities, resulting in a new system of supports for persons with autism and their families in the congregation and in the community.

Rev. Durley’s previous roles include Executive Director of the Head Start Program for Fulton and Douglas Counties, Director of the Health Promotion Resource Center at the Morehouse School of Medicine, and founder of Perspectives, International, a consortium of historically black colleges and universities. In 2011, Rev. Durley was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame for his contributions during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Rev. Durley continues to serve as an outspoken advocate on a number of social justice issues and works diligently to understand the differences and similarities among people, cultures and beliefs.

The Reverend: Gerald Durley

And here is me:

Rabbi Joshua Lesser leads Congregation Bet Haverim. Together he and the members have fostered a warm environment balancing the needs of a diverse community.

His adventurous spirit has propelled him to be a groundbreaker. He founded SOJOURN, the Southern Jewish Resource Network, a Jewish communal response to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. He was a founding board member of the Faith Alliance and served as its first Jewish president. Taking a lead in interfaith partnership, he was the only rabbi on Atlanta’s first World Pilgrims pilgrimage to Turkey. He later led a pilgrimage to Egypt, Jordan and Israel.

The Rabbi: Joshua Lesser

Pursuing Wisdom: An Interfaith Pilgrimage to Morocco and Spain

Who Are World Pilgrims?

Judaism, Christianity, Islam as well as other world religions hold many values and traditions in common but rarely do members of these faiths have meaningful contact with one another.  At times their interactions are often marked by distrust and hostility, rather than respect for differences and awareness of common values. World Pilgrims are committed to making a difference.

The ICI World Pilgrims program is based on the principle that before people of different religions can constructively discuss their differences they need to develop meaningful personal relationships with one another.  When friendship and trust must is established, honest and productive dialogue can take places even about areas of difference and disagreement.  Our goals are are to increase empathy and understanding, build trust, reduce conflict, and ultimately create opportunities for collaborative action.

The hope is that each  Pilgrim will:

• Deepen their personal faith by visiting some of the most sacred sites of their religious tradition.

• Gain an appreciation of the shared elements of all three Abrahamic religious traditions, as well as an understanding and respect for the differences

• Establish personal friendships with fellow pilgrims from Christian, Muslim and Jewish traditions even in the midst of the complexities of relationships between these three faiths around the world.

A pilgrimage is a sacred journey, not a travel seminar or a tourist venture. This means taking time for personal and group reflection, devotional time and  personal sharing.  Participants are asked to see these times as essential elements of the pilgrimage. Each location is of sacred importance, a place where spiritual enrichment can take place.

Each journey has a formal and very intentional structure designed to ensure that all the participants achieve the goals of the pilgrimage.  The theme of this pilgrimage to Morocco and Spain is Pursuing Wisdom.  Each participant is asked to commit to this structure so that the shared goals of the journey can be obtained. 

We focus on understanding and acceptance of each other’s faith traditions; discussion rather than debate, respect rather than judgment, empathy rather than criticism.   As pilgrims traveling on a common and sacred journey, the participants are expected to share their personal experiences and faith journeys with one another, and to make a commitment to continue their common experience after returning home.  Traveling makes us vulnerable in the best ways and creates opportunities for empathy, relatability and support.

As a result, we are building a stronger faith community in Atlanta. With close to 400 pilgrims, we support one another’s communities and keep connected once we return. It is such a meaningful experience that many people seek to join another pilgrimage.  We are transforming the faith landscape to better our city and ourselves.

Follow this blog for an inside view of our 20th pilgrimage to Morocco and Spain as we are Pursuing Wisdom.

*This post was taken from the Interfaith Community Institute's webpage and edited by me.  All edits reflect my perspective and not of the ICI at a whole.  

World Pilgrim in the Dead Sea: 2010  Pilgrimage to Egypt, Jordan and Israel