Interfaith Clergy Panel Discussion With A Real Samaritan

Congregation Adath Israel will host an interfaith clergy panel discussion on Tuesday, December 1, at 7 pm. Hosted by Rabbi Shaul Praver, the event will be in the temple at 115 Huntingtown Road in Newtown.

The keynote speaker will be Binyamin Tsedakah, who is the official spokesperson for the 750 surviving Samaritans who live in both Nablus, a Palestinian town, and Holon, a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel.

The Samaritans are from the original ancient Israelite nation and later formed the Kingdom of Samaria. They are the offspring of Joseph’s children, Ephraim and Menasha. Samaritans did not accept the Talmudic Law or later prophets and to this day, essentially practice Mosaic Law as it was practiced prior to the Babylonian exile of the Jews. Samaritans still offer the Pascal Lamb on Mount Gerizim and continue to take direction from their Kohen Gadol, High Priest.

Mr Tsedakah is an eloquent speaker and scholar, and will entertain theological questions from all attending clergy. All faith communities are encouraged to participate in this gathering.

Light refreshments will be served at 7 pm and the panel discussion will start at 7:30 and end at 8:30. Questions from the laity will take place until 8:45. Fellowship with coffee, fruit and cake will go on until 9:30.

A freewill donation to help defray the cost of the program is encouraged.

Reservations are requested and can be directed to Rabbi Shaul Praver at rabbi@CongAdathIsrael.org or 203-209-4662.