| Preference | VISITS TO INSTITUTES ENGAGED IN RELIGIOUS-BASED RECONCILLIATION WORK (Monday, 23 June, 13:30) |
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | The Program | Sponsoring Institute |
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A. Tantur Ecumenical Institute
The program for today's visit will include an explanation of Tantur's place on the seam with a breathtaking vista towards Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Har Homa/Gebel Abu Ghneim, the Separation Barrier, and Gilo. From this unique vantage point, we will review the history of Tantur (Arabic for "Hilltop") and how it has evolved. Following a tour of the facilities, we will meet with some of those who use Tantur to advance peace, sometimes with religious themes, sometimes with more secular perspectives, e.g. The University of the Holy Land and the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI), etc....but all illustrating how religion and peacemaking do not have to be separated, much less opposed. Light refreshment will be served as well.
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The Tantur Ecumenical Institute is an ecumenical Christian research center, with overnight accommodations and outstanding library, opened in 1972, established originally as a place of study for English and French speaking scholars from around the world. Its mission has evolved to where, today, as a place located in "Jerusalem on the way to Bethlehem," on the seam between Israel and Palestine, it functions also as a place of welcome, whether one wears a cross, a keffieh, or a kipa, for those who would work for peace.
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B. Jerusalem International YMCA
YMCA works in the field of coexistence and mutual understanding -- through its fitness and sports programs and through specially designed programs to bring about greater understanding among the people of this region. We will learn about the Y's coexistence programs in four main areas:
- Bi-lingual Jewish-Arab Peace Preschool
- Ever-growing youth program
- "Moderate Voices for Progress", A long-term dialogue program for young adults
- Specially designed cultural programs that bring together people from East and West Jerusalem.
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Lord Allenby spoke at the dedication of the YMCA landmark building in 1933: "Here is a place whose atmosphere is peace, where political and religious jealousies can be forgotten and international unity fostered and developed." This historic building is located on King David St, opposite the famous hotel of the same name.
For its efforts in promoting peace, unity and the dignity of humankind, the Jerusalem International YMCA was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
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C. Swedish Theological Institute (STI)
The director Dr. H?kan Bengtsson will present the building, Beit Tavor, and speak about the Swedish Theological Institute and its work with Jewish Christian relations. The Church of Sweden's work in Jewish-Christian relations will also be highlighted through presentation and discussion of the document "The Ways of God", which is among the Church of Sweden's statements on Jewish-Christian relations. The legacy of Krister Stendahl for Jewish-Christian dialogue will be highlighted.
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The Swedish Theological Institute (STI) is located in West Jerusalem, on Prophets' Street in one of the most beautiful houses in Jerusalem, the private home of the German architect Conrad Schick. Since 1951 STI has been a theological study center, particularly for Christian students, who were given the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of Judaism as well as Christianity. The institute soon came to focus on students of theology, priests and teachers. Contacts with Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches and theologians have been an important feature of the work. Currently, students are exposed to Islam as well.
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D. Ecce Homo Convent - Notre Dame de Sion
Ecce Homo welcomes many groups who are involved in actions for peace, understanding and reconciliation: UN Peacekeepers, Compassionate Listeners, Sufis, Mennonite Youth, and Conflict Resolution groups.
The Sisters will discuss their particular role within the Roman Catholic Church to 'keep alive in the Church the consciousness that Christianity is linked to Judaism.' This naturally extends to relationships with the three Abrahamic Faiths and then to Inter-faith relations in general.
We will hear about the Biblical Studies Programs for those who wish to experience the Holy Land as the Fifth Gospel and how this is implemented with guides and lecturers who are Christians, Jews and Muslims.
This visit will include time with our neighbor Sheikh Bukari and his co-worker in peace-building Eliyahu McClean.
The visit will demonstrate how in the life of Ecce Homo we aim to create an environment of respect and appreciation of different cultures and faiths.
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Ecce Homo Convent on the Via Dolorosa
The sisters of Notre Dame de Sion have run the convent for 150 years. Currently the Chemin Neuf community shares the administration with the Sisters. It is a Christian Holy site in the midst of the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. The Lithostrotos or Pavement below Ecce Homo dates back to Hadrian's time and is traditionally associated with the Gospel scene of Jesus before Pilate.
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion came to Jerusalem in 1856 and made their home in a section of the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. The Sisters also have a house in Jewish Ein Karem. Thus the Sisters live beside both Muslims and Jews and endeavor to be neighbors to both.
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E. ICCI: Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel
ICCI will introduce its main programs that deal with interreligious dialogue, education and reconciliation in Israel/Palestine:
- Kedem- Religious Voices for Reconciliation
- Youth and young adult programs
- Women as catalysts for peace
- Leadership training for religious leaders in the Galilee and much more
The session will be led by ICCI founder and director Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish, who will be joined by other ICCI professional staff and board members.
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Founded in January 1991, ICCI is now Israel's best-known and most-respected inter-religious organization. As an umbrella organization, it comprises 75 Christian, Palestinian/Muslim, and Jewish institutions, including Jewish-Arab coexistence organizations, museums, universities, and other inter-religious organizations. ICCI also serves as the Israel chapter of Religions for Peace (WCRP) and as a member of the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ). The ICCI Education Center located in the German Colony in West Jerusalem.
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| Preference | WORKSHOPS ON CONFERENCE THEME (Monday, 23 June, 10:30) |
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1. KEDEM: Kol Dati M'fayes A Religious Voice for Reconciliation
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Jewish and Muslim Religious Leaders Engaged in Dialogue and Action Moderated by Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish, ICCI
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2. Kfar Bir`am and Kfar Etzion:
Religious and National Aspects of the Palestinian and Israeli Historical Narratives told through the stories of two villages which were destroyed as result of 1948.
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Shmuel Reiner, Yeshivat Maale Gilboa & representative of Bir`am village
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3. Youth and Young Adult Encounter Programs: Participants' Experiences with Interreligious Dialogue and Conflict Mitigation
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Moderated by Yael Yechieli, ICCI
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4. The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: An Obstacle and Opportunity for Jewish Christian Dialogue
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Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana
World Council of Churches
Responding: Dr. Jane Clements, Forum for Discussion of Israel and Palestine
& Jewish respondent
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5. Laying the Foundations for Peace at an Early Age: A Unique School-based Experiment with Israeli Jewish, Christian and Muslim Adolescents
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Panel Discussion moderated by
Hana Bendcowsky and Housam Elias, Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christians Relations (JCJCR)
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6. Building Trust as a Basis for Multi-faith Dialogue
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Ester Golan, Elana Rozenman & Rula Salameh, three women's voices from TRUST - Emun
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7. The Arab Christians as a Double Minority and Potential Bridge between the Israeli Jewish and Palestinian Muslim Majorities
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Daniel Rossing, Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations (JCJCR)
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8. Humanistic Lessons from the Holocaust as a Departure-point for Jewish-Arab Dialogue
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Dr. David Netzer, Center for Humanistic Education, Ghetto Fighters House
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9. A Integrated (Realist/Idealist) Jewish Philosophical Approach to Israeli-Palestinian Interreligious Dialogue and Peace-building
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Dr. Ben Mollov, Project for the Study of Religion, Culture and Peace, Bar Ilan University
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10. Teaching an Introduction to Judaism in the Palestinian Context
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Rev. Dr. David Neuhaus, S.J.,
Bethlehem Univ. & Bet Jalla Seminary
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| Preference | WORKSHOPS ON CONFERENCE THEME (Tuesday, 24 June, 11:15) |
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11. The Way of Abraham: Harnessing the Jewish and Muslim Mystical Teachings for Reconciliation
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Ghassan Manasra and Anat Lev-Or
The Way of Abraham
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12. Dilemmas and Best Practices in Youth and Young Adult Interreligious Dialogue Groups: Discussion with Project Coordinators
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Moderated by Avigail Moshe, ICCI
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13. Teaching Islam to Jews, and Judaism to Muslims, in Israel
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Prof. Reuven Amitai, Hebrew University and
Dr. Achmed Ghabin, Al Qasemi College
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14. The Divestment Campaign: An Obstacle and Opportunity for Jewish-Christian Dialogue
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Dr. Katherine Henderson, Auburn Theological Seminary & Jewish respondent
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15. The Dirasat Program: Studying Religious Texts to Foster Political Change and Social Transformation
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Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam
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16. How the Media Cover the Religious Dimension of the Conflict
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Hana Sinora, IPCRI, Yair Sheleg, Haaretz
Michele Chabin, Religious News Service
Moderated by Linda Gradstein, NPR
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17. Women should be seen but not heard: Raising Women's Voices - A Discussion with Past and Present Members of ICCI's Women's Dialogue Program
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Moderated by Sarah Bernstein, ICCI
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18. Towards a Critical and Constructive Christian Theology of the Promised Land
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Rev. Dr. Peter Pettit, Inst. for Jewish-Christian Understanding, Muhlenberg College
Yohanna Katanacho, respondent
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19. Applying Prophetic Values of Social Justice in a Conflict Situation
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Rabbis for Human Rights, Staff
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| Preference | WORKSHOPS ON JEWISH-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS (Tues. 14:30 pm) |
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21. Christians in the Holy Land: A Demographic and Sociological Portrait
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Dr. Bernard Sabella, Bethlehem University
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22. The Latin Patriarch's Experience of Engagement with the Jewish Community
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Rev. Michael McGarry, Tantur Ecumenical Institute
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23. Bible Study: Dispute for the Sake of Heaven
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Prof. Joseph Sievers, Cardinal Bea Centre for Judaic Studies
Rabbi Ehud Bandel, ICCJ Vice President
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24. The editors of TIME magazine recently identified Re-Judaizing Jesus as one of the "10 ideas that are changing the world." Changing the world? Really? Let's think and talk about that.
Christians Studying Jewish Texts through the Lens of Jewish Tradition: The Bat Kol Model
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Prof. Sr. Maureena Fritz &
Jack Driscoll, CFC, PhD, Bat Kol Institute
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25. I am a Christian Palestinian and a Woman: Grappling with Multiple Identities in the Holy Land
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Dr. Vera Baboon, Bethlehem University
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26. Tools 4 Trialogue: Religious Text Study as a Springboard for Dialogue Among Young Christians, Jews and Muslims in the U.K.
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Stephen Sha'ashua and Miram Feldman Kaye, Three Faiths Forum (U.K.)
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27. Education for Coexistence and Reconciliation via Film
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Amy Kronish, Jerusalem International YMCA
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28. Contemporary Jewish-Muslim Relations: Lessons from Jewish-Christian Relation
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Dr. Edward Kessler, The Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths (Cambridge, U.K.)
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29. Feminism, Women and Jewish-Christian Relations
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Dr. Elena Procario-Foley, Iona College
Dr. Lynne Scholefield, St Mary's Univ. College
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| Preference | WORKSHOPS ON JEWISH-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS (Tues. 16:30 pm) |
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31. The Dividing and Unifying Ideas in Christian and Jewish Theology Based on Different Jewish and Christian Approaches to Reading the Bible
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Rabbi Mordechai Piron, Sapir Institute of Jewish Studies, and Rev. Dr. Michael Krupp, Israel Interfaith Association
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32. A Movement of Spiritual and Social Renewal: The Story of the Focolare Movement (A session in memory of Focolare founder, Chiara Lubich)
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Ms. Margaret Karram, Ms. Sonia Zelazo and Mr. Jordi Marjanedas, Focolare movement
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33. This is Not Londonistan: Working towards Interreligious Tolerance in the U.K.
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Simon Keyes, St. Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace (London)
Danny Burkman and Debbie Young-Somers, West London Synagogue
Imam Shahid Hussain, Head of Interfaith Relations, Regent's Park Mosque
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34. Reconsidering the Parting of the Ways and its Implications for Jewish-Christian Relations: What is the Relevance of Recent Scholarship's Findings to Dialogue Today?
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Rabbi Dr. David Sandmel,
Catholic Theological Union, Chicago
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35. From Persecution to Partnership, From Confrontation to Cooperation: Film about Revolutionary Changes in Jewish-Christian Relations
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Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish, ICCI
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36. Beyond Tolerance and Inter-Faith Understanding: A Talmudic Perspective on Pluralism, Dispute, and Intra-Faith Tiqqun
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Prof. Menachem Fisch, Tel Aviv University and the Shalom Hartman Institute
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37. The Relationship Between Interfaith and Intra-faith Dialogue
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Rev. Dr. Barbara Meyer,
Respondent: Rabbi Shelton Donnell
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38. When Things Go Wrong in Interreligious Relations: Regensburg, the Good Friday Prayer, and Christians Living In Israel
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Rev. Michael McGarry, Tantur Ecumenical Institute
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| Preference | STUDY OUTINGS (Wednesday, 25 June, 9:00 to 16:00) |
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F. The Christian and Armenian Quarters
An encounter with the diverse historic Christian communities of east and west in Jerusalem and with the unique character and dynamics of Jerusalem as a meeting place between heaven and earth, three religions and two peoples/nations, east and west, diverse and sometimes-conflicting memories of the past and visions of the future, and minority and majority; including an audience with a senior church figure in the old city, visits to venues in the Christian Quarter which are not generally accessible to the broader public and a special visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
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Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christians Relations (JCJCR)
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G. Bethlehem and the Ezion Bloc
On this tour, we will listen to voices for peace, voices from different narratives, voices from the three Abrahamic traditions. Beginning in Bethlehem, we will visit the Center for Conflict Resolution and its director, Dr. Noah Salameh; we will then go to the Wiam Center and discuss with its director, Mr. Zoughbi Zoughbi, the opportunities to engagement and encounter both within Palestinian society and between Israelis and Palestinians. We will then go to the Efrat settlement to speak with Rabbi Shlomo Riskin about the settlers' vision of the land and its inhabitants. (Non-Israeli passports required).
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Rev. Michael McGarry,
Tantur Ecumenical Institute
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H. Yad Vashem: The Shoa and Jewish-Christian Relations
Beginning with a visit to the new (2005) historical museum at Yad Vashem and including visit to the Synagogue, Hall of Remembrance, and Children's memorial.
Lunch followed by a short visit to the Learning Center with focus on Holocaust as a religious issue.
Symposium and discussion on "Holocaust Remembrance and the Work of Interfaith Dialogue" with Ester Golan, survivor, Fr. Manfred Desalaers of the Centre for Dialogue and Prayer in Auschwitz.
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Sr. Gemma Del Ducca
Yad Vashem The Holocaust Martyrs'and Heroes' Remembrance Authority
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I. Two Jerusalems: Security, Justice and Hope
A comprehensive tour of the Jewish and Muslim neighborhoods in East Jerusalem and of the separation barrier enclosing the "Jerusalem envelope." A very personal look into the separate lives of two peoples. The first section of the tour will be led by Ir Amim and the second by Rabbis for Human Rights.
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Ir Amim
seeks to render Jerusalem a more viable and equitable city, while generating and promoting a more politically sustainable future.
Rabbis for Human Rights
is the rabbinic voice of conscience in Israel. Alongside efforts to prevent human rights abuses, RHR endeavors to introduce an authentic and humanistic understanding of Jewish tradition and sources into Israel's public discourse.
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J. Jewish-Muslim Relations in Wadi `Ara:
Meet with faculty and administration from the Al-Qasemi College, the first institution located in an Arab town in Israel to grant an academic degree. Al-Qasemi espouses a unique philosophy and methodology for educating future teachers. The college enables its graduates to function as agents of change in the Arab sector and Israeli society at large and disseminates a humanistic outlook.
Meet teachers and parents from the Hand in Hand bilingual school. In 1997, Hand in Hand Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel was founded to build peace between Jews and Arabs in Israel through development of bilingual and multi-cultural schools. Four schools have been founded including the one that will be visited in Wadi Ara.
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(Early departure, 07:45, to Megiddo region)
Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish, ICCI
Al-Qasemi College
Hand in Hand Bilingual School
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K. Neve Shalom / Wahat a-Salam, Abu Gosh
Visit Neve Shalom / Wahat a-Salam (Oasis of Peace) the only intentional Arab-Jewish community in Israel including its newly founded Doumia/Sakina Center for Spirituality.
Continue in the Arab village Abu Gosh and meet Issa Jabber, head of the municipal education department and Frere Olivier of the Benedictine Communion, a monk who has presented Christianity to myriads of Israelis
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Dr. Håkan Bengtson
Neve Shalom / Wahat a-Salam
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L. Neve Shalom / Wahat a-Salam and Ramla
What does it mean to be an Arab citizen of the State of Israel?
This is a rare opportunity to open a window on Arab culture in Israel.
We will begin with a visit to NS/WAS (see above option K).
We will visit the first Arab administrative capital in the region from the eighth century Muslim conquest - Ramla.
We will meet with Arab Muslims and Christians who will share with us their conflicts and struggles, their pride and their faith.
We will also visit the famous "Open House" of Ramla.
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Rabbi Michael Klein-Katz
Neve Shalom / Wahat a-Salam
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M. Between Judaism And Christianity - Sites In The Old City
We will explore "Theology In Stone" to reflect on the relationship between Christianity and Judaism while visiting sites in the Old City of Jerusalem including: Redeemer Church, Cenaculum (room of the Last Supper), King David's Tomb, the Dormition Abbey, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and more.
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Uri Sharon, Israel Interfaith Association
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In addition, please answer the following questions:
Please note: In a subsequent email we will send suggestions for travel from Ben-Gurion airport to Jerusalem.
