An interfaith event featuring a rabbi, Catholic priest and Muslim imam is set for Wednesday at St. James the Greater Catholic Church in Oklahoma City.

An interfaith event featuring a local rabbi, Catholic priest and Muslim imam is set for Wednesday at St. James the Greater Catholic Church, 4201 S McKinley.

“An Evening of Interfaith Dialogue” will feature a panel discussion with panelists Vered Harris, rabbi of Temple B’nai Israel; the Rev. Bill Pruett, pastor of St. James; and Tamer Selim, imam of the Grand Mosque in Oklahoma City.

They will focus on the topic “What does salvation mean to us today?” — offering insight into what each faith teaches is necessary for eternal life.

A reception will be held after the panel discussion.

About the presenters

Harris is the fifth rabbi to serve the congregation at Temple B’nai Israel, 4901 N Pennsylvania, since its  founding in 1903. She has extensive background in youth, family and adult education, as well as interest in Jewish women’s studies, first-century history, contemporary poetry and creative expression. Harris received her master of arts degree in Hebrew letters and her rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and her master of arts degree in Jewish education from the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

In 2002, Harris was awarded the title of Reform Jewish Educator from the National Association of Temple Educators. Her family is from the United States and Israel, and she has lived in California, Israel, Germany, Ohio and Kansas prior to settling in Oklahoma with her husband, Benjamin, and their three children.

Selim serves as spiritual leader for the Grand Mosque, 3201 NW 48. In this role, he leads weekly prayers and Taraweeh Prayers during the month of Ramadan, and delivers sermons at Friday prayers. Selim holds the highest certification offered in memorization and recitation of the Quran. He teaches Islamic studies and the Arabic language in many segments of the community. In 2009-2010, Selim served as a consultant on Islamic Law as part of the Cordoba Initiative in Manhattan, N.Y., with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and other Muslim scholars. Selim holds a bachelor of arts degree in Islamic studies from Al-Azhar University in Cairo and a doctorate degree in Arabic language and literature from Ain Shams University in Cairo.

Pruett, with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, has been a priest for 35 years. He has a master of arts degree in English literature from the University of Oklahoma, a master of divinity degree from St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology and a licentiate in canon law from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

In addition to serving as pastor at St. James, Pruett serves in the archdiocese’s Metropolitan Tribunal of Second Instance. He is an Oklahoma native.