Interfaith tribute to Nelson Mandela

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Rabbi Amy Levin addresses the gathering.An Interfaith tribute and celebration in the honor of Nelson Mandela was held Dec. 15 at the West End Tabernacle Baptist Church in Providence, a predominantly African and African-American congregation. The tribute was organized by Rev. Dr. Donald Anderson, the Rhode Island State Council of Churches executive minister, and Jay Vincent, president of the NAACP Providence branch.

Reverend Matthew Kai, pastor of the congregation, welcomed the dozens of people who ventured out in the cold afternoon to pay homage to Mandela’s legacy.

The program included an invocation from Rev. Lehlonolo Henrietta Montjane, a South African pastor and music from the West End Baptist Tabernacle Church Choir members.

The program featured brief remarks from leaders of many faiths including Rabbi Amy Levin who represented the Rhode Island Board of Rabbis and the Jewish community, Waleed Muhammed from the Rhode Island Council for Muslim Advancement and Muslim chaplain at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Norfolk and Rev. Tom Wiles from the American Baptist Churches of R.I.

Reverend Timothy Rich, rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in East Greenwich, told a fascinating story regarding his experience of living in South Africa while Mandela was incarcerated and then released from prison. Rev. Dr. Anderson recited a litany of powerful humanitarian remarks Nelson Mandela was credited with saying and Julius Kolawole, president of the African Alliance, offered remarks about Nelson Mandela and how he will be remembered.

Rabbi Levin began her remarks by saying, “We certainly express our condolences on the loss of South Africa’s extraordinary leader, and it is easy to recall Nelson Mandela’s most admirable qualities … we not only stand with you as your friends in your loss, but we, too, mourn the death of this great man.” The Rabbi commented on the relationship Mandela had with Israel. She stated that he supported a secure and stable Israel.

She closed by saying, “The man whose passing we mourn today modeled for us the power of loyalty without partisan politics; courage married to independent and clear thought; and the indestructible presence of a man committed to the highest and purest values. In our culture of growing polarization, in politics, in economics, in religion … a voice of balance and integrity like Mr. Mandela’s should be exalted. And the loss of such a voice is most deeply mourned. In Judaism, we refer to those we have lost with the phrase: הכרבל ונורכז – May his memory serve as a blessing.”

Martin Cooper (mcooper@jewishallianceri.org) leads the Community Relations Council of The Jewish Alliance. He can also be reached at 421-4111, ext. 171.