BOARDMAN Muslim and Hindu women to take part in interfaith tea

The event promotes better understanding among women of various faiths.
BOARDMAN -- For the first time in the 60-year history of the Youngstown-area interfaith tea, women of the Muslim and Hindu communities will be joining their Jewish, Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox counterparts at the event planned for 1 p.m. Feb. 7 at Congregation Ohev Tzedek, 5245 Glenwood Ave.
Sponsors are the sisterhoods of Congregation Ohev Tzedek, Children of Israel, Temple El Emeth and Congregation Rodef Sholom.
The tea will feature a reading of Psalm 23 by Sister Regina Rogers, general superior of the Ursuline Sisters in Youngstown, followed by a cantorial interpretation of the psalm by Art Einzig, a member of Ohev Tzedek.
Elaine Rudick, president of Congregation Ohev Tzedek, will blow the shofar, a ram's horn. Rabbi Joel Berman, the congregation's spiritual leader, will present the Torah, the scroll of the five books of Moses.
An interfaith message will be delivered by Rabbi Franklin Muller of Congregation Rodef Sholom. Other participants will be Carol Sherman of Ohev Tzedek, Saeeda Ghani of the Islamic Society of Greater Youngstown, Dr. Ahalya Krishnan of the Hindu Temple and Jacqueline Burley, director of Protestant Family Services of the Youngstown Area.
Chaia Beckerman will offer the invocation, and MaryAnn Cmil will welcome participants. Mollie Kessler and Shirley Kessler will open the Ark in which the sacred Torahs are kept.
About the event
Begun in 1946 by Marion Roth, then president of Rodef Sholom's sisterhood, the interfaith tea initiated a movement to promote better understanding among faiths, overcome religious prejudice and create bonds of fellowship among the women of the Mahoning Valley.
Teas are still being held annually and are sponsored on a rotating basis by the women of the Jewish, Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox traditions in the greater Youngstown area.
Planning committee members are Cmil and Mollie Kessler, co-presidents of Ohev Tzedek Sisterhood, and Patricia Kelvin, Florine Rusnak, Esther Sacolick, Carol Sherman and Rabbi Berman.
Olga Bilas, Dorothy Butler, Jodie Damioli, Debbie Demarco, Phyllis Friedman, Ghani, Shirley Megown and Joan Schwebel will serve as hostesses.