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As part of the Tri-Faith Education Adventure Series, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), the advocacy arm of the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County, will join with local synagogues, churches, and the Islamic Society of Central Jersey Oct. 6 at Congregation B'nai Tikvah in North Brunswick to learn about Sukkot.

The program, "The Tent of Abraham: A Faith Community," will feature two components, said Rabbi Robert Wolkoff of Congregation B'nai Tikvah.

The first component is the experiential nature of the program. Christian and Muslim participants will have the opportunity to experience the holiday firsthand by spending time under the sukkah and passing around the lulav and etrog. "We are not just talking about the holiday, we're actually doing it," said Wolkoff.

The second component is the study of the religions' visions of the future, which Wolkoff said every religion struggles with as the images can be alternately benign or violent.

"As Jews, we have to struggle with those images, though so do Christians and Muslims," he said, hoping that by discussing the Jewish perspective, the Christian and Muslim participants will feel comfortable opening up about their own respective faiths.

The Sukkot program is part of the interfaith series inspired by Rep. Rush Holt's (D-N.J.) call for interfaith cooperation and dialogue.

A year and a half ago, Holt, whose district includes parts of Monmouth, Middlesex, and Mercer counties, convened representatives of the three Abrahamic faiths -- Jews, Christians, and Muslims -- in his district and asked them what they could do together to promote religious understanding, said Gabriela Sadote-Sleppin, director of the JCRC.

The representatives decided to establish an interfaith series that focused on education, dialogue, and highlighting the commonalities between the communities.

The first event of the series on May 17 was billed as an Interfaith Ride of Discovery, in which participants traveled from Temple B'nai Shalom in East Brunswick to St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in East Brunswick and then finished at the Islamic Society of Central Jersey in Monmouth Junction.

Sadote-Sleppin described the May program as "gratifying."

"The federation is very interested in outreach and working with many members of the community," Sadote-Sleppin said, adding that during such an economic downturn it is productive to form partnerships with groups who could collaborate on civic, constitutional, or social service issues.

Sadote-Sleppin said that the program was not about any specific political agenda, but rather about "supporting and advancing the community."

"Middlesex County is one of the most diverse counties in the state, and we're part of that puzzle," she said, adding, "If we have the opportunity for outreach and interest, it's very important we respond."

Wolkoff said that such interfaith initiatives as this one are important both because of the diverse character of the nation as well as the powerful force that religion plays in people's lives.

"Religion plays an extremely large role in civic life -- understanding religion helps us to understand each other," Wolkoff said.

He added that unless the people understand religion in its totality, such a force "can evolve into dangerous fanaticism."

Wolkoff said that despite the fatigue that some of his congregants feel after the High Holidays, many members of his congregation have expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming event.

"My congregants have been very active participants in interfaith activities for a very long time."