Religious leaders urge unity

June Casagrande

NEWPORT-MESA -- “Cowardly,� “animal� and “tragic� are some of the

words local religious leaders are using to describe Tuesday’s attacks on

the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon. And in the

aftermath of a horror that has rocked the community and the nation alike,

Jewish, Muslim and interfaith leaders of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa are

calling for unity among all faiths against a universal enemy of hate.

“It’s a sad day for our country, and we need to keep together and not

have any feelings of hatred or mistrust without information about who’s

even to blame,� said Greg Kelley, president of the Interfaith Council, a

group of religious congregations of Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Irvine.

“It’s important, particularly for the faith community, to come together

at a time like this.�

The timing of the terrorist attacks on the anniversary of the historic

Camp David Peace Accords, as well as the choice of the World Trade Center

as a target, have left national media and others to speculate that the

continuing Middle East conflict motivated the terrorists. In response,

local Jewish and Muslim leaders are calling on their congregants to

resist the temptation to wield their anger indiscriminately.

“We are all Americans, and we are all concerned about what happened,�

said Haipham A. Bundakji, chairman of the public relations department of

the Islamic Society of Orange County. “I extend our deepest condolences

to the victims. We are all part of the large family of the victims of

these cowardly acts.�

As Bundakji was fielding calls from members of the local Islamic

community, Jewish leaders, too, were tending their flocks as they tried

to grapple with the unfathomable destruction.

“This event has been compared to Pearl Harbor,� Rabbi Marc Rubenstein

of Newport Beach’s Temple Isaiah said. “But when you take an American jet

plane full of passengers and turn it into a weapon and hit a building

with thousands of people in it with the intent of hurting them, you

wonder where humanity has gone.�

The timing of the attack, less than a week before the Jewish New Year

of Rosh Hashana, has further complicated the aftermath for the Newport

Beach and Costa Mesa communities, where celebrations will be eclipsed by

the horror of Tuesday’s events.

“Rosh Hashana is for us the anniversary of the creation of man, and on

that day we talk about man in all of his nobility and grandeur,� said

Rabbi Mark S. Miller of Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach. “But our

thoughts will drift from that exalted conception of humanity to man’s

capacity for destruction -- to those who share more in common with the

most predatory beasts than the dignity of man.�

Sabbath services at Newport Beach synagogues originally planned to be

in solidarity of the people of Israel have been rededicated in support of

the people of the United States and in memory of all victims of terror,

said Alison Mayersohn, spokeswoman for the Jewish Federation of Orange

County. More information about the services, which will take place Friday

and Saturday, is available by calling (714) 755-5555.

Mel Roth, executive director of the Jewish Family Service of Orange

County, said it’s important for people to find outlets for their grief.

In addition to counseling services provided by his and other

organizations, Roth said talking with friends and family can help people

sort out their grief.

He said it’s especially important for parents to encourage their

children to talk about their fears and added that, for adults, positive

action can be helpful to those who give as well as receive.

“There’s a pervasive sense of helplessness in all this tragedy,� Roth

said. “People want to do something, but they don’t know how. People can

diminish that sense of helplessness by doing things like donating blood,

donating money or hands-on ways of helping.�

FYI

Some religious events affected by the terrorist attack:

* An interfaith luncheon today will include a memorial service for the

victims of the tragedy. Members of the public are invited to attend. The

event will be at noon at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 1441

W. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach. (949) 673-3775. Cost is $7.50.

* The Arab-American Festival in Garden Grove, originally scheduled for

Sept. 21-23, might be canceled, a spokesman for the society said. (714)

531-1722.

* Sabbath services at Newport Beach’s two synagogues have been

rededicated to the victims of all terrorist attacks and to the people of

the United States. Services are at 8 p.m. Friday at Temple Bat Yahm, 1011

Camelback St., Newport Beach, (949) 644-1999; and 8 p.m. Friday and

Saturday at Temple Isaiah, 2401 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach, (949)

548-6900.