Interfaith leaders gather on Long Island for the National Day of Prayer

Team@Lotus

May 15, 2026

Prayer, reflection, and candid conversations shaped the gathering as faith leaders explored ways to strengthen community ties and foster compassion across religious traditions.

Shared Paths

𑁍 Community Events

Clergy of all major faiths at the Long Island Day of Prayer giving one shared message: compassion begins with connection.

More than 75 interfaith clergy, community leaders, and partners from across Long Island gathered for a special National Day of Prayer community event hosted by UJA-Federation of New York together with JCRC-LI, two prominent Jewish organizations, creating an atmosphere marked by warmth, openness, and mutual respect.

Organized on May 7 at the Long Island University Post Interfaith Chapel in Greenvale, NY, the morning was filled with prayers, meaningful conversations, and shared moments of reflection, highlighting a genuine spirit of connection and reaffirming the importance of the Ministry of Presence in strengthening interfaith bonds and community solidarity.

The interfaith prayer service featured Jewish, Buddhist, Methodist, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Muslim, Baptist, and Hindu faith leaders, reflecting the event’s spirit of unity and inclusivity. Prayers from various faiths were offered with music. A booklet containing collection of prayers intended to “deepen our connections, nurture mutual respect, and inspire us to act with intention and care” was made available to attendees.

The gathering continued with facilitated small-group discussions centered on community-building, shared experiences, and the importance of the Ministry of Presence in fostering compassion and connection across faith traditions.

Organizers said the coalition is not meant to replace existing local interfaith councils but to strengthen and unify their efforts through broader, Long Island-wide collaboration aimed at creating greater community impact.

Interfaith clergy and community leaders from across Long Island, and event partners reading along a prayer at the LIU Post Interfaith Chapel.

About UJA-Federation of New York

Working with a network of hundreds of nonprofits, UJA-Federation of New York, a large Jewish philanthropic organization, supports communities in New York, Israel, and nearly 70 countries, touching the lives of 5.5 million people annually. Through approximately $275 million in annual grants, UJA helps strengthen communities, care for people in need, and respond to emerging challenges.

For more information, visit ujafedny.org.

About JCRC-LI

JCRC-LI’s (Jewish Community Relations Council) mission is to inform and mobilize the Long Island community to take action locally, nationally, and internationally to address community relations issues important to both the Jewish and non-Jewish communities.

For more information, visit https://jcrcli.org/

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