By Carol Leish, MA –
The Ventura County Interfaith Community held its annual Feast of Faiths on October 11, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ventura. Approximately 80 to 100 people gathered to share a Mediterranean meal catered by Hummus Republic. The meal was halal, making it suitable for attendees observing halal dietary practices.
Participants represented a wide range of faith traditions, including Catholicism, Islam, Judaism, the Bahá’í Faith, Buddhism, Unitarian Universalism and Quakerism. Students from local universities also joined the gathering.
Beyond sharing a meal, attendees explored the common ground among their different religious traditions and the importance of embracing differences as a way to better understand one another.
The evening began with representatives of several faiths sharing traditions honoring God. Rabbi Michael Lotker blew the shofar, or ram’s horn, observing, “God speaks to the world in many frequencies.” Irshad Ali shared the Islamic call to prayer, followed by Mayesvara and Brajarani Roberts, who offered a Hindu blessing for the meal, translated into English.
Bobbi Grantham emphasized the value of religious diversity, saying, “We are all interconnected through our religious diversity. Our strength is being diverse.”
Tim Helton, Ph.D., encouraged participants to engage in meaningful conversations during dinner. “We want the various tables to have an interfaith dialogue while we’re eating our dinner and through being respectful of others and active listening, we can better understand each other,” he said.
Table discussions centered on two questions: How does your faith affect your daily life? And how does your faith understand the Golden Rule, often expressed as “Love thy neighbor as thyself”?
Conversations touched on the growing polarization of society, particularly through social media, and the need for greater empathy. Participants also discussed the importance of kindness, volunteering to help those in need, and creating opportunities for respectful dialogue. Others reflected on the common values shared by different religions, seeing that common ground as a hopeful sign.
Teri Helton, MSN, president of the Ventura County Interfaith Community, reflected on the gathering’s purpose: “As we eat together, we have broken down barriers. The call of the interfaith community is to love each other, and to share from our hearts, which is true love.”
The Feast of Faiths offered a reminder that people of different religious traditions can find connection through shared meals, thoughtful conversations and a willingness to listen. By celebrating both their differences and their common values, participants reaffirmed the role of interfaith understanding in building a more peaceful future.
Established in 2005, the Ventura County Interfaith Community provides a safe, welcoming space where people from diverse faiths and backgrounds can come together to learn, share and grow. To learn more about the organization or how to participate, visit vcic.info.
