Abrahamic Reunion Community Service Silicon Valley 2018

SILICON VALLEY, California — On Sunday, May 6, 2018, more than sixty Jews, Christians and Muslims united in Sunnyvale at BayCC Muslim community center to prepare a hot meal for the homeless and hungry of Silicon Valley. Orientation was led by Mehmet Uncuoglu of BayCC, Iris Bendahan of Congregation Beth David (Saratoga), and Pastor Bernard Bell of Peninsula Bible Church Cupertino. Volunteers enjoyed getting acquainted in small buddy groups before Imam Halil Ibrahim led Muslim volunteers in afternoon prayers. Then Joseph Bendahan explained how to keep all food preparation kosher before volunteers worked together to prepare a tasty beef kavurma (a Turkish delicacy) dinner for guests of Cityteam’s soup kitchen. After all food was prepared, volunteers convoyed together to Cityteam Men’s Recovery Center in San Jose for meal service. Pastor Bell thanked God in prayer for the meal before recovery center residents dined. Thereafter, Joseph Bendahan recited a Hebrew blessing over the bread before homeless guests partook. After all enjoyed seconds, volunteers dined together. Br. Oktay Erbil offered a closing dua (prayer) of thanksgiving for bringing all together in compassionate camaraderie.

Many thanks to Congregation Beth David, Peninsula Bible Church Cupertino, and BayCC for sponsoring; to Iris Bendahan, Pastor Bernard Bell, and Yasin Tamer for all their planning and preparation. Special thanks to Chef Reynolds Stewart of Cityteam for managing so many volunteers, and to all AAi donors who made this possible. Most of all, thanks be to God الحَمْد لله‎ ברוך השם for providing the strength and resources for this united effort to serve our neighbors in need.

Photos courtesy of BayCC and PBCC. Photo curation by Nathan Flohr and Annah Liyah.