www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c36_a14211/News/New_Y -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 12/10/2008
Last Visited: 12/10/2008
Organizing such impromptu events with leaders from disparate communities was surprisingly simple because of the unique bond that already exists among New York City's different faiths, according to Matt Weiner, program director at the Interfaith Center of New York.
"The daily interfaith interaction that takes place throughout the city creates social networks that allow for instant responses to crises, instant responses from people who are very different from each other but who work together on a regular basis," Weiner said, stressing how few other cities would be able to get chasidic rabbis, Hindu priests and imams together so quickly.
"We wanted to show the world that New York's religious diversity was condemning the attacks and calling for religious freedom," Weiner added.
...
Before 9/11, Weiner explained, interfaith meetings existed, but religious leaders were more interested in focusing on their own traditions rather than engaging in fluid dialogue.