Building on an interfaith relationship that began with a joint Sept. 11 commemorative prayer service six years ago, members of neighboring faith communities Temple Aliyah and St. Bernardine of Siena Church in Woodland Hills assembled Oct. 19 at the Catholic parish to hear guest homilist Rabbi Stewart Vogel take his turn for the annual "pulpit exchange."

The 5:30 p.m. Mass homily topic, which St. Bernardine's pastor, Father Robert McNamara, addressed the previous month at Temple Aliyah, was "Things I don't like to preach about." The difficulty of preaching about moral, social and spiritual issues in a pluralistic society is compounded, Rabbi Vogel said, by the limited time available in a sermon.

"The idea of opening up the door today in terms of things we're uncomfortable dealing with is to set a model for you," said the rabbi. "It's not about convincing someone [of another faith], it's about sharing what we believe in…. I believe when we can get together and be open and honest, then we truly can help one another, and we can do the work of God."

"We are so privileged with the relationship between Temple Aliyah and St. Bernardine. It's changing our little world here on Valley Circle," Father McNamara told the congregation which included adult and youth group visiting members from Temple Aliyah.

"We're not trying to change each other. We're not trying to convert any of these young Jewish people," declared Father McNamara. "But, we are trying to learn about them and to treasure what they have given us. Without the scribes of old from the Jewish tradition, we would not have the Word of God [from the Old Testament] to inspire us today."

"I just love being here," said Jeff Bernhardt, a Temple Aliyah member who has attended three pulpit exchanges at St. Bernardine. "We're always welcomed warmly. The music is phenomenal and joyous; it's a pleasure to be here."

"[This event] highlights how the similarities between our two faiths actually exceed the differences," said Alex Romano, Temple Aliyah member who joked that the Jewish visitors who had heard Father McNamara speak a month ago had come to see if their rabbi's homily "would measure up --- [and] it did."

"The connection that Father McNamara and Rabbi Vogel have is a model for us," said St. Bernardine parishioner Kate Smirnoff. "They know how to joke; they know how to relax with each other. I liked it very much."

"This just keeps getting better every year," said Patrick Nichelson, St. Bernardine parishioner and professor of religious studies at Cal State University, Northridge. "The relationship between the two congregations is just getting closer and closer."