S.L. mayor touts Utah Interfaith Week

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker said Interfaith Week (through Sunday) is more important than ever in the city because there is more diversity here than ever before.

Speaking at the press conference Monday to open the 2009 Interfaith Week at the Marriott Hotel, he said, "I know this is a wonderful outgrowth of the (2002) Olympics."

Sponsored by the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable (founded in 1999 for the 2002 Olympics), numerous events are scheduled this week.

"It's one of the great things that happen in our community to bring us together," Becker said.

He then read a proclamation to declare this week as Interfaith Week. There were similar proclamations made by Salt Lake County Mayor Peter M. Corroon and Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr.

Interfaith Week in Utah encourages people to visit a house of worship that is not their own in order to learn more about their neighbors.

One of the week's most significant events is the "Interfaith Musical Tribute to the Human Spirit," a free concert on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Tabernacle on Temple Square.

Alan Bachman, a member of the Utah Jewish community and the Interfaith Roundtable Committee, organized the musical tribute. He said the popular concert has two new features this year — a Buddhist children's choir, and also a combined Jewish and Muslim children's choir.

The Buddhist choir is a rarity for Utah, and the Jewish-Muslim choir is particularly relevant given the current conflict in Israel.

"The first time we met in the mosque the parents were crying," Bachman said of the first musical practice.

However, he noted the kids played and mixed well together.

Bachman has written a new song, "Sons of Abraham," that the choir will sing, highlighting common beliefs of the two religions. One verse of the song ends, "We reach out to each other, we are one family."

"It will be the best program ever," he said.

Another special concert will be Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., at First Baptist Church, 777 S. 1300 East, where award-winning folk musicians, including Kate MacLeod, Phillip Bimstein and Stone Circle, will focus on faith and the environment.

An open house of the Khadeeja Mosque, 1019 W. Parkway, is also scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.