“At a time of deep division,” reads a note from religious leaders across the town, “we need opportunities to come together and to be strengthened by that which unites us.” It’s part of an open invitation to the entire town to join a five-part series of conversations about some of the foundational texts of American history in honor of this year’s 250th anniversary of 1776. The series begins Monday night at the Center at the Heights.
Organized by the town’s interfaith clergy organization along with civic entities including the Needham Resilience Network and the Needham Human Rights Committee, the conversations are meant to give Needhamites the chance to remember, discuss and share their personal perspectives on the Declaration of Independence, “The New Colossus” poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, a speech by Frederick Douglass called “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?,” and the lyrics to “America the Beautiful.”
Rabbi Jay Perlman of Temple Beth Shalom brought the idea, which is part of a national initiative called Faith250, to the interfaith clergy. “We as a congregation were thinking about this particular moment in American history and reflecting on our core values,” he said, drawing a parallel to the Jewish tradition of covenant renewal. The other members of the interfaith clergy embraced the idea.
Each of the first four sessions is built around a reading. The clergy members will serve as facilitators for small-group discussions. The last session will be a broad “opportunity for civic renewal,” held at Town Hall.
“I think that the model of bringing our community together in ways that enable us to engage in dialogue and discussion and discovery of each other,” said Perlman, “is good for each of us and good for our community.”
To see the full schedule and register for any or all of the sessions, click here.
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