MEMPHIS, TN - March 3,2008 -- "Two ministers and a rabbi..." No, it's not a joke. The spiritual leaders of Hope Presbyterian, Temple Israel, and New Direction - three forward-looking houses of worship in Memphis - are working to build a more harmonious community by modeling friendships that transcend religious pronouncements and institutional separation and, instead, are built on a sincere love for one another. Pastor Craig Strickland (Hope Presbyterian), Rabbi Micah Greenstein (Temple Israel), and Pastor Stacy Spencer (New Direction Church) have built connections based on what unites them rather than their ideological, denominational or political differences.
      "It all started with a simple thought that we all shared, 'Why not emphasize what unites us rather than what divides us? Have we not all one Father?" said Rabbi Greenstein. "This led to the simple but powerful step of having regular dinners in each other's homes where the topic is relationship, not creed or doctrine. We're now friends who happen to be ministers, and hope more of Memphis will truly learn to love one another. We also thought it would be worthwhile to participate in more far reaching projects including the upcoming Tear Down the Walls concert where we will raise up our collective vision with words to compliment the extraordinary music of what has already become one of Memphis' most meaningful and amazing annual events." 
      "The third annual Memphis Tear Down The Walls concert production will take place at Hope Presbyterian Church (8500 Walnut Grove Road in Cordova) on April 17 at 7 pm. The inspirational interfaith and multicultural event is free and open to the public. The production is a scripted theatrical presentation combining music with spoken word by local religious leaders and human rights activists.   In addition to the religious leaders of several churches and synagogues, the event will feature Civil Rights activist, Dr. Benjamin Hooks, as a guest speaker.  
      "The concert also includes extraordinary singer soloists as well as the Germantown United Methodist Choir, Hope Presbyterian Church "Hope Choir," the Temple Israel Choir, the New Direction Christian Church "Live and Direct" Adult Choir, New Direction Christian Church "New Generation" Youth Choir, St. Andrews AME choirs and the Stax Choir.
Tear Down the Walls (www.teardownthewalls.org) is a national initiative and concert tour created by Rick Recht, the top-touring artist in contemporary Jewish rock music, to utilize the power of popular rock music to inspire and educate youth about ways to break down bias and prejudice in their communities. Tear Down the Walls also strives to educate the public about the social action organizations existing in their communities and specific ways to support them and get involved.
      ""Music has a beautiful and powerful way of uniting communities, giving us a uniquely safe and positive foundation for developing new and ongoing relationships," says Recht. "We will not only inspire audiences through the powerful synergy of the interfaith and multicultural program, but will educate them about all the incredible work already being done by organizations in Philadelphia."
      "Partnering social action organizations in Memphis include the National Civil Rights Museum, Stax Academy, Bridges, Facing History and Ourselves, Jubilee Catholic School, Memphis Athletic Ministries, New Hope Christian Academy, The Soulsville Charter School, Urban Youth Initiative and Common Ground. Common Ground is a new collaborative initiative in Memphis in which a diverse group of participants meet for several weeks in small groups with a trained facilitator to discuss race relations and then to develop and implement specific recommendations on how to improve local race relations.
Many of these organizations, including Common Ground, will be on-site to give audience members information about ways to participate in their social action efforts. 
      "At last year's concert production, Recht's newest live CD Knocking Holes in the Darkness, was recorded for national distribution. More than 3,500 CD have been given freely to those in the Memphis community. In advance of the concert, tens of thousands more in Memphis will receive a digital version of large portions of the CD for free.
Sponsors of the event include Homewood Suites Southwind , Corky's Ribs and BBQ, and  Hi-Tech Imaging (Marietta, GA).
      For more information about the concert or the national Tear Down the Walls initiative, visit www.teardownthewalls.org or call St. Louis Live Agency at 314-991-0909. Rick Recht’s Knocking Holes in the Darkness and Tear Down the Walls CDs, both focused on diversity awareness and appreciation, can be purchased for $15 each at www.teardownthewalls.org.