Interfaith Thanksgiving 2002

November 23, 2002

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/23/national/23BELI.html

On November 23, 2002 The New York Times reported that "Diana L. Eck, professor of comparative religion and Indian studies at Harvard University, where she is director of the Pluralism Project, has enjoyed many an interfaith Thanksgiving with Christian, Jewish and Muslim friends, 'all comfortable with prayer and thanksgiving,' she said, 'since we have had many holidays together, including Christmases and Passovers.' But this year, like last, she will be spending Thanksgiving with her mother and extended family in 'our little house in Ovando, Mont., a tiny town in the Blackfoot Valley — about 40 people and two dirt roads... Of course we began with prayer,' she said of last year's gathering, "a song-prayer that is our family version of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at a football game: a spirited singing of 'This is the day that the Lord hath made! Let us rejoice in it and be glad!' Even her grand-niece, age 3, will be joining in this year 'as a cherished part of this initiation into the zeitgeist of the family.'"