In aid of the School for Peace at
Neve Shalom-Wahat al-Salam
Dear Friends,
I welcome this opportunity to add my support to the Unitarian Peace Fellowship 2006 Appeal, on behalf of the whole denomination. This Appeal is part of our Unitarian tradition both at the General Assembly and as part of annual giving in our congregations.
Many years ago the U.P.F. Appeal was in aid of Lagan College, newly founded as the first integrated school (i.e. educating Roman Catholic and Protestant children together, with pupils from other religions) in Ireland. My wife, Lena, has been an Honorary Chaplain there for over 20 years, so I have seen at first hand the excellent work the school does. On the School's 20th Anniversary Celebrations a few years ago appreciation was expressed for the Unitarian money and support that was so important in the early stages of their project, Lagan now has over 1,000 pupils, integrated schools are increasing steadily and there are signs that this is helping to soften some of the entrenched attitudes in the province.
I have visited Israel only once, about 1 years ago, with a group of Unitarians. While we never felt to be in any danger, there were obviously signs of tension which have since escalated. It is appropriate that, as an Egyptian, with his Judaeo-Christian roots, Father Bruno felt called to set up the school in the cradle of the 3 Abraharnic Faiths. At the time of writing the war of words and angry demonstrations over the cartoons of Mohammed in the Danish and other Press continues unabated. If the protagonists had been educated together, could this furore have been prevented? Like Northern Ireland, Israel is a beautiful country where religious differences and misunderstandings have led to intolerance, fanaticism then to death and destruction. With growing numbers in integrated education the Irish situation, although far from perfect, is improving. Israel deserves the opportunity to do likewise. Our support of the Peace Fellowship Appeal for this year will help it on its way. Please give generously. I know we can make a difference.
Brian Cockroft, President, General Assembly of Unitarian & Free Christian Churches.
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It would be difficult to think of an international project that reflects so well the principles that underpin our Unitarian and Free Christian community. This is one of the most divided areas of the world, where the news is incessantly of hatred, suspicion and fear. Yet in the midst of this we have a project that has peace as its central theme; that seeks to bring together people of different faiths, cultures and traditions so that, being aware of their common humanity, they might grow in understanding and live together peacefully.
This must surely resonate strongly with us. I hope that all congregations, fellowships and districts will not only want to offer their financial support, but will also want to be directly associated with the project – to proclaim some good news from this troubled region. Please put this on the agenda for your worship group or management committee and plan now how you will help to sustain this project. I look forward to hearing of your plans to support the Peace Fellowship in 2006.
David Dawson, Vice President, General Assembly of Unitarian & Free Christian Churches.
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This internationally renowned peace village was founded in the early 1970s by Fr. Bruno Hussar. Bruno, who was born in 1911 to secular Jewish parents in Egypt, converted to Roman Catholicism while a student in France, joined the Dominican order and later went to Israel to set up a Centre for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. He took Israeli citizenship and lived and worked in Israel until his death in 1996.
Bruno dreamed of a place where people of the three Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Islam and Christianity, could live together in peace and dedicated his life to the realisation of this dream. He was joined by young Jews and Arabs and together they helped create todays thriving community, which was built on a bare hillside without water or trees on land that belonged to an adjoining monastery.
With roughly equal numbers of Israeli Jewish and Palestinian Arab families, the village has established its own bilingual and bicultural educational system for around 300 children, most of whom come from the surrounding area. This consists of a kindergarten and primary and junior high schools, educating children up to the age of 14. All learn and play together and are taught both Hebrew and Arabic to the same level.
In addition to this model integrated schools system, the village is recognised internationally for its School for Peace (SFP), founded in 1979. Since that time about 40,000 young people and adults have participated in its conflict resolution courses. The SFPs Youth Encounter Programme, with its 3-day programme of residential workshops, is often a novel and moving experience to its young.
Since the majority of the village members are either secular or regard religious belief as a personal matter, religion is seen in terms of being a component of one's cultural identity.
Palestinian Arab and Israeli Jewish participants, many of whom have never properly met anyone from the other community before. Over the 3 days they enter into intense dialogue that helps transform their perception of the reality in which they live, raise their awareness of each others pain and dispel the stereotypes each has of the other. It lays the foundations for further work in their communities on spiritual issues in the context of the ongoing conflict.
Many of its graduates now play key roles in civil society, promoting civil and human rights for all sections of Israeli society, in particular its largest minority population, Arab Israelis.
This year Bruno's life and pioneer peace-making mission will be celebrated with the opening and dedication in his name of the Pluralistic Spiritual Center, which will hold conferences and seminars that will involve the interpretation of religious texts and discussion on spiritual issues in the context of the ongoing conflict.
The Unitarian Peace Fellowship is proud that the proceeds from this appeal will aid the practical work of peace making and bridge building of the people of Neve Shalom-Wahat al-Salam and thanks all who respond and support its work of peace and reconciliation, so significant and so sorely needed in the present highly dangerous climate of fear and tragic misunderstanding in the Middle East.
Founded in 1916 the Unitarian Peace Fellowship is for all those within our denomination who witness to the belief that war and preparation for war are sins against God and failures of humanity. We believe that right relationships can only be established through understanding and love. We therefore pledge ourselves to the promotion of goodwill, justice and peace between peoples and nations.
Membership is available to all who are in sympathy with our aims.
Annual Subscriptions: Individual £6.00
Small Group £12.00
Large Group £18.00
All cheques should be made payable to The Unitarian Peace Fellowship please.
Printable Application Form here