Jews and Latino Pentecostals celebrate Sukkot

English, Hebrew and Farsi are commonly heard at Sinai Temple, one of the Westside’s largest synagogues. But Thursday night, its immense sanctuary was buzzing with Spanish.

Dozens of Latino Pentecostal church groups joined the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group, to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot and bolster a budding relationship.

“We’re barely starting to know each other," Pentecostal pastor Tony Solorzano said as he held a small Israeli flag. “We are tearing down the walls of ignorance.”

Solorzano, who was born in El Salvador, said Pentecostals have a strong interest in peace in Israel.

“We believe in Jesus Christ and he came to the holy land of Israel, so we identify with that,” he said. “The Bible says pray for peace in Israel, so we take that seriously.”

A gathering of some 800 — many of them Pentecostals — donned yarmulkes, danced and socialized under the sukkah, a traditional temporary hut used during the holiday.

For Pentacostals like Reyna Monterroso, the evening was not the first time they experienced Jewish culture.

The 42-year-old Gardena resident said she has been cooking traditional Jewish dishes, such as challah bread and brisket, for years.

“Como se llama, kugel?” she said, trying to recall the name for the casserole-like dish.

Seth Brysk, regional director of the American Jewish Committee, said the interaction between the two communities has included language and cultural classes for Pentecostal pastors. The sessions had done much to improve understanding between two groups that are not traditionally close.

“Although we have all these commonalities — Israel, an immigrant experience — there had not been a lot of direct contact,” Brysk said.

—Robert Faturechi

Comments

[James Miller]

Looks like jews are working on hispanics in order to leech donations from them at some point in the future.

[Ira in L.A.]

Does anybody study grammar or punctuation?

“Como se llama, kugel?” she said, trying to recall the name for the casserole-like dish.

WHY is there a comma in there? Direct address? Maybe if you're talking to Mr. Potato Head.

[Rethoryke]

I wonder if some of the Latinos who cook traditional Jewish dishes might be descended from the Sephardic diaspora. Sometimes heritage survives longer in the kitchen than in official family stories.

Of course, it could also be that those dishes are delicious! I frequently cook foods from many traditions outside my own [which is US, Spanish and Norwegian, among other things...]

[jonathan]

This is not good, the only valid reason to support Israel is because of its democracy to support it as the center of the religious universe and that one day Jews will accept Christ and in the meantime the State of Israel is in transition, should not be over read politically as supporting Israel.

[Chodren J. Bhrozjizenskaya]

I am 13 1/2 so i guess its ok to post right?

So here it is the post, that i will write now.

I think that this is a great moment for they history of Jews and Pentecostals. That is the great.

Yours,

Chodren J. Bhrozjizenskaya
Age 13 1/2

[Bob]

All these fundamentalists are mental cases, living the extended lie of the bible. The Jews have no covenant with any "god." The Bible is a fantasy storybook created by men who were not alive during the time it refers to. When are people going to grow up an respect the facts of an educated life? Fundamentalists everywhere are the problem....

[Rico Mars]

Dear Bob,
If you were as educated as you claim to be, you wouldn't have made a couple of the assertions you just made about Biblical authorship.

[Fred Workmen]

This is a nice story. What's worn with some positive multi-cultural togetherness in this day and age, and in a cit like LA?
James Miller: You are a real decent, salt-of-the-Earth person. Why don't you put on your swastika armband and your tiny moustache and go goose-step your way across the Freeway.

[fRED]

how do you say "illegal occupation" in Spanish?

[celeste duckworth]

We are Pentecostals/Messianics and we honored Sukkot with others from other denominations who are of the mind. It rained on us the for 8 of the 10 days we were there in Branson, Missouri. But to remember a part of our heritage with cooking, with tabernacling and waiting on Yehshua to Tabernacle with us and remembering His promise to take care of us is so current for our time. The times are getting hard right now.
We had many single women there who needed help during the rains and if they didn't leave when things got uncomfortable, (flooding), then I certaintly would not leave. I LOVED this whole experience and cried when I carried the Torah on my left shoulder and walked around the fire to remember the promises that Yehshua has made to me.

[Linda C.]

I am so happy to hear of these two churches coming together and I have a dear pastor friend who is also from El Salvador and I work as a volunteer (25 yrs. now) with a Bishop from Nigeria who ministers in the Spanish church of this pastor and we both love Israel as does this pastor. Would love to link up with Seth Brysk and Tony Solorzano. How can I reach them? It didn't say with which church Pastor Tony is affiliated. Please, someone from the news contact me at the email I've given here. Thanks.

[Dorita Gonzalez-Reynolds]

This is such a blessing! God is calling his church together and educating the Christian community of his feasts, or appointed times. If the Jews learn of the Messiah through the Spanish congregation's love and the Spanish learn of the festivals that God is reminding the christian church of today...then so be it. Insulting remarks and snide comments do not do anything to help bring those of us together. God is waking up the church and the Jewish people....bringing us all back together....Praise be to God!