Exploring Sacred Times:
The Story of Ramadan, Passover and Easter
March 23, 2025
A Call and Commitment of the Faith and Interfaith Organizations of Southern California
In an increasingly fragmented world defined by conflict and war, we, as leaders of various faith and interfaith communities, stand united to confront the disturbing escalation of antisemitism and Islamophobia, both in our local neighborhoods and on a global scale. This surge of intolerance starkly conflicts with our faiths' core values, including respect, understanding, empathy, and the universal human values of dignity and compassion.
As a community, we commit to transcend divisive rhetoric and extend support and solace to each other in this time of pain and grief. No doubt the practice of the moral principle of compassion shared by all our faith traditions reaches its zenith when we stand together for justice for all, regardless of faith, belief, nationality or background. Together, in our diverse and rich religious and spiritual traditions, we stand united against all forms of discrimination, inequality, and intolerance. Our collective moral compass, guided by the wisdom of our varied faiths, compels us to uphold the dignity and rights of every individual.
As people of conscience, we choose to create an environment of understanding and mutual support in both our words and actions by offering the best of ourselves and our faith boldly and strive to model among ourselves the quality of relationships that we would like to see fostered in our larger world. To this end, acknowledging the complexities of the situation at hand, we pledge to bring forth messages of unity and care in our everyday dialogue with one another as well as sermons and religious talks shared with our community of faith by continuing to advocate for human rights, uphold the dignity of humankind, acknowledge the shared oneness of humanity, and promote the eradication of violence and prejudice of all kinds.
This joint statement marks our unwavering dedication to bridging divides and upholding the dignity and worth inherent in every faith and individual so as to create a world defined by peace for all. We call you to please join us in doing the same and thank you for being a part of our interfaith community here in Southern California.
With a united spirit,
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Milia Islam-Majeed, Executive Director, South Coast Interfaith Council
Seema Ali, Co-President, South Coast Interfaith Council
Merrietta Fong, Co-President, South Coast Interfaith Council
Rev. Alexei Smith, Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer, Archdiocese of Los Angeles & Board Member, South Coast Interfaith Council
Dr. Rev. Reinhard Krauss, Executive Director, Academy for Judaic, Christian and Islamic Studies
Dr. Ahmed Soboh, Board Chair, Islamic Shura Council of Southern California
Khalil Dewji, President, Shia Muslim Council
Samer Soubra, President, Islamic Institute of Orange County
Thomas Rosenberg, President, Temple Beth El & Board Member, South Coast Interfaith Council
Wayne Chaney Jr., Senior Pastor, Antioch Church of Long Beach
Rabbi Marvin Schwab, Temple Beth El, San Pedro
Cantor llan Davidson, Temple Beth El, San Pedro
Carol Wynder, Past President, South Coast Interfaith Council
Dr. Narendra Parson, Jain Center of Southern California & Board Member, South Coast Interfaith Council
Sande Hart, The Spiritual and Religious Alliance for Hope (S.A.R.A.H)
John Ishvaradas Abdallah, Founder, World Without Borders Interfaith Sufi Ashram
Nirinjan Singh Khalsa, Sikh Community of Southern California
Swami Mahayogananda, President, Interreligious Council of Southern California; & Secretary, Vedanta Society of Southern California
Rev. Petra Malleis-Sternberg, Senior Minister, First Congregational Church of Long Beach
Patty Koester, Lay Leader, Rolling Hills United Methodist Church
Bishop John Harvey Taylor, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
Pastor Kristin Marie Sutrave, Pastor of Youth Ministry and Congregational Care Rolling Hills United Methodist Church
Senior Pastor Jonathan Chute, Rolling Hills United Methodist Church
Associate Pastor April Herron, Rolling Hills United Methodist Church
Nancy Rasmussen, Board Member, South Coast Interfaith Council
Atilla Kahveci, Executive Director, Pacifica Institute
Kathy Barron, Member, Unity of South Bay
Patricia Bellas, MD, MPH, American Martyrs Church, Parishioner
Heather White, RHUMC
Richard Brehove
Ms. Paula Grandbois
Greg Perkins, Elder and Deacon, Covenant Presbyterian Church
Roni Love, former SCIC Secretary, Temple Israel of Long Beach
Tenzin Kiyosaki, Hospice Chaplain, Torrance Memorial MedicalCenter
Mark Currie, President, Orange County Interfaith Network
Rabbi Scott Fox
Patricia Bellas, MD, MPH, American Martyrs Church, Parishioner
Heather White, RHUMC
Richard Brehove
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James Leight, Board Member, South Coast Interfaith Council
Robert Redding, Cypress Stake President, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Jacquez Chubbs, Secretary, South Coast interfaith Council
Marilyn Russell Bittle, Treasurer, South Coast Interfaith Council
Sam Schulman, Vice President of Peace and Justice, South Coast Interfaith Council
Christopher Bobo, Board Member, South Coast Interfaith Council
Michele Dobson Esq., Board Member, South Coast Interfaith Council
Tony Lee, Bah'ai Community of the South Bay
Vinnie Malcolm, Board Member, South Coast Interfaith Council
Jynene Johnson, President, Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council
Pattie Mercado, Executive Board, Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council
Marsha Rechsteiner, Executive Board, Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council
Emrah Erduran, Executive Board, Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council
Nathan Biornstad, Executive Board, Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council
Kelly Frankiewicz, Executive Board, Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council
Christy Hernandez, Executive Board, Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council
Maneck Bhujwala, Executive Board, Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council & Zoroastrian Community of Southern California
Jenna Sagan, Executive Board, Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council
Pastor Vernon Kemp, Greater Harvest Christian Center
Rev. Dr. Kathey M. Wilborn, Pastor, St. John’s Watts United
Methodist Church
Nazim Karim, Ismaili Community
Rev. Dr. Rachel Anne Nyback, St. Cross Episcopal Church, Hermosa
Beach
Rabbi Dr. Stephen J. Einstein, Founding Rabbi Emeritus,
Congregational B’nai Tzedek, Fountain Valley
Rev. Susie Bjork, Associate Pastor, Bay Shore Community
Congregational Church (UCC), Long Beach
Lisa Williams, Pastor, San Pedro United Methodist Church
N. Bernadette St. James, PsyD, ACTheals Los Angeles Regional
Coordinator
Cathleen Clay, Elder, St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church
Rabbi Howard Laibson (Retired)
Cantor Kelly Cooper, Temple Israel of Long Beach
Ms. Paula Grandbois
Deborah K. Goldfarb, Interim CEO, Jewish Long Beach
Dr. Richard R. Marcus, President, Jewish Long Beach
Carol Van Alsten
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Please click to add your name to this statement.
Thank you.
SOUTH COAST INTERFAITH COUNCIL
It is the Mission of the South Coast Interfaith Council to promote mutual understanding, respect, appreciation and cooperation among people of faith in the Greater South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach-West Orange County area by extending hospitality, fostering community, offering educational opportunities, providing moral leadership, sharing in service, serving the youth and working for justice.
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