Choice Is Part Of Living In Faith Letter Of The Week From Oct. 13, 1997

I read with interest the Oct. 8 story concerning the scheduling of a Spokane Symphony concert on the feast of Yom Kippur.

As a practicing Orthodox Christian, I sympathize with the rabbi’s concern about the conflict of schedules for members of his congregation. I have chosen to miss performing with the Spokane Symphony Chorale on a few occasions when concerts conflicted with Orthodox Christian religious holidays (“Turnadot” fell on the Feast of the Annunciation, and this year, “Carmen” will be performed on Good Friday). Representatives of the symphony have always treated me with consideration and understanding.

Today, people of faith must constantly choose between practicing their faith and “the world.” That may mean not participating in school celebrations of Halloween, not being involved in sports leagues because the practices and tournaments are on Sundays, packing a lunch because your faith’s dietary rules conflict with those of the school or work-place cafeteria, or missing the annual kosher dinner because it always falls during Orthodox Christian Lent, when meat is not consumed.

Our ancestors put their lives on the line for their faith. We are blessed with having the freedom to choose to miss a concert or a meal, and making such choices only makes our faith stronger. Irene T. Supica Spokane xxxx