Last, over on HanifOnMedia.com, from Florida Weekly, I weigh in on the latest WikiLeaks release — with a little help from my friends.

Don’t hesitate to leave your comments and ideas. With appreciation.

— C.B. Hanif

On the courtyard of Temple Israel following “An Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Celebrating Our Diversity.”

Before sharing more scenes from some wonderful recent activities — among them the Thanksgiving interfaith gathering at Temple Israel in West Palm Beach, and at the Friends (Quaker) Meeting House in Lake Worth — I  should mention the next installment in our monthly interfaith DVD & Discussion series. Coming up this Sunday, Dec. 19, it’s “Different Books, Common Word: Baptists and Muslims.” This notable documentary by EthicsDaily.com posits:

From Boston to the Bible Belt and from Beaumont to the nation’s beltway, Baptists and Muslims are changing history with the way they change each other. Tired of being defined by extremists, some Baptists and Muslims in the United States have sought and found common ground: the common word in both traditions to love God and love neighbor. The courageous Baptists and Muslims in “Different Books, Common Word” will surprise you.

Robert Parham, executive editor of EthicsDaily.com and the documentary’s co-producer/director, says: “The Bible calls us to love our neighbors, not as a means of conversion, but because it’s the right thing to do.” That’s the Quranic view too — as in myriad other traditions.

All are welcome to join our warm company of spiritually and ethnically diverse friends, 2-4 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches, 900 Brandywine Road, West Palm Beach 33409.

As always, these “Models for Interfaith Dialogue and Unity” gatherings are organized by New Africa of the Palm Beaches, with support of local clergy and lay friends. The programs provide opportunities to transcend religious, ethnic and cultural divisions by learning from and about each other, while developing exemplary models for human interaction and cooperation. There’s no fee; donations to support this effort are welcome. More info: 561-309-5476.

With our dear Mercedes Mont of the Focolare, the worldwide Christian movement, than whom I know no better followers of Christ Jesus, upon whom be Peace.

Aneesha and Mercedes, caring, sharing, not wanting to leave.

More scenes:

Rabbi Richard Chapin, our humble host, welcoming all to "An Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Celebrating Our Diversity," Nov. 23 at Temple Israel in West Palm Beach.

It was a joy to meet Pastor Acosta.

Cantor Paul Offenkrantz and the Temple Israel musicians were spirit-moving.

Cantor Offenkrantz

My dear friend Deacon Dennis Demes, of the Diocese of Palm Beach, touched my heart with his comments.

The Children's Choir of Church Jesus Redentor de Vida was awesome.

In my Thanksgiving remarks...

...I shared the advice embraced by Luqman the Wise: "And whoever is thankful, is so to the profit of his own soul. And any who is ungrateful should know that G-d is Self-Sufficient, free of all wants, worthy of all praise" (Quran 31.12).

Our guest speaker Melanie Nezer, senior director, U.S. Programs and Advocacy, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.

Delightedly reconnecting with Charles Damsel, one of my longtime readers.

Whether with longtime friends or new...

... it truly was "An Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Celebrating Our Diversity."

Meanwhile, during the Lake Worth Interfaith Network's "6th Annual Thanksgiving Service of Gratitude"...

...at the The Friends (Quaker) Meeting Nov. 25...

Deacon Patricia Masterman of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, who pulled us all together this year...

... offered a Native American Prayer replete with drum.

I reprised many of my Thanksgiving comments from Temple Israel.

Nirmi & Vinod Sandanasamy shared a Tamil Indian Prayer.

Our friend Cynthia Friend of the Palm Beach Dharma Center, who shared a Buddhist prayer.

After, some of us paused for a photo (L-R): Rabbi Jenny Skylark, Noam Brown, Hanif, Pat Masterman, Javier del Sol, Rev. Taylor Stevens.

Later, enjoying Thanksgiving time with Melton Mustafa...

...and family and friends — and his video camera.

A few days later, checking in at the Palm Beach County Convention Center Dec. 2 ...

...to join in honoring my friend, master photographer Bevins Bennett, and others....

...as host committee members celebrated the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County's annual Ascension Awards. (L-R): Keely Taylor, Verdenia Baker, Bevins Bennett, Thais Sullivan, Aneesha Hanif.

— C.B. Hanif

Nearly 100 people gathered for the 1st Interfaith Friendship Festival at Abbey Delray North. (Photo compliments of the Rev. Waymon T. Dixon, pastor, St. Paul’s AME Church and co-chairman, Delray Beach Interfaith Clergy Association.)

That hint to humanity in the annual convergence of winter holidays? It keeps getting louder and louder. This year is no exception. With Thanksgiving and Christmas, Hanukah and the Hajj, Kwanzaa, New Years, Three Kings Day and others in such proximity, conditions are great for all kinds of good.

The Delray Beach Interfaith Clergy Association set the tone Nov. 8 with the First Interfaith Friendship Festival in which I was fortunate to take part. It united nearly 100 folks from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Unitarian Universalist, Baha’i and other traditions to share dialogue and a dinner that Abbey Delray North deserves a bow for hosting.

That followed Yom Kippur in September, and Eid al-Fitr marking the end of Ramadan. Oct. 17 began India’s largest and best-known holiday, Diwali, the “festival of inner light” observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. Baha’is celebrated the birth of founder Baha’u’llah Nov. 11 and 12.

Since then, the New York-based Foundation for Ethnic Understanding wrapped up its second annual weekend of “Twinning” of mosques and synagogues across North America and Europe, Nov. 13-15, with 100 of each reporting improved communication, reconciliation and cooperation, including some in South Florida.

Meanwhile, the success of the Hajj to the holy city Mecca, an obligation for every able Muslim at least once in life, was celebrated with Eid al-Adha on Nov. 27. That means the climax of the Hajj — the day of prayer to the Almighty by several million pilgrims in the barren desert outside Mecca — actually coincided with Thanksgiving Day.

Another item in the winter-convergence roll call is the gathering in churches in many African-American and other communities for services on New Year’s Eve. It’s a tradition at which I balked as a sleepy-eyed youth. As I look forward to participating in that and a multitude of other local celebrations now, my only burden is having enough time and deciding which congregation with which to share it.

Speaking of tradition, our media organizations have done a poor job of educating their publics about “the other.” They continue missing the stories of people who, increasingly, are getting together for learning and sharing, while respecting each others’ different spiritual and/or philosophical beliefs.

Yes, “if it bleeds,” it still leads.

But the unmistakable trend, again this season, is spiritual communities and individuals of faith — or no particular faith — fulfilling their mission as engines for transmuting destructive trends, setting higher examples and seeking common ground.

(This article first appeared in The Coastal Star newspaper December 2009 with the tagline: C.B. Hanif is a writer, editor and media and inter-religious affairs consultant. He visits or speaks at synagogues, churches and mosques, seeking folks who are making the Golden Rule real, not just an ideal. On the Web at www.interfaith21.com.)

(This was posted this earlier, but here it is as my latest InterFaith21 column at The Coastal Star:)

It’s something that any congregation — or, better yet, group of congregations — can do.

This time it’s the Delray Beach Interfaith Clergy Association.

The idea germinated from photocopies of Peace Notes. And the note scribbled across them: “Could we do something like this here? Interfaith Harvest.”

One of the headlines in that spring 2006 issue of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program newsletter read, “Shared Thanksgiving, Montclair Presbyterian Church, Oakland, California.”

Beneath a photo (caption: “A spirit of celebration filled the hall”), a single paragraph told the story: “When Tinka Larsen proposed an Interfaith Harvest Dinner, some thought the idea too ambitious. Her enthusiasm proved contagious and the commitment was made. Over 180 people from Montclair, the Kehilla Community Synagogue, and the Islamic Cultural Center gathered on Nov. 13. Christians, Jews and Muslims planned and cooked together, decorated and cleaned up together. Conversations buzzed around the room as diners exchanged names, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers. Prayer and food, story and song were enjoyed. A member of each congregation shared a version of the creation story. A spirit of Thanksgiving was truly present.”

Well, it’s not too early to replicate that idea across America — and anyplace else where people could use an excuse to express gratitude, share good food and get to know fellow citizens of this planet.

The Rev. Elizabeth Hill, of the Church of the Palms, UCC, shared those photocopies during the Delray association’s May meeting.

She formerly had been part of that Oakland congregation. And since it was she who had written the “could we?” note, she had just volunteered to help the Interfaith Harvest Dinner happen.

Hill served on a similar committee two years ago when the Delray group hosted Jewish, Christian and Muslim women on their The Faith Club book tour promoting mutual understanding.

At her new committee’s first meeting July 2 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, she said everyone she had asked had agreed to help.

No date or venue was set. But there was consensus for an open and peaceful atmosphere for learning and sharing, one particularly inviting for youths rather having them nodding off to adults’ monologues.

The Delray Beach Interfaith Clergy Association is one of many interfaith groups doing good things that we’ll keep telling about here.

Montclair’s idea apparently wasn’t too ambitious. But congregations can be as ambitious as they like.

So do try this at home.

And tell us what you’re planning — and when.

Who said Thanksgiving was the only time to show appreciation for life, and for each other?

C.B. Hanif, former news ombudsman and editorial columnist for The Palm Beach Post, is a freelance writer, editor and media and interfaith consultant and speaker. Contact him at cbhanif@gmail.com or see his blog, InterFaith21.com.

It’s something that any congregation — or better yet, group of congregations — can do.

This time it’s the Delray Beach Interfaith Clergy Association.

The idea germinated from photocopies of “Peace Notes.” And the note scribbled across them: “Could we do something like this here? Interfaith Harvest.”

One of the headlines in that Spring, 2006 issue of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program newsletter proclaimed, “Shared Thanksgiving, Montclair Presbyterian Church, Oakland, California.”

Beneath a photo (caption: “A spirit of celebration filled the hall”), a single paragraph told the story:

“When Tinka Larsen proposed an Interfaith Harvest Dinner, some thought the idea too ambitious. Her enthusiasm proved contagious and the commitment was made. Over 180 people from Montclair, the Kehilla Community Synagogue, and the Islamic Cultural Center gathered on November 13. Christians, Jews and Muslims planned and cooked together, decorated and cleaned up together. Conversations buzzed around the room as diners exchanged names, email addresses and telephone numbers. Prayer and food, story and song were enjoyed. A member of each congregation shared a version of the creation story. A spirit of Thanksgiving was truly present.”

Well, it’s not too early to replicate that idea across America — and anyplace else where people could use an excuse to express gratitude, share good food and get to know fellow citizens of this planet.

The Rev. Elizabeth Hill, of the Church of the Palms, UCC, shared those photocopies during the Delray association’s May meeting. She formerly had been part of that Oakland congregation. And since it was she who had written the “could we?” note, she had just volunteered to help the Interfaith Harvest Dinner happen.

Rev. Hill served on a similar committee two years ago when the Delray group hosted Jewish, Christian and Muslim women on their The Faith Club book tour promoting mutual understanding.

At her new committee’s first meeting July 2 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, she said everyone she had asked had agreed to help.

No date or venue was set. But there was consensus for an open and peaceful atmosphere for learning and sharing, one particularly inviting for youths rather having them nodding off to adults’ monologues.

The Delray Beach Interfaith Clergy Association is one of many interfaith groups doing good things that we’ll keep telling about here.

Montclair’s idea apparently wasn’t too ambitious. But congregations can be as ambitious as they like.

So do try this at home. Tell us what you’re planning — and when. Who said Thanksgiving was the only time to show appreciation for life, and for each other.