A TREE was planted in Bromsgrove’s Sanders Park on Remembrance Sunday to mark the start of Interfaith Week.
Representatives from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities gathered and braved the rain.
The idea – in response to the atrocities in the Middle East – came when Munirah Hafidz from the Muslim community contacted Yvonne Stollard, who is Jewish and a member of the Worcestershire Interfaith Forum.
It was suggested a tree be planted and Adrian Kriss, who is also Jewish, provided the tree. Members of each community, who gathered, joined together for the planting in the park.
Picture by Tristan Harris.
Prior to the planting, a service was led by Rev Catherine Lack, the chair of the Worcestershire Interfaith Forum, at the Jubilee Bandstand. She spoke of the forum’s wishes for a world of different faiths living together in perfect harmony.
Munirah said: “I wanted to reach out as I feel sad with everything that has happened.”
A Christian, Jewish and Muslim prayer was each said and Rev Lack spoke of how fitting planting a tree was.
“Other than people and God, trees are the most mentioned thing in both the Christian and Jewish scriptures and trees are also referenced in the Quran where they represent a way of life,” she said.
“Trees are long lived, can spread out their roots, bear flowers and fruit, look attractive, hold birds’ nests and provide homes for insects.
“They also have gorgeous colours at different times of the year – they are a true beauty of nature.
“Today we are coming together to plant a tree which will last longer than all of us.”
