Harmony in the Holy Land Celebrates
World Interfaith Harmony Week
The first week of February each year is World Interfaith Harmony Week. First proposed at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2010 by H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan, just under a month later, it was unanimously adopted by the United Nations.
The World Interfaith Harmony Week is based on the pioneering work of The Common Word initiative. This initiative, which started in 2007, calls for Muslim and Christian leaders to engage in a dialogue based on two common fundamental religious Commandments; Love of God, and Love of the Neighbour, without nevertheless compromising any of their own religious tenets. The Two commandments are at the heart of the three Monotheistic religions and therefore provide the most solid theological ground possible.
The World Interfaith Harmony Week extends the Two Commandments by adding ‘Love of the Good, and Love of the Neighbor.’ This formula includes all people of goodwill. It includes those of other faiths, and those with no faith.
The World Interfaith Harmony Week provides a platform—one week in a year—when all interfaith groups and other groups of goodwill can show the world what a powerful movement we are. To learn more, visit www.worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The 'Abrahamic Reunion', a group of Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Druze religious leaders held a public gathering in the Galilee town of Safed/Tsfat.
The open public event took place at "The Khan of the White Donkey" in the Artist's Quarter. It was an evening of dialogue, blessings and music, with a theme question: "Is Religion the Key to Peace?"
Events
3 full days: February 8th-10th, 2013
The Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders has invited the general public to create or join single-faith, multi-faith and interfaith ‘Prayers of Hope’ events over the period Friday 8th to Sunday 10th February. Wherever you are, add a special Prayer of Hope to your prayers on that weekend. Use the booklet, view the video, or create your own words or music to express the ideal of Hope for the future.
The spearhead event was held in Jerusalem, where religious leaders and adherents gathered as a symbol of the power of prayer to express and inspire hope in a world where the encounter with the outward appearance of 'reality' could lead to despair. The Prayers of Hope event celebrates diversity within unity and the power of human beings to imbue their lives with meaning by working towards well-being for all.
