Man Bite's Dog: Synagogue Helps Church

Here is a heart warming story about Jewish Christian cooperation: in a suburb of Fresno California no less. (Who knew Fresno even had suburbs!)

It is not uncommon to hear about small Jewish congregations renting space from a local church. Nobless Oblige, one presumed. To be sure these are usually liberal church's and liberal congregations. But here we have a Reform synagogue giving space to a small liberal Christian congregation.

Which begs the question: are liberal denominations "closer" with each other - even across the Christian/Jewish divide, than with conservative denominations within their own religion? Does a Reconstructionist or Reform congregation have more or less in common with this liberal Episcopalian congregation than with the Gur Hassidim or the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak.

On the one hand I think not, but on the other hand I can't imagine my congregation giving space to Aish Hatorah, nor Chabad giving space to us.

What matters more: values and life-style, or culture and history? It not an easy question to answer.

(And thanks to Eric for the lead.)