Noah's Puddin.

Interfaith event features Noah's Ark story

By Margaret Smykla

In one Islamic version of the Noah's Ark story, the believers were saved from starvation by Noah, who mixed scraps of food to create a delicious meal. The next day, the flood receded.

In another version, to celebrate the end of the flood and offer thanks to God, the survivors prepared a delicacy with the food left on the ark.

In either case, that meal, called "Noah's pudding,'' owes its taste to contrasting flavors borne from a variety of ingredients.

"It shows how cultural diversity can be delicious,'' said Hakan Yildiz, executive director of the Pittsburgh Dialogue Foundation, which will be presenting Prayer from the Ark: An Interfaith Celebration.

Besides a discussion of the Middle Eastern tradition of celebrating the landing of Noah's Ark, and a question-and-answer session on the faith and its customs, Noah's pudding will be served.

"The goal of these events is to raise the awareness of people from the different faith traditions about the common elements in the traditions, especially in our world today in which we need to foster peace and understanding,'' said program director.

A common element in the Holy Books of Christianity, Judaism and Islam is the Noah's Ark story.

They will serve Noah's pudding made with wheat, white beans, chick peas, raisins, almonds, apricot, figs, sugar, rice and milk. It will be topped with walnuts and cinnamon.

"Today we have global terrorism, war, crime and so on. The solution is to connect as a community around our common values and to look to God."

...that and a really goofy made-up story about a flood.