Free Synagogue of Flushing
From The Peopling of New York City
The Free Synagogue is a religious institution that reaches out not only to the Jewish population of the neighborhood, but people of all religions and ethnicities. With a motto that says “We serve the most ethnically and religiously diverse people,” this synagogue truly does offer programs and celebrations for the entire community.
The Free Synagogue hosts a number of programs that encourage understanding between people of different faiths. They have been holding Interfaith Dialogue Breakfasts, where speakers come and share about the different beliefs and practices of their religions. In the past, they have had Christian, Hindu, and Sikh groups attend. Just on May 4th Mohammad Tariq Sherwani, the Director of the Muslim Center of New York, spoke to members of the community about Islam, which was followed by a question-and-answer session.
Another celebration that the Free Synagogue will present is on May 18th – the Third Interreligious Choral Festival, featuring religious organizations including the Hindu Temple, Macedonia AME Church, the Buddhist Society of New York, St Michael’s Church, St George’s Church, and more. On May 22nd, the synagogue will even sponsor Cuisines of Queens, where community members may go to Meson Asturias Restaurant in Elmhurst to celebrate cultural diversity by trying different ethnic foods.
All these programs and celebrations emphasize one view: the need to be aware of other cultures and religions. The Cantor of the Free Synagogue, Steven Pearlston, finds the cause of racial tensions to be isolation from outside organizations and institutions. By promoting knowledge of the other, the Free Synagogue encourages a shared sense of community.