MUSLIM TO SPEAK AT INTERFAITH SERVICE.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Helping their fellow Americans put food on the table at Thanksgiving - and all the days that follow - will be on the minds of those who attend the 18th annual Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving on Wednesday.

A coalition of churches and synagogues first came together in March 1983 to found the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry. During a Thanksgiving Eve service, participants are reminded that there are hungry people in the North Hollywood area.

``Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and think of others. All too often we may not think of others until we push ourselves away from our own tables,'' said Ken Ellis, a member of First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood, the site of this year's service.

The theme will be ``All People That on Earth Dwell.'' Ellis, who coordinated this year's service, made a point of asking a Muslim to be the guest speaker this year.

``We wanted to be more inclusive. I don't know a great deal about their faith and it's an opportunity for all of us to learn more,'' Ellis said.

The guest speaker will be Amir Hussain, an assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies at California State University, Northridge. His topic will be ``Feasts and Fasts: Ramadan and Thanksgiving.''

``This year the American holiday coincides with the first week of fasting for Ramadan. I'll be speaking of some parallels between them. One of them is that every day during the month of Ramadan is a time of giving thanks to God,'' Hussain said.

``During my fasting, I'll have the understanding of what it is to go hungry but literally there are so many others who have no choice. Muslims are no different than people of other faiths when it comes to helping the needy. It's an obligation for us. Hunger is something close to my heart,'' said Hussain, who has a link to hunger Web sites on his own CSUN Web site.

Temple Beth Hillel in Valley Village is one of the founding members of the food pantry. The Reform temple serves as the collection center.

``Our entire basement is filled with food. The pantry feeds about 5,000 people every month,'' said Rabbi James Kaufman from Temple Beth Hillel.

Besides promoting the food pantry, the service serves as a learning

experience. Kaufman said the original vision wasn't a watered-down, almost secular, event but one that would have more meaning.

``We wanted to reflect our own faiths. We wear the garb we normally would during our own services. I use Hebrew,'' Kaufman said. ``It's a sharing of what we are. It's an opportunity to teach and learn about each other's faiths. We're inspired by each other and we have a religious experience together.''

The Rev. Jeff Pulling of Metropolitan Community Church in the Valley wrote the interfaith litany that will be recited at the service. The litany represents all nine congregations and their commitment to serving the hungry in the community.

``Our church is an outreach to the gay and lesbian community,'' Pulling said. ``We've supported the pantry and participated for 10 years in the service. It shows that we're more than a one-issue church. We are concerned with the hungry among us.''

Metropolitan Community Church will hold its own community outreach with a church service at 12:30 p.m., followed by a dinner on Thursday. Reservations need to be made by Tuesday by calling [phone].

Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood, 4832 Tujunga Ave., North Hollywood. Donations of staple foods or money will be collected. Checks may be sent to North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry, 4390 Colfax Ave., North Hollywood 91604. Call the pantry at [phone]. For more information about the service call [phone].

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Jeffrey Pulling, left, Rabbi James Kaufman, seated, and Ken Ellis will take part in the interfaith Thanksgiving Eve service at First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood.

Gue Ruelas/Staff Photographer