Temple plans Thanksgiving gathering

Members of different faiths and cultural groups will participate in the sixth annual Thanksgiving gathering from 12:15 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Temple B'nai Israel, 4316 Albert St.

Participants at the gathering will be Rabbi John Feldman of Albuquerque, N.M., with members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, the Native American community, the Baha'i community, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Mount Zion Baptist Church and the Vietnam Veterans Color Guard.

Sue Cohen, co-chairwoman of the gathering, said, "Amarillo is very community-spirited, and we thought this is just a natural outgrowth of wanting to connect more as different faith members of the same community.

"We're pretty staunch believers in dialogue with other faith groups. I think it can only serve one purpose, which is to remove barriers."

Cohen said the gathering has been successful in removing barriers, and some interfaith panel discussions have resulted.

Cohen said the Islamic community was invited to the gathering. Dr. Nazre Mawla, member of the Islamic Center of Amarillo, said someone from his community would probably attend the event.

"That should be no problem," he said.

Cohen said everyone is invited to the gathering.

"This year, in particular, we are definitely going to remember those who died in the World Trade Center and their families, and meditate on the loss and what we have left," Cohen said.

Each group will represented by its own speaker, Cohen said.

The gathering is free, but participating families are asked to bring a favorite dish with at least six servings for a potluck lunch.

Additionally, each guest or family is asked to donate a can of tuna or a box of macaroni and cheese, which will go to the High Plains Food Bank. Organizers also will collect toilet tissue.

Cohen said between 200 and 250 people have attended the event in the past, and she expects a record turnout this year. Free baby-sitting will be provided.

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