Kaufman Updates
Permanent link for My Interfaith Journey, by Molly Schless, Kaufman Campus Intern on November 14, 2023
My first interfaith relationship was something that was so special to
me and got me into the interfaith work that I’m continuing to do
today. My freshman year of high school, my youth group partnered with
an interfaith nonprofit called Children of Abraham Coalition or COAC.
After the program itself, we all had dinner together and I decided to
sit next to one of the boys from COAC who was in my group. To be
completely honest, the main reason I did this was out of pity. I
noticed that this boy was sitting alone in a room full of Jews and was
one of the only people of a different faith. We ended up having a
really great conversation and it was my favorite part of that whole
weekend. After that event, I continued to do things with COAC and I
got to know this boy, Fares and the amazing person he is. Fares moved
to the US when he was around 10 years old and came here without
speaking any English. Even though his whole life had been turned
upside down when he came to America, he decided to be an interfaith
leader. Through his years at COAC, Fares has inspired so many
including myself to stand up against faith-based hate and treat others
with kindness. These kinds of connections have been one of my favorite
parts about being in the interfaith community. Through my years at
events, I have met so many amazing people like Fares and seen so many
different points of views on life. What I have learned from other
faiths has made me not only become a better leader but a better
person. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have gotten as an
interfaith leader and am so excited to continue my journey through Kaufman.
Molly
Schless