People of all faiths help pack food to feed others on Thanksgiving at Upper West Side synagogue
NEW YORK -- People of all faiths gathered at a synagogue on Manhattan's Upper West Side on Thursday for a Thanksgiving pack-a-thon.
The courtyard of Congregation Shearith Israel sits off Central Park West on 70th Street, in the shadow of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
That's where hundreds of people helped pack some 2,000 bags of beans, greens and rice for clients of the nonprofit Masbia.
"It really makes you feel the holiday spirit more," Upper West Side resident Jacob Corrigan said.
"We're packing food for people who don't have enough food," a 5-year-old named Auden told CBS New York.
DoorDash would then deliver the bags to each family for free.
"We are a kosher soup kitchen. We serve everyone," said Alex Rapaport, executive director of Masbia Soup Kitchen. "We operate in 10 languages, so we serve everyone."
"The spirit of love is one of the most important things, and kindness, and taking care of each other is something that unifies across faiths and across communities," said Analisa Peterson, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Fueling that purpose, the rabbi addressed the joyous holiday coming during the Israel-Hamas war and rising antisemitism, saying Thanksgiving, itself, emerged in difficult moments.
"We gather to mark a joyous American holiday at a time that is a very difficult one," Dr. Meir Soloveichik said.
The rabbi said it's through that pain that there is also gratitude, adding Shearith Israel was the country's first Jewish congregation, founded in 1654 by 23 Jews of Spanish and Portuguese descent.
Outside, Soloveichik was joined by leaders from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the West End Church in packing food for people in need.
"We're here today because we want to help," said Colin Cropper, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
"Especially now, I think people of all faiths need to support each other," added Marilyn Flood, of West End Church.
Lou Solomon, the synagogue's president, said it's a tradition that started almost a decade ago, and it was important to bring together people of all backgrounds.
"The lesson of Thanksgiving is that pain is the prism through which a perspective of gratitude is actually developed," Solomon said, adding, "We cannot forget what is actually going on elsewhere in the world. It's heartbreaking. We are here in America, Jews of this congregation for 369 years, okay, and we weren't the first. You'll find some people here from the Collegiate Church. Every single person here, we're thankful."
