Brooklyn Boro

Children of Abraham Walk called action of peace & friendship

September 12, 2016 By Francesca Norsen Tate Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Participants in the 2016 Children of Abraham Walk visit with firefighters at Engine 205-Hook & Ladder 118 on Sunday. The children presented the firefighters with a gift basket from Sahadi’s. This particular firehouse lost its entire crew on Sept. 11, 2001 during the rescue effort when the Twin Towers collapsed. Eagle photo by Francesca N. Tate
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People of the three Abrahamic faith traditions on Sunday observed the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks by walking together in solidarity.

They joined the Children of Abraham Walk, a Brooklyn tradition that began in 2002 as a way to help bring healing to a time of heartbreak and discord.

For the first time, those leading the walk were youths born around and after Sept. 11, 2001. Among those who spoke was a teenager named Martin, who described several common aspects of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Martin said all three traditions have a call to compassion and peace.  

Several other speakers, including City Councilmember Brad Lander, said the walk and its focus on friendship is more vital than ever right now, given a recent increase of hate crimes in New York City against Muslims and a mood of rancor and division that some politicians are spreading.

The walkers set off from the Islamic Mission of America (Dawood Mosque) on State Street and then visited the First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn, where Robert Harper of the church’s Weaving the Fabric of Diversity Committee, and the Rev. Shari Halliday-Quan, the church’s youth minister, celebrated the children’s leadership in this year’s walk. They also invited the gathering to First Unitarian’s Children of Abraham Dinner taking place later this autumn.

Participants also visited Congregation Mount Sinai, where they recited together a Prayer for Peace from a Torah service. They then headed to the firehouse for Engine Company 205-Hook & Ladder 118, where they greeted and presented the firefighters with a gift basket from the Sahadi Importing Company.

The group then walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, concluding the fellowship at Trinity Church with a reception.

Detective Sal Ferrante of the NYPD’s Community Affairs Bureau and officers from the 84th Precinct guided the delegation and coordinated traffic for the walk.

 

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