A journey of dialogue and encounter in Israel and Palestine
Nowhere on earth evokes such a sense of purpose and passion as the Land we call Holy. Jews, Christians and Muslims have prayed for and fought over this piece of land for centuries. It is often hard to know how best to respond to the terrible situation there; different approaches and perspectives make for divisions and conflicts within British society. However, the Holy Place plays a large part in our prayers, liturgies, traditions and backgrounds. This seminar will provide an opportunity to see the realities, hear the voices and stories of those living there and learn more of their endeavours, hopes and fears for the future. It will also provide an opportunity to explore the significance of this Land for our religious traditions. It will not be an easy journey.
We invite Jews, Christians and Muslims - and those who want to experience or understand - to travel together, engage together in a spirit of dialogue, weep and laugh together, and perhaps take home a new vision for our own communities and their interaction with 'the other'.
We invite Jews, Christians and Muslims - and those who want to experience or understand - to travel together, engage together in a spirit of dialogue, weep and laugh together, and perhaps take home a new vision for our own communities and their interaction with 'the other'.
God willing, the seminar will include:
- Jerusalem, the Old City - its congregations and communities
- Jerusalem, the new city - problems and opportunities; East Jerusalem today
- The Galilee: the ministry of Jesus; Nazareth; kibbutzniks
- The narrative of the 'lost' villages; the refugee issue
- The narrative of the Holocaust and its meaning for all Israeli citizens
- Tel Aviv/Jaffa
- The West Bank: Bethlehem; Hebron
- Opportunities to pray and experience the worship of others (in church, synagogue and mosque)
- Co-existence and community projects
- Home hospitality
- Input from Israelis and Palestinians - educators, religious leaders and activists - under the direction of an experienced and exceptional scholar-in-residence, Ophir Yarden (to be confirmed.)
The group leader, Jane Clements, has over fifteen years' experience of taking study groups to the region to engage with various issues of inter faith dialogue. Fodip's partners will be ICCI (the Inter Religious Co-ordinating Council of Israel - www.icci.org.il).