Winter 2013 Issue - De La Salle Institute

FAITH, SERVICE & COMMUNITYMeteors Welcomed During Visit toNORTH SHORE SYNAGOGUEIn November 2012, theology teachersMichael Dieter and Chris Woodtraveled with five students to theNorth Shore Congregation Israel,located in north suburban Glencoe, onan optional enrichment trip as part ofDieter’s Christian Vocation class.“I was very excited to provide thisopportunity for our young men,”Dieter said. “It is important that welearn about the faiths and traditionsof our brothers and sisters, so that wemay better come together to work forsocial justice and improve the world.”While at North Shore CongregationIsrael, the Meteors toured thesynagogue with Rabbi Steven S.Mason and shared in a Shabbat meal.Chad Dean ’13, Tim Quigley ’13, Johnny Walker ’13, MarkStarling ’13, Michael Salazar ’13, De La Salle faculty memberMichael DieterThe trip came about after Dieter visitedIsrael and returned with a strongerdesire to expand his knowledgeof Judaism. He then attended atraining session sponsored by theAnti-Defamation League and theArchdiocese of Chicago.While at the training session, Dieterconnected with a rabbi from the NorthShore Congregation Israel. After Dietervisited the synagogue and engagedits members, he drew the inspirationto provide this opportunity for hisstudents to learn more about Judaism.“This was an enlightening experienceand was really an eye-opener,” ChadDean ’13 said. “It was a new experiencefor me and I loved it.“My trip to the Shabbat service wasa welcoming experience,” MichaelSalazar ’13 said. “I felt like royaltyas I entered, because I was greetedwith great kindness and the phrase,‘Shabbat Shalom.’“The Shabbat service had a reallygreat choir that sang all of their songsin the beautiful Hebrew language. Thisexperience really changed my mind onthe Jewish religion and their culture asa whole. Due to this trip, I now wantto learn the Hebrew language to gaina better understanding of Judaism andbe able to travel to Israel and conversewith the local people.Inside the main sanctuary at the North Shore CongregationIsrael in Glencoe, IL“I walked out truly transformed and renewed. I can say I had a‘metanoia’ experience, where I had a radical change I heart, mind,and soul about the Jewish religion.”Another highlight of the visit to the synagogue was a questionand-answersession with Rabbi Wendi Geffen, who provided theDe La Salle contingent with a great deal of knowledge and insightinto the Jewish faith.“After visiting the North Shore Congregation Israel, I walkedaway with a new glimpse of how other religions operate and praiseGod,” Tim Quigley ’13 said. “It was interesting to see similaritiesand differences in the Jewish faith compared to Christianity.”“The key difference that I noticed frommy church was that there was moresinging and the rabbi didn’t preach aslong as my pastor would. The food wasgreat and the people were very friendlyand welcoming. I would definitelyattend another service and encourageothers as well.”As impressed as the De La Salle groupwas with the North Shore CongregationIsrael, their Jewish colleagues wereequally as positive about the Meteors’visit.In an email to Dieter, Rabbi Geffen –who closed the message with her hopefor blessings and peace – wrote, “It was an honor to have youand your students with us for Shabbat. Their comments/questionsboth then and on the email you sent were/are indicative of theirown deep faith and curiosity, no less their clear leadership andinspirational skills.“Please know you have an open invitation to NSCI (North ShoreCongregation Israel) whenever you like!”De La Salle thanks Rabbi Mason, Rabbi Geffen and everyoneinvolved with North Shore Congregation Israel for their hospitalityand generosity in welcoming our Meteors to their home.Faith, Service, and Community 11