Thankful unity

Christine Carrillo

Thankful voices rose in unison as Christian, Jewish and Muslim

congregants celebrated their connection to one God and one nation by

celebrating Thanksgiving at Harbor Christian Church in Newport Beach

on Sunday afternoon.

Nearly 100 people gathered together at the church, which also

serves as Temple Isaiah, for the sixth annual Newport Mesa Irvine

Interfaith Council Celebration of Thanksgiving.

“We are all created by one God,” said Flory Van Beek, a longtime

member of Temple Isaiah. “We are so blessed to be in this country and

immigrants especially appreciate it very much.”

With a grateful heart, Van Beek, a survivor of the Holocaust and

an immigrant to the United States, holds a very high appreciation for

the country that has given her a safe and accepting home.

Imam Mustufa Qazwini of the Islamic Educational Center is not much

different. He, just like his Jewish counterpart, is also thankful for

being a part of this country.

“I know the meaning of liberty, freedom and human rights ... and

I’m thankful to God for bringing me here,” said Qazwini, an immigrant

from Iraq. “One of the ways to be thankful to God is to be thankful

to our parents and neighbors and friends.”

While the differences of how members of the different faiths give

thanks within their respective communities were discussed, the theme

carried throughout the service’s speeches, readings and songs was the

unity between them.

“As we unify under the banner of our patriarch Abraham, we give

thanks for having religious tolerance and freedom where all faiths

can come together as one,” said Rabbi Marc Rubenstein of Temple

Isaiah. “This sanctuary embodies the spirit of Thanksgiving.”

Before gathering in the building that has acted as an interfaith

home for both Jewish and Christian communities for many years, many

congregates extended their gratefulness into the community.

In an effort to further carry out the theme of Thanksgiving,

families brought canned goods to the service to be donated to Share

Our Selves, Friends In Service to Humanity and Families Forward as

part of their commitment to helping individuals in need.

“We’re called to commit ourselves to [working] together ... to

stand by each other and have more times like this where we lift up

together with joint faiths,” said Dennis Short of the Harbor

Christian Church.

* CHRISTINE CARRILLO is the news assistant. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4298 or by e-mail at christine.carrillo@latimes.com.