At a 9/11 remembrance service in Coral Gables, Jews, Christians and Muslims pray for peace
When Yasir Billoo took the lectern at a church service in Coral Gables, he turned to the worshipers in front of him.
“Salam Alikum,” he said. Peace be upon you.
A salutation recited earlier in the church service reminded him of the Islamic greeting: When we say peace be with you, we are also saying: justice be with you, mercy be with you, compassion be with you, love be with you and the Holy One be with you..
“Spread peace amongst yourselves,” Billoo said. “That is the example that Muslims are supposed to follow. That is the tradition that Muslims are supposed to carry.”
Peace is at the heart of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths. And the concept has more in common than most think.
Religious leaders shared their interpretations of peace during an interfaith service Sunday morning at the Coral Gables Congregational United Church. The service included hymns and sayings from different faith traditions, even a Sioux prayer, and focused on remembrance, hope and harmony for the 21st anniversary of 9/11.
The terrorist attacks, the deadliest in U.S. history, claimed the lives of 2,977 people — and forever changed the fabric of American society.
Shalom, or peace in Hebrew, is the center of every prayer and life event, including weddings and births, Rabbi Robyn Fisher of Beth Or said. And Jews are mandated to pursue peace all the time, unlike other commandments that must be fulfilled only when possible.
“Peace in Judaism refers to a sense of perfection that will not be totally achieved until a Messianic era,” she said. “We are commanded to constantly strive to achieve peace every day.”
Christians greet with each other with the peace of Christ: Peace be with you, said the Rev. Aaron Lauer of the Coral Gables church.
“Amidst the desperation and violence of crucifixion, Christ stood among his people and offered them peace,” Lauer said. “Peace was the last word he spoke to his disciples before his betrayal.”
In Biblical Greek, the word for peace means to bring together, he said. And Christians know peace when brought together with God.
“We will only know peace when we are joined with one another,” Lauer said. “When we serve one another, understand one another, heal one another, forgive one another, do justice for one another.”
This story was originally published September 11, 2022 at 4:06 PM.
