"Greetings Sons and Daughters of Abraham. Our first goal has already been achieved; we are together. Today, it is for the fourth time."
 With these sentiments, and with greetings from the Muslims, Jews and Christians of Peterborough , we opened the Fourth Annual Abraham Festival on Sunday, April 22. Our theme this year was "Faith through the Arts."
With Anjum Sayaad, a Muslim from Toronto as our very engaging M.C., we were
alternately entertained and moved. The audience was offered depth and breadth of meaning
through music, photography, poetry, dance and drama presented in the sanctuary at St.
Alphonsus.
The evening opened with the haunting call to prayer of the Jewish schofar played by Dan Houpt and moved through the Genesis narrative presented by the St. John's Players. Bara Al-Makadma chanted verses from the Koran.
Zailig Pollack read to us from the poetry of AM Klein and explained the context in which they were written; assuring us that this was not a lecture.
Jeannie Binidey, from St. Peter's High school performed a monologue featuring a woman comparing her sufferings at the hands of an abuser to the sufferings of Jesus.
We were treated to the cheerful singing of St. Alphonsus Children's choir and we were walked through fashions of the Islamic World by Hedi Hurban. The echoes of ancient Europe were brought to us in Yiddish songs sung by .Jocelyn and Jerry Cooper. Emily Corkery, through dance, took us back to first century Palestine where Mary accepted the call of Gabriel to be the Mother of Jesus.
Ada Lee's crystal clear voice resonated through the church as she welcomed the
morning when Jesus rose.
Ken Brown and Curtis Dreiger played spirited Klezmer songs and told us that they
could be called "Jewgrass" music although it may not be advisable to call it that.
The St. John's Players returned us to moments in the garden on Easter morning.
Finally, The Peterborough Singers clarified the audiences with reverberating, precise, choral
singing.
In conclusion, the audience sang a resounding, "Let There be Peace on Earth," led by Fr.
Paul and the Peterborough Singers.
The evening was filled with joy, enlightenment and generosity; blessings of
God/Yahweh/Allah.
Special thanks goes out to Bruce and Flo Levia and all the people who provided
delicious and welcome snacks for the end of the evening." It was a very special evening
one not to be forgotten for a long, long time.
Helen McCarthy
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