The scene was beautiful last night, as nearly two hundred people gathered to celebrate the third annual Interfaith Passover Seder, sponsored by SPIN (the Saint Paul Interfaith Network). I led an authentic Jewish Passover Seder that served to give many first-time attendees a first experience of this beloved Jewish ritual, and also invited all present to explore the themes of the Seder from the perspective of their own traditions, background, and life experience. The core themes of the Seder – passion for justice, empathy for the oppressed, and the journey toward liberation, lend themselves beautifully to multi-faith reflection. So we enjoyed profound reflections from Christian, Muslim, Baha'I, Buddhist and Hindu leaders, as well as a presentation from teen leaders of the Interfaith Youth Leadership Coalition and an interpretive dance on the theme of the journey toward transformation. The evening also included a wonderful dinner and music of liberation. It was a time to celebrate commonalities and appreciate differences; this is what interfaith dialogue is all about – when it's easy.

Tonight, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Mount Zion Temple, and the Islamic Center of Minnesota (with support from SPIN and the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning) will join in what promises to be a dialogue of a very different kind. While interfaith groups often avoid potentially explosive political issues, these three congregations are courageously sponsoring a community-wide screening of excerpts from the award-winning documentary film, "Encounter Point." The film presents the work of the renowned Israeli-Palestinian peace group, "Bereaved Parents Circle/Families Forum," composed of 500 Israeli and Palestinian families, all of whom have lost children or other primary loved ones to violence. Most families in the region have suffered grievous losses, but what distinguishes these remarkable people is that they have used their own suffering to fuel their passion to work collaboratively for peace. Theirs is a group whose most fervent hope is to never again have new members.

Following the screening, those gathered will be invited into facilitated dialogue about the film and the issues it raises. There are sure to be people in the room who entered with different perspectives about the conflict. Yet they will sit together and listen to one another, perhaps even use the film to inspire collaborative efforts among us. (More information on tonight's event is to be found at http://www.gloriadeistpaul.org/PALESTINIANS_AND_ISRAELIS_CONFLICT_GRIEF_AND_PEACE-MAKING.html.)

As Jews and Christians enter sacred seasons connected to rebirth and liberation, may these events spark renewed commitment to engaging with "the other," when it's easy and especially when it's not.