HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA, September 19, 2011 (thespec.com): The arson that destroyed the Hindu Samaj Temple on September 15 ten years ago has changed the social fabric of Hamilton for the better, civic and religious leaders say. After the fire, cultural communities across the city started speaking up and making themselves heard.
More than 200 temple members, friends and representatives from a wide range of faith groups gathered Sunday at the Twenty Road place of worship for a Healing Day program and dinner, wrapping up a series of commemorative events. Sunday’s program featured the Jewish Chai Choir of Hamilton, traditional Indian dances performed by students from the temple, a sitar recital and scriptural readings from a range of religious texts.
Temple member Indu Singh, who organized the celebration of the temple’s recovery, said, “When this thing happened, it was not just an attack on Hinduism; it was an attack on all religions.” The fire appeared to have been set by a confused drunk who believed Hindus had been involved in the 9/11 terrorism.
Rabbi Jordan Cohen of Temple Anshe Sholom in Hamilton agreed, saying the fact that the attack showed the ignorance faith groups have to fight against. “We’re all neighbors sharing the same community, so to join together for this kind of a celebration, when we have to deal so often with so many turbulent and divisive issues, it really was important for us … to be here today,” Cohen said.
Ojibwa-Cree Elder Walter Cooke said the First Nations people prayed for the Hindu population in Hamilton when the arson occurred. At Sunday’s program, Cooke spoke of the traditional smudging ceremony, which acknowledges the four sacred elements and is representative of the four nations (one from each direction) of the world coming together.