The Flatbush-based Bridge Multicultural And Advocacy Project recently put together a Unity in Action team, in which a diverse group of community leaders embarked on a nine-day tour of Israel that included visits to all of the Holy Land’s religious sites for Christians, Jews and Muslims alike.
The participants also visited various museums, multi-ethnic communities and met with a number of political and religious leaders.
For over a half a decade The Bridge, 1894 Flatbush Avenue, has engaged in creating a venue and center where all communities gather and work together as one voice and to assist communities world-wide and in Brooklyn.
From blood drives to health fairs and numerous enormous relief projects,The Bridge Project has successfully assisted communities in crisis in the Middle East, Haiti, Yemen, Puerto Rico, and Florida.
“A deeper understanding of each others cultural and religion is vital and so necessary to help our divided country come closer together with a deeper respect for each others values,” said Bridge Founder and President Mark Meyer Appel, who is also leading the task force in speaking out against increasing religious and racial prejudice in the United States.
Rabbi Bob Kaplan, the founding director of the Jewish Community Relation Council of NY’s Center for Community Leadership, joined the mission and hailed this multicultural trip as a huge success. Multicultural trips to a land that is the home to all three of the major western religions are a great educational experience for different diverse communities to better understand each other by bringing respect and unity to all, he said.
Various Israeli government officials also welcomed the task force including Mr Yoni Peres, director of The Shimon Peres Peace Center, and the Hon. Yitchok Pindrus, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem.
Farah Louis, a participant on this mission and New York City community leader said, “This trip has bought a clearer understanding to me that we are all children of God, and understanding and working together is a must for us to be able to lead and build a stronger nation.”
Appel proclaimed this mission a huge success and looked forward to building on that success.
“I look forward to future trips and missions to various parts of the world, and to be able to share – all of us – in learning about the various contributions that all communities contribute for us to be a better and more understanding society,” Appel said.
