<Begin Segment 28>

BF: Well, I think we have to start wrapping up, but I wanted to sort of end the interview by talking a little bit about some of the interfaith activities that you participate in now. I know you're active in your temple with a lot of things.

AS: Right, yeah.

BF: Maybe some of the, what are the ones that are the most meaningful to you?

AS: Well, I guess every one was good -- we, we did have a Catholic/Jewish dialogue. We met with, with the people, actually, at the church... did they call 'em a church? Oh, anyway, which is, was in the south end of Seattle. And that was interesting, but I felt we weren't getting too far with really looking at our beliefs. You know, you have to have the right make-up of people. This one person always dominated everything. She said, "What we do is better than anybody else," and it bothered me. Anyway, and so that ended, I think, when the, the priest was transferred to another position, and he was very, very nice, he was wonderful. And so I don't know that there was -- we've always had friends from all faiths, and not only all faiths, but other... one of our very good friends is Chinese American, and this is through -- Rotary, fortunately, is, has people from Ethiopia, members, and other countries as well as women now, and so it, it's really nice. But we got to know Ray. He was really one of the early ones that was accepted to Rotary. I think he was the only non-white person. But anyway, he's wonderful. So we knew him and then finally got married and kept in touch, and we've always felt close. And, and so others that we've met -- oh, and I certainly worked with, when I worked at the Employment Security, we had many African Americans there. And in the high school, I didn't see that many of other faiths, religions -- I mean, not faiths, I mean, ethnic groups.

So I guess... yeah, the event that did really, I felt really good about, there was an interfaith Eastside Habitat group, and so my husband and I volunteered to help there, because we liked the idea of the interfaith, and so that was... I'm not very good with doing anything building or, I did, but I sanded and then I painted, God, I was covered, and it was awful. But, but I did it and I thought it was good, and next time I'll know better what I can do. But then afterwards, there was a picnic for all of us that were there, and there we really got to see, mix with Muslims, Christians, Jews, and it was just great. It was just, we just had a wonderful time. And there was a, I think she was a sixteen-, seventeen-year-old Muslim girl who just took a -- I don't know why -- but took a liking to me. So I was her partner in the egg-throw and other events that we did. [Laughs] She was so funny; she was great. And then there, when there was the earthquake, earthquake in Iran, it affected a city called Bam, B-A-M, I'm quite sure that was the name, the Muslims here had a fundraiser, and so we went to the fundraiser, and again, it was a chance to really have an interfaith experience. Very few non-Muslims there, but it was, it was just good. And so that, that was very nice.

And then, oh yeah, after that 9/11 when the, again, the Council of Churches, they had a meeting to do a little interfaith, some interfaith work, and they held a meeting at the Muslim school, and so we had a chance for some exchange there, and then, of course, my experience at the school. And then my husband had an experience, I think -- yeah, I told you about where our congregation has what the churches call Service Day, usually a Sunday, and as many of the congregants as we can get would volunteer to do work at non-profits. And my husband contacted the Islamic School to see if they needed some help. And so they said yeah, we'll do some yard work, and spreading bark on the playground. And so... well then the, one of the coordinator... not coordinator. Anyway, one of the leaders of the school asked my husband how did he get interested, "Why pick our school?" And so my husband said, "Well, because my wife and I were married here." And she was just, "Oh?" And then she wanted to know more about the building and when we got married. And so she said, "Oh, we're gonna celebrate your anniversary here."

BF: Because this, now an Islamic school, was originally...

AS: The Talmud Torah, the Jewish school, yeah. So in-between there was, Department of Social & Health Services used the offices, or used it as offices, but now -- yeah, I can't remember how, what year they started, but...

BF: So did they have a celebration?

AS: Yes, they did; they did. She had to go to, actually, Japan. Her husband was working there... I think it was Japan. Or was it China? Far East, anyway. And so she says, but she says, "Why don't you go ahead and have it," she also had one of the board members, the president of the board was involved, and, and Art says, "No, we want you. This was your idea, so we'll wait 'til you get back." So we did have, they did a celebration for us. It was very nice, they had a cake and balloons and flowers, and it was just really lovely. So I guess that was the most emotionally satisfying experience. We were very touched by that.

BF: That's a nice story.

AS: It was.

<End Segment 28> - Copyright © 2004 Densho. All Rights Reserved.