Despite all the division in the world today, believers of different religious backgrounds can still come together to discuss the foundations of their faith.
That’s been happening on the East End for a decade now — and the discussion is still going strong.
Project Genesis, a Jewish-Christian learning program begun at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Island by Father Roy Tvrdik, director of the shrine and Rabbi Gadi Capela of Congregation Tifereth Israel, will celebrate its 10th anniversary Saturday evening with a buffet and panel discussion at Peconic Landing.
Project Genesis grew out of a Passover Seder celebrated for a mostly Catholic community at SUNY Old Westbury in 2006 by Capela, who was then a graduate student in Jewish philosophy.
Tvrdik, the campus chaplain, invited Capela to the Eastport shrine to lead a monthly Torah study beginning with the book of Genesis.
It took seven years.
The study touched many lives and taught important lessons about the need to not simply ignore the differences in faith traditions, but to respect and embrace them, Capela says.
They moved on to studying the books of the New Testament and moved the venue of the study to the Unitarian Universalist Church in Southold.
After the Southold church was destroyed by a blaze in March, Project Genesis moved to Peconic Landing in Greenport.
The topic of Saturday’s panel discussion will be “Death and Resurrection in the New Testament and the Afterlife in the Hebrew Bible.” Joining Capela and Tvrdik on the panel Saturday will be the Rev. Kimberly Debus of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Southold. Catholic educator Dr. Dan Russo of Mattituck, who has been leading the New Testament studies with Capela, will moderate.
The event is complimentary, but pledge cards will be available for donations.
Space is limited and reservations are required. Email Debra Riva or call 631-456-5903.
