When Ruth Limbert, a Jewish Adventist from South America, called the Pacific Union Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department to ask about the possibility of having a Passover Seder in Los Angeles, little did she realize what would develop. More than 70 people met in a Los Angeles hotel for a catered Passover meal and celebration of the Festival of Freedom, with a special guest leading the service — Pastor Richard Elofer from Israel.

Elofer urged the group to continue meeting at least once a month, possibly on Friday evenings. The PARL department followed up with leaders of the Southern California Conference and with Pastor Will McCall of the Canoga Park church, and plans were developed for ongoing meetings. The first Friday evening program in May commemorated the holiday of Shavuos, or the Feast of Weeks. Low attendance suggested the futility of fighting Los Angeles traffic to gather together for Friday evening worship.

Arnold Trujillo, Pacific Union vice president, committed to helping PARL department staff lead the group. Trujillo formerly served as president of the Hawaii Conference, and before that, worked in religious liberty.

Together, group leaders decided that Sabbath afternoons would work best for the monthly gatherings, and in June, Alexander Bolotnikov, director of the Shalom Learning Center of the North American Division, unveiled a Torah scroll in a special service, which was enthusiastically received by Canoga Park church members and visitors.

The new group will be called Beth Ohavey Torah, which means "the house of those who love Torah." Torah refers to the five books of Moses, but also more generally to God’s instruction. The monthly ministry is founded on three ideas:

1. Jews and Christians can learn from one another;

2. Jews who believe that Jesus is the Messiah desire to retain a Jewish liturgy in their worship, and need a place to worship;

3. Interfaith couples can worship together without compromise — a Jewish and a Christian spouse can worship together in a respectful context that honors both traditions, without either party feeling pressured to convert.

A schedule has now been established for regular monthly meetings for the rest of this year and all of 2008. In September, special services will be conducted on Yom Kippur, which falls on Sabbath the 22nd. This is a day of fasting and prayer for repentance, and can be a powerful spiritual blessing to those who participate.

Seventh-day Adventists who attend will gain a deeper appreciation for their own faith and an increased understanding of Scripture, which is rooted in Jewish ideas and customs. Adventists are also encouraged to invite Jewish friends and interfaith couples to participate in worship, and can do so with confidence that no one will feel any pressure. After all, it is the ministry of the Ruach ha Kodesh — the Holy Spirit — to bring the presence of God into the human heart.

For more information, and to get on an e-mail list for future announcements, contact Arnold Trujillo at arnold.trujillo@puconline.org, Alan Reinach at mrliberty@churchstate.org, or call 805-413-7396.