Interfaith Prayer Vigil In West Orange Promotes Peace, Unity

WEST ORANGE, NJ — When it comes to “being human,” we all share common experiences.

This sentiment was the theme of the day at an interfaith prayer vigil in West Orange last week. Held at The Life Christian Church on Northfield Avenue, the public event included speeches from Christian, Islamic and Jewish leaders, who stood side by side in a display of unity.

Participants gathered to share prayers, light candles and share inspirational music. Speakers included: Pastor Doug Adams - Joy Church of God, Shaykh Moutaz Charaf - Elzahra Islamic Center, Father Miguel Hernandez - Holy Trinity Church, Pastor Issac Nwadike - Living Faith Church 7 Day Adventist Church, Rabbi Moshe Rudin - Adath Shalom, Pastor Terry A. Smith - The Life Christian Church, Rev. Thurselle Williams - New Hope Baptist Church in East Orange.

Attendees at the Jan. 24 event included Mayor Susan McCartney and all of the town council members. The program was spearheaded by the West Orange Human Relations Commission (HRC).

A township spokesperson released the following recap of the prayer vigil:

"All the speaker’s profound remarks contributed to a contagious feeling of unity for those in attendance represented by a tapestry of human experiences. The shared silence and bowed heads emotionally weaved together threads of uplifting messages that can unfortunately be overshadowed by the daily news cycles and world events. The HRC event lived up to its billing by demonstrating that prayer can transcend religious boundaries to become a powerful symbol to inspire communal strength. It can be further stated that the act of collectively turning to prayer or personal introspection fosters both empathy and understanding. It lays the foundation where a resilient and interconnected West Orange community can build upon in hope of a better tomorrow."

Meetings of the West Orange Human Relations Commission are open to the public. They are typically held the fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in room 109 at West Orange Town Hall, 66 Main Street. For more information or to confirm specific meeting dates, click here.

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