Three Faiths Forum: Food, fasting & faith

The East London Three Faiths Forum hosted speakers from each faith at the Eton Road Muslim Community Centre on 2 June 2016.
 
Rabbi Maurice Michaels started by quoting Genesis when God told Adam and Eve they could eat anything they could see in the Garden of Eden BUT not from the Tree of Knowledge and how the Jews kept on adding more forbidden foods.

Sheikh Ayub Rashid explained more about the fasting he would be undertaking.  He was not looking forward to the restrictions on cigarettes and coffee. 
 
Revd Janet Buchan from Goodmayes had prepared a very good talk on why Christians are concerned about what people think and say rather than what they eat, quoting the Gospel of Mark and Paul’s epistles.  

The Rabbi suggested that the abandonment of the Jewish dietary laws by the Christians was probably because the Apostles were reaching out to Gentiles in Asia Minor who would not be prepared to give up foods which they were accustomed to eat.
 
The next meeting is on 14 July 2016 on Gender Segregation in schools and worship. I wonder which Christian minister is going to be asked to speak on the subject?

Jean Wyber 

Additional reading: Ilford Recorder, 14 June 2016

Update:

Gender segregation - schools, worship and social events
St Paul's Church, Goodmayes (at the junction of Atholl Road and Barley Lane)
Lead speakers:

• Rebbetzin Nechama Davis - Chigwell & Hainault United Synagogue
• Khola Hasan, broadcaster and the first woman judge (Qadi) appointed to a Sharia Court in the UK
• Dr Sally Barton, Reader, St Mary's Church, Woodford, & also a teacher at Trinity Catholic High School (mixed!)