Thursday, Day 2 at the Biennial

Here's a name for you: Eboo Patel.

Eboo dreaded the first day of school each year, that moment when the teacher reads the roster of names for the first time, always mispronouncing his. Growing up in a western suburb of Chicago in the 1970s, Eboo remembers being, "a brown dot in a sea of white on the playground". He was different, and it was hard. And then in 4th grade, at a classmate's birthday party barbeque (Eboo was overjoyed to be invited to the party of the most popular boy in the class!), while the party was in full swing outside, Eboo met Chaim, inside the house, in the kitchen. Turns out that at their respective homes, in addition to a wrapped gift for the birthday boy, the two boys' moms had sent them with a baggie of 2 kosher hot dogs for the birthday boy's mom to grill -- on a separate plate. A friendship began during that shared, awkward moment in the kitchen. In short time, Eboo and Chaim learned that they have more in common than dietary restrictions. Neither called their grandparents by the usual American names; they both had additional books to study once their school work was finished; and they both went to worship services on Friday.

Today, Eboo Patel dedicates his life to interfaith dialogue and global community. And he spoke to us tonight. It was awesome. Many of you have likely heard about and read the work of Eboo Patel. I invite you to research him on your own. Here's a quick link to get you started: http://www.ifyc.org/

Tonight, he told us that in the late 1800s, W.E.B. Du Bois predicted (correctly) that the challenge for the 20th century would be the "Color Divide". Eboo predicts that the challenge for the 21st century will be the "Faith Divide." And his life's mission is to bridge that divide.

In the evening program, Mr. Patel's speech followed the recognition of Dr. Avivah Zornberg, one of the most inspiring Torah scholars and instructors in the world today, whose reach extends to all continents, languages, ages -- and gender. I felt so proud to be part of our egalitarian, Reform movement. And then we heard from Eboo Patel.

A Muslim, speaking to the largest gathering of Reform Jews in the world, Mr. Patel told us that his work as Founder and Executive Director of Interfaith Youth Core is informed by the teachings found in his faith's holy book, wherein he learned that, "God made different faiths that we may come to know one another". Tomorrow morning, he'll be speaking in a special session with the teenage attendees at the Biennial. He plans to ask them what values their Holy Books have given them in order to promote pluralism and peace in the world. Based on the enthusiastic shouts from the NFTY peanut gallery, I'd say that those kids are charged and ready!