Interfaith Dialog Center Awards Honor NJ Notables

June 15, 2008

Author: Jamie Duffy

Source: The Star-Ledger

http://www.nj.com/helpinghands/jamieduffy/index.ssf/2008/06/interfaith_dialog_center_award.html

To strains of Middle Eastern melody and percussion, 200 guests sat down to yellow lentil soup and hummus at the Interfaith Dialog Center's first ever awards ceremony June 8 at the Hilton Hotel in Hasbrouck Heights.

The Center created in 2003 by Turkish-Americans who first organized seminars at the Rutherford Public Library, it now has two bases of operations, one in Carlstadt and another in Newark at 17 Academy St.

"Love is the essence of creation" was the motto inscribed on the evening's program and on the video screen as well as a fixture on the IDC website. The center's ideal of cooperation and understanding among all religions has become a standard for their Abraham's Table luncheons and seminars that follow, embracing the Abramaic religions of Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

Plenty of other religions were represented on Sunday as awards were given to a variety of notables. Gov. Jon Corzine arriving a bit late and looking suntanned received the Community Service Award as did Weysan Dun, special agent in charge of the FBI Newark Division.

See also: Interfaith, Civic