"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." —John 6:35
On Tuesday, February 22, members of the Adelphi Interfaith Center came together in University Center Room 201 to break bread - literally - and raise money to help fight hunger on Long Island. The Festival of Bread is an annual event in which interfaith chaplains and club members come together "to focus on our similarities and humanity while joining together to celebrate our diversity."
Inside of UC 201, there was a great spread of bread, including French bread, matzo, naan, challah, crusty bread and fresh rolls, and four kinds of soup: French onion, lentil, matzo ball and split pea.
Outside of the room, the Empty Bowls project had set up shop to raise funds for The INN, in Hempstead. For $5, anyone could purchase a handcrafted bowl, and the proceeds would go to help the soup kitchen, one of a network of institutions on the island now 19 strong, feed local residents, many of whom are homeless.
Jewish chaplain Rabbi Dr. Barry Dov Schwartz opened the program by explaining that the meal was a Jewish tradition, but the only actual Jewish bread there was the homemade challah, although all menu items were kosher. That having been said, the Jewish adage, "If you have no bread, you have no meal," certainly applied, but Schwartz was quick to note that "Dunkin' Donuts [which were served as dessert] have nothing to do with traditional food." He continued, as those in attendance laughed, "But they're good, I guess."
The next speaker was the Rev. Dr. Jerome D. Taylor, a Lutheran pastor and Adelphi's Protestant chaplain. Taylor discussed the belief in bread as the Body of Christ. (Unlike other Protestants, Lutherans do believe that the Eucharist is the actual Body and Blood of Christ and not merely a reminder of Him; although, there are differences in the exact nature of the Sacrament in Lutheranism, as opposed to Roman Catholicism.)
Taylor said that just as the Eucharist is fractured, so too are Christians fractured to go into the world, to be the Bread of the Lord and a reminder of Christ, to recognize the nailprints, the spear in His side and the crown of thorns.
The plenary speaker was Dr. Danté A. Tawfeeq, Assistant Chaplain for the Muslim Student Association and an Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education at Adelphi. Tawfeeq grew up in a community of Christians and converts to Islam, so he was taught to respect others' differences. He went on to explain that to Muslims, bread has a more social component than a religious one: "We use bread as a way of building bridges." Tawfeeq also noted the sad fact that as others go hungry, the uneaten bread from the night's meal would be thrown away.
February is Black History Month, and Tawfeeq, who is himself black, recalled that in the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s final speech before his assassination, he called us not merely to be Good Samaritans but to reform the road to Jericho itself.
Tawfeeq called for "unity, humility, friendship, peace, something that the world absolutely needs" and concluded by stating, "I see no cold hearts [in this room]. We're trying to put together a roaring fire."
The next speaker was Father Brian Barr, one of several Catholic priests who serve Adelphi students and the surrounding community. Barr told a moving story about the death of his father, seven years ago. It was a Sunday, and Barr was there with his mother and siblings, celebrating Mass for his father in his hospital room. There was bread, wine and, of course, prayers. The hospital tray table over the bed served as an altar.
His father was comatose, but even those in comas can retain the ability to hear, Barr noted. His father could not, however, receive Communion, so Barr took a consecrated host and placed it to his father's forehead, then consumed it himself.
"I'd like Jesus to be as close to my father as possible. I want Jesus to touch my dad," Barr explained, his voice filled with emotion. "I wasn't expecting Jesus to heal my father. I just wanted them to be close."
Barr went on to explain the Catholic concept of the Eucharist, that it is literally the Body and Blood of Christ. He then contrasted the story of his father's death with that of a Catholic youth retreat he attended. Barr noted that there, he did not have to worship in a small hospital room but in a beautiful chapel, for Eucharistic adoration. He admitted that to an outsider, the practice of adoration would look odd, as would his pressing the host to his father's forehead, but in both instances, Christ was not necessarily consumed - but He was still close.
Empty Bowls representative Barbara Selva addresses the Festival of Bread.
The final speaker was Barbara Selva, a representative from Empty Bowls. Selva discussed the international effort to fight world hunger by making bowls, which are then sold. Last year, Empty Bowls raised $1,200, Selva said. She went on to reveal that although many of the hungry are homeless, many more live in working families who do not have enough money to afford food. Perhaps most shockingly, Selva said that one in 10 Long Island families has used food pantries.
Selva's address was short but still powerful. She concluded with a final plea, "Please fight hunger in the world, especially on Long Island. We need it."
Adelphi's Newman Club, at the Festival of Bread.
("Festival of Bread" flier courtesy of Wendy Badala. All photographs courtesy of Matthew Rudolph.)
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