When a fire destroyed the sanctuary of Overbrook Presbyterian Church in 2024, Rev. Adam Hearlson reached out to Rabbi Ethan Witkovsky of Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El in Wynnewood to ask about temporarily using the temple for worship, writes Denali Sagner for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
That simple act of hospitality evolved into a deep friendship between the two men. Over time, their partnership has expanded to include shared Bible and Torah studies, joint holiday celebrations, lunches, and even Easter egg hunts, strengthening the ties between their congregations and fostering a lasting spirit of interfaith understanding.
The two met in 2023 at a barbecue celebrating the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot and quickly discovered common ground. When the fire struck on January 15, 2024, Hearlson knew exactly who to call. Since then, TBH-BE and OPC have shared space and built deeper ties between their congregations, whether by trading sacred texts or something as small and warm as splitting leftovers from a catered lunch.
“In this world of difference … just having people whose faces you know, it’s super important,” said Hearlson. “It’s just an easy way to live your values.”
Read more about the interfaith support in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
