Interfaith Week 2020

Here are some great examples of interfaith projects to explore in Interfaith Week.

Interfaith Week 2020 begins on Sunday 8^th November and ends on 15th November this year. The aims are to strengthen good interfaith relations at all levels, increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK and to increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs. For more information, resources and to see details of events taking place, go to : https://www.interfaithweek.org.

BUDDY SCHEME

Woking People of Faith set up a “buddy scheme” whereby ladies of different faiths and no faith paired up to support each other, discuss their beliefs and get to know each other. This was done on the telephone due to the Coronavirus restrictions. Trinity Methodist Church in Woking is taking part in this https://trinitywoking.org.uk. as well as the Shah Jehan Mosque. http://www.wokingmosque.org.uk. See more https://wpof.org.uk or an article on the Buddy Project on https://semethodistrefugeework.com/news/

LITTLE SQUARES OF HOPE

The Council of Christians and Jews encouraged various refugee groups, schools and organisations to portray their ideas of “Shelter from storm” on small squares of material in commemoration of Sukkot. This is the Jewish festival marking the 40 years post exodus period of displacement. The squares of material were then sewn together to make a temporary Sukkah shelter, on display in the Jewish Museum. See more here :

Online Exhibition

– https://jewishmuseum.org.uk/collections/online-collections/little-squares-of-hope/

Virtual Showcase Clip – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKNsmzQXPp0

NOSTRA AETATE : a good news story.

Last Wednesday was the 55^th anniversary of this innovative Roman Catholic concord which brought in a new era in Christian/Jewish dialogue. There is an article in The Tablet about this : https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/13522/catholic-jewish-leaders-mark-55th-anniversay-of-nostra-aetate.

The profound influence Nostra Aetate had on Christian/Jewish relations was mentioned at the Holocaust Study Day 4/11/20 run by Menorah Synagogue, when David Arnold referred to it as changing the way in which the Catholic Church began to work out its attitude towards the Jewish tradition.