Abraham’s Bridge: A Documentary Review of Interfaith Connection in America’s Heartland

In a world marked by conflict, division, and religious tension, “Abraham’s Bridge” offers a compelling narrative of collaboration across faith traditions. This short documentary, running just under 40 minutes, produced and directed by Elinor J. Pierce, Research Director of the Harvard Pluralism Project (pluralism.org), chronicles the remarkable Tri-Faith Initiative in Omaha, Nebraska – an ambitious project to build a mosque, synagogue, church, and interfaith center side-by-side, connected by a circular wooden bridge. The film provides a concise yet powerful exploration of interfaith dialogue and community building in America’s heartland.

For those familiar with the pluralism case study model developed by the Pluralism Project at Harvard University, “Abraham’s Bridge” brings that model to life in vivid detail. The Pluralism Project, founded by Professor Diana Eck, has been a leading force in documenting and interpreting America’s new religious diversity since 1991. Eck, a renowned professor of comparative religion and Indian studies, has dedicated her career to exploring the intersection of diverse faiths in the U.S. and promoting interfaith understanding. The film offers a compelling visual representation of the case study approach to understanding religious diversity and interfaith relations. Pierce translates the nuanced exploration of real-world interfaith challenges and collaborations typically found in written case studies into a visually rich documentary format. This approach allows viewers to witness the complexities of interfaith dialogue and community-building in action.

Historical Context and Vision

“Abraham’s Bridge” follows the evolution of the Tri-Faith Initiative from its conceptual beginnings in 2005 to its physical manifestation. The documentary highlights the significance of choosing Abraham as the symbolic cornerstone for this interfaith endeavor, as he represents a shared holy person across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Abraham is revered as a pivotal figure who broke with pagan deities to embrace monotheism. In Judaism, he is considered the first Jew and the father of the Jewish people. In Christianity, Abraham is seen as a spiritual paragon whose faith and trust in God are pivotal, symbolizing the connection between the Old and New Testaments. For Muslims, Abraham (Ibrahim) is a prophet known for his unwavering faith and obedience to God’s will. This shared heritage makes Abraham an ideal figure to symbolize unity and cooperation among the three Abrahamic faiths.

Abraham’s Bridge presents the vision of the Tri-Faith campus as a pragmatic response to religious polarization. Through interviews with key stakeholders and footage of the developing campus, viewers witness how abstract concepts of coexistence translate into architectural design, community planning, and daily interactions. As Rabbi Azriel notes, “We had 36 different locations before we got here,” highlighting the perseverance that brought the vision to fruition. The circular wooden bridge connecting the houses of worship becomes both a physical reality and a powerful metaphor for the project’s aspirations.

Protagonists: Voices of Interfaith Leadership Past and Present

The heart of “Abraham’s Bridge” lies in its interviews with key leaders past and present from the three Abrahamic faiths who have driven this initiative forward:

Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, formerly the senior rabbi at Temple Israel in Omaha. The film showcases his early vision, shaped by the recognition that “those wars created a lot of graveyards in the Middle East,” stating “the issue of the relationship with the Muslim community was extremely important for me.”

Rabbi Ben Sharff contributes his insights on the importance of interfaith dialogue in fostering community and shared responsibility. As one of the new clergy replacing the founding generation of leaders, he see this as a “a golden opportunity to reimagine” the Tri-Faith Initiative.

Karim Khayati, representing the American Muslim Institute, helped shape the vision that the initiative “needed to be present on the physical ground.”

Rev. Dr. Jenny Shultz-Thomas, Senior Minister at Countryside Community Church, brings her background in interfaith projects and social justice to her work on the Tri-Faith Board of Directors. As the pastor of Countryside, she describes what she and her fellow Christians have been doing: “showing up as committed faithful listener, best partner in the journey as not observer. But the abiding friend who walks beside you.” She seeks a “deeper understanding of what these relationships mean.”

In addition to these leaders, interviews with other members from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities provide diverse perspectives on transformation through interfaith engagement.

Impact: Building Resilience Against Division

“Abraham’s Bridge” arrives at a particularly relevant moment in American religious and civic life. At a time when domestic and international political events threaten to exacerbate divisions between communities of faith, this documentary offers an alternative model rooted in mutual respect and shared humanity.

One striking feature is the commons area with communal gardens that symbolize organic growth in mutual friendships. As members nurture plants together, they deepen their bonds with one another. Just as diverse plants thrive together in a well-tended garden, diverse faith communities flourish when rooted in mutual respect. As Taylor Keen, a seed keeper, notes, it is important “to have people who understand planting.” The garden serves both practical and symbolic purposes – producing more than 5,000 pounds of food for local pantries while creating space for interfaith cooperation away from theological differences. As one participant observes, “values bring people together, theology pushes people apart.”

The film’s visual storytelling plays a crucial role in conveying this message. From archival footage to contemporary scenes on campus today, “Abraham’s Bridge” captures both physical progress toward unity (symbolized by its iconic bridge) alongside emotional growth through shared experiences. This visual approach allows viewers to appreciate how the initiative has evolved over time and how initial ideas have been refined through practical experience. The documentary blends historical context with present-day implementation, creating a coherent narrative arc.

The protagonists emphasize that demonization—whether through stereotypes or political narratives—must be actively countered through relationship-building efforts like those fostered by initiatives such as Tri-Faith. By focusing on empathy-driven solutions rather than fear-based reactions, the film demonstrates how interfaith dialogue can build resilience against forces seeking to divide communities.

The Tri-Faith Initiative offers not only a blueprint for coexistence but also hope that even in times of heightened tension, bridges can be built—not just physically but emotionally and spiritually.

Challenges: Fault Lines Amid Conflict

The ongoing war and violence in Israel/Palestine test the limits of friendship within this community, exposing fault lines within Jewish and Muslim communities. Members grapple with pain tied to their heritage. As Karim Khayati states poignantly, many congregants “have family, they have the immediate family who died as a consequence of this war.” These tensions are further exacerbated by the alarming rise of both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the United States. As Wendy Goldberg, Executive Director of the Tri-Faith Initiative, notes:

“In the weeks following October 7th have been devastating. We feel helpless. We feel alone. We feel scared. So I remember at one of our early meetings, we made an intentional decision to set politics aside so that we could grow trust and relationships. And one of the things we intentionally set aside for a day when we were ready was Israel and Palestine. Tonight we had a silent, candlelit vigil for peace in the Holy Land. We need to help people to build the skills and the resilience to live through it, to grapple with it, and ultimately to hold more than one truth at the same time. The solutions are all heart centered, and unfortunately, they feel out of grasp right now.”

The film portrays how the community navigates these challenges, recognizing, as one member states, the difficulties that arise in the face of “Unbelievable violence, especially in Gaza.” (Karim Khayati) To address the inevitable challenges of disagreements, the community seeks “to dig in on the areas that we disagree.”(Rev. Shultz-Thomas)

In this context, community members emphasize finding empathy and leveraging existing relationships to see the humanity in others. “It’s about empathy, building empathy and leveraging existing relationships to see the humanity.” This approach acknowledges that while some may “go to our own corners” during times of crisis, the physical proximity of the Tri-Faith campus compels continued engagement: “but we are here, let’s pick up the phone. Let’s have lunch together.”

The film shows that “the silence, the showing up without too many words” can sometimes be more powerful than verbal dialogue when tensions are highest. Simply being present in each other’s spaces – “somebody from AMI showing up on a Sunday morning sitting in a pew on my right and just kind of being present” – demonstrates a commitment to relationship that transcends political disagreement.

Interfaith Cooperation Amidst Naysayers

The documentary acknowledges the pushback such an initiative faces, hinting at the existence of those who view interfaith initiatives with scepticism, fearing that participants are being asked to “erase” their faith. It serves as a counter-narrative to those who believe that interfaith dialogue requires relinquishing one’s own religious identity or that its goal is to somehow contaminate one religion or another.

As Rabbi Azriel emphasizes, it is not about minimizing difference, but about recognizing our shared humanity, a means to “stop using the word, hope” and “to effectuate and change and create the hope ourselves.” The film acknowledges that “there are people who don’t see the benefit of dialogue,” yet maintains that continued engagement is essential despite disagreement.

The film also touches on the initiative’s future, as all the founding clergy have now “retired or moved on,” creating what Rabbi Sharff calls “a golden opportunity to reimagine it.” This leadership transition creates space for fresh approaches to interfaith dialogue, including the creation of “sacred space for us to be able to disagree.”

Conclusion

“Abraham’s Bridge” succeeds as both documentation of unique interfaith collaboration and meditation on coexistence possibilities amidst global crises—offering hope rooted not just theoretically but practically: through relationships built step-by-step locally even amid global turmoil. The documentary’s greatest strength lies in its balanced approach—celebrating achievements while acknowledging ongoing challenges. In today’s climate of polarization, this message resonates with particular urgency.

The Tri-Faith Initiative epitomizes the best of interfaith cooperation, serving as a beacon of pluralism that showcases how diverse faith communities can thrive together. By fostering an environment of mutual respect, trust, and understanding, this initiative demonstrates that even in the face of adversity, communities can come together to build bridges of empathy and cooperation. As an exemplar of effective interfaith dialogue, the Tri-Faith Initiative inspires not only local communities but also global audiences, offering a compelling model for promoting peace and harmony across religious divides. It is in interfaith cooperation that humanity finds pathways to bridge divides, confront prejudice, and build a more just and peaceful world.

“Abraham’s Bridge” offers an inspiring yet grounded introduction to these complex topics and is highly recommended as a valuable addition to classrooms, religious leadership programs, and community engagement initiatives. It reminds us that persistent engagement across differences is not only possible but necessary for fostering peace in divided times. Moreover, as an educational tool, it brings the case study method to life for students, religious leaders, and anyone interested in the dynamics of religious pluralism in America.