Abrahamic Family Reunion

AFR Members in the News

• June 11, 2009 – Unity Program’s First Local Grads Break Down Walls of Jewish-Muslim Relations. This article highlights the first San Francisco Bay Area graduates of Abraham’s Visions – Unity Program.

• May 6, 2009 - Taking A Stand: Silver Spring Artist Highlights the Struggle for Human Rights – Maryland Gazette. In this article, designated AFR artist Tom Block, wins hometown acclaim for his Human Rights Painting Project. Be sure to also visit his website: Tom Block.com

• March 10, 2009 – Open Letter to President Obama about Democracy Promotion in the Middle East and the Muslim World. In this letter from the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, scholars, experts and organizations from across the US have added their signatures to the letter that urges the President to push for democracy in the Muslim world.

• March 5, 2009 – In this edition of the Common Ground News Service, you can read about the Cordoba Initiative based in New York, who is part of the AFR network. A key goal of the AFR project is to communicate the shared Abrahamic values to which Imam Feisal refers to in his article Religious organisations are key to Middle East peace.
  

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• February 2009 – Abraham’s Vision Launches Fourth Year of its Groundbreaking Conflict Transformation Program. Also, be sure to read AV’s latest newsletter>>

• January 2009 – An Interfaith Declaration for Peace - A truly Abrahamic expression supported by moral and intellectual leaders in the greater Boston area, many of whom are part of AFR.

• December 10, 2008 – Abraham’s Vision Receives Prestigious 49ers Perry/Yonamine Unity Award

• December 2008 – In the Round: Finding an End to Conflict in the Middle East, Brenda Rosenburg & Victor Begg

• September 18, 2008 – Jesuit University Offers Jewish Social Justice Course, Aaron Hahn Tapper of Abraham’s Vision

• September 13, 2007 – Esalen seeks kindred spirits in Muslim Community

News of Abrahamic Interest

• October 22, 2009 – Charter puts new face on the Golden Rule – Common Ground News Service

• August 22, 2009 – Abundant Faith, Shrinking Space: Muslims Turn to Synagogues to Accomodate Growing Membership – The Washington Post

• August 19, 2009 – He Conquered the KKK – Now on to Flushing – Jewish Daily Forward

• July 1, 2009 – July 1 2009 – In Turkey, Jews Reach Out to Muslims – Newsweek

• July 2009 – Read the latest newsletter from the Interfaith Youth Core

Let me start with a remarkable fact: almost every single Jew in Albania, whether they were Albanians or refugees from other nations, survived during the German occupation during World War II.  The Jews were protected, through the raids and searches and the times in between, by Albanians who followed the national honor code of Besa: the deepest promise a person can give, the word that is never broken. Under Besa, Albanians took Jews into their homes, treated them as family, fed and clothed them, and sacrificed their own safety and the safety of their families for the sake of their guests.

• June 24, 2009 – Guidelines developed for Christian-Muslim ‘ethical faith sharing’ – Ekklesia

• June 2009 – Eboo Patel of Interfaith Youth Core

The White House, in conjunction with the Corporation for National and Community Service, is launching the United We Serve campaign, urging Americans to make community service a national priority this summer.  Service is an important component in America’s “patchwork heritage” – and once again President Obama reminds us that through service, we contribute to our nation’s recovery and renewal in these difficult times.  As we all know, interfaith service can strengthen our communities even more powerfully.  The President set the stage for his new initiative in his Address in Cairo on June 4, saying,

Indeed, faith should bring us together.  That is why we are forging service projects in America that bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews…Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service, so bridges between people lead to action – whether it is combating malaraia in Africa, or providing relief after a national disaster.

This is our time to demonstrate the impact of interfaith service to President Obama and the world.  We need you to get involved through the volunteer opportunities and the tools for engagement offered by both the United We Serve campaign and IFYC.  Get plugged in by visiting Serve.gov and our Bridge-builders’ Network to learn about volunteer opportunities and post your own service projects.  On the Bridge-builder’s Network you will also find resources and ideas on how to incorporate interfaith engagement into your action projects.Tell us your stories. Through stories, we can share the powerful message of interfaith service.  Keep in touch, either to update us, share ideas, or get support, on our Bridge-builders site or by contacting Hannah McConnaughay at Hannah@ifyc.org.

The United We Serve campaign ends on September 11th – but the call to serve will continue.  You’ve already demonstrated your amazing ability to answer this call to action.  This summer, let us again prove that United We Serve.

• May 2009 – Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders celebrate the visit of Pope Benedict XVI with a joint prayer session. See video below>>
• May 5, 2009 – Enemies No More: The Power of Sustained Dialogue – Common Ground News Service
• April 20, 2009 – Jewish Book Unites Christians and Muslims in Bosnia – Washington Post
• April 2, 2009 – Celebrating Diversity Through Poetry and Art – Chicago Tribune
• Mar. 25, 2009 – Palestinian children sing for Holocaust survivors – Haaretz
  
• Jan. 21, 2009 – Jews and Arabs Join Hands for Peace – Epoch Times
• Jan. 16, 2009 – Common Values Celebrated Across Abrahamic Holidays – Middle East Times
• Dec. 5, 2008 – Open Arms at an Unexpected Haven: Bronx Synagogue Makes Room for Muslim Girl to Pray – New York Times
  
• Nov. 25, 2008 – United Nations backs resolution on interreligious understanding
  
• Nov. 19, 2008 – Bridging the Muslim-Jewish divide – JTA.org
• Nov. 5, 2008 – Catholic and Muslim Leaders Meet at Vatican and Pledge to Improve Relations – New York Times
• Oct. 25, 2008 – Playback Theater builds bridges for Jews, Arabs – Pittsburgh Post Gazette
• Oct. 5, 2008 – Spare Me the Sermon on Muslim Women – Washington Post