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Jewish delegation visits Mormon Welfare Square, temple, seeks to broaden mutual understanding

A Jewish delegation praised its tour of LDS Church’s welfare and temple facilities in Utah this week for strengthening interfaith ties and understanding.

“People just want to be understood,” said Saba Soomekh, who teaches religious and women’s studies along with Middle Eastern history at UCLA. “[It is] important to learn about other faiths, especially in the time that we’re living in today where there is so much misunderstanding and so much animosity.”

She was one of 11 Jewish representatives from Los Angeles and New York visiting the Salt Lake City area Tuesday and Wednesday.

Soomekh, who also is the American Jewish Committee’s assistant director of interreligious and intercommunity affairs, was especially inspired by a visit to the church’s Welfare Square in west Salt Lake City.