FAITHS JOIN TOGETHERANNUAL CHOIR CONCERT PROMOTES TOLERANCE.

Byline: - Lisa Van Proyen

From synagogues, churches and mosques to Quaker meeting houses, Buddhist temples and halls for spiritualists, the San Fernando Valley is home to some 650 houses of worship.

Religious leaders agree that with such broad-based beliefs, there's no better place than the Valley to hold interfaith forums, special trips and choir programs.

``The Jews, the Muslims and Christians can live together, break bread together and not fear one another. We all have the same dreams,'' said Barry Smedberg, president of the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council.

In the past year, dialogues and discussions have grown among the faiths, said Earl Fagin, chairman for VIC's board of directors.

``I think there's a lot more reaching out; there's more a sense of community here,'' said Fagin, also a member of Temple Ore Chadash, a Jewish conservative synagogue in Granada Hills.

``There's been a much better relationship established in the community between the Muslim community and the Jewish community and also with other faiths. We stand together more.''

One example is the annual Interfaith Choir Concert, in which scores of children and adults join in to sing and bridge the Valley's diverse faiths.

``It's sort of a common language for all faiths and cultures,'' said Rhetta Alexander, a member of VIC's Choir Concert Committee. ``People can come together and enjoy the music of other faiths and celebrate together.''

With a hijab over her hair, Safiya Al-Sarraf, 13, of the Children's Chorus from the New Horizon Muslim School's Performing Arts Club, was among dozens of Christian, Jewish and Muslim children singing together at Temple Aliyah synagogue in Woodland Hills recently.

``This performance is special because you're singing among people of other faiths and you get to listen to their songs. There's a sense of peacefulness.

``Usually, they look at us strangely because we're Muslims,'' she said. ``Here, it's all normal and peaceful and I like the feeling of that - singing songs about peace around the world.''

Galia Backal, 11, a member of Shir Aliyah Children's Choir, sang the finale number, ``Let There Be Peace on Earth,'' beside Al-Sarraf's group.

``The best part of the concert is that no matter our religion, we can be together without fights or disagreements,'' Backal said.

Her choir director, Hazzan Michael Stein, couldn't agree more.

``There's a sense of wonder in how children and their innocence can really poignantly express harmony through music,'' Stein said. ``Children in a Muslim headdress and a child in a yarmulke - what a beautiful juxtaposition. If we fought wars through singing, we'd do a lot better.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Members of the New Horizon Performing Arts Club choir join the Shir Aliyah choir during a Valley Interfaith Choir Concert at Temple Aliyah.

(2) Audience members of different faiths enjoy the recent Valley Interfaith Choir concert at Temple Aliyah. Children performing were from Christian, Jewish and Muslim congregations in or near the Valley.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer