With the threat of thunderstorms, the United Methodist Church in Morristown graciously hosted our Celebration of Diversity indoors. Thirty tables all squeezed together, giving all the groups the opportunity to meet each other and have interesting conversations all day.
It was easy for everyone to see the entertainment and enjoy the international food offerings. The Jewish community donated rugelach, and Sue and John Salsberg made mandelbrot and almond cookies. Thank you to Anne Gorman for helping to serve the food. Our goodies were delicious but the big hit on the hot, humid day was the ice cream cart from South Street Creamery.
The Interfaith Service was very inspiring. Thank you to Susan Waldman for adding her voice to the interfaith choir. Rebecca Conroy gave a powerful keynote about the value all religions share of welcoming the stranger.
Gigi Schwartz created a craft activity that attracted visitors to our table. She provided cardboard hands of all different colors for people to decorate and then add to form a paper tree based on this year’s theme, “Together We Thrive in 2025.”
Thank you to everyone who helped set up, take down, and staff our table: Lew Stone, Bill Neigher, Susan Neigher, Peppi Glass, Rita Fand, Gigi Schwartz, Joyce Lantzman, Linda Forgosh, Anne Gorman, Ilene Dorf Manahan, Diana Grayson, Robert Grayson, Dorothy Cohen, and Irv Cohen.
This event was the result of the hard work of the Diversity Coalition of Morris County. Morristown Jewish Center–Beit Yisrael and NCJW, West Morris Section are both founding members.
The best part of the whole event was seeing everyone smile throughout the day.