The Role of Interreligious Initiatives in Reconciliation and Peacebuilding 

February 2, 2023 – 11:00am – 12:30pm EST 

The Journalists and Writers Foundation and its Global Interfaith Partners organized a series of events during the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2023, an annual event observed during the first week of February each year (1-7 February), after the UN General Assembly designation in 2010. Recognizing the imperative need for dialogue among different faiths and religions to enhance mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among people, this initiative entails hosting interfaith harmony events over the period of 7 days. The main purpose is to build bridges across the globe and spread the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill among the different faiths around the world. 

The Journalists and Writers Foundation, in partnership with Peace Islands Institute New York, co-organized a virtual panel discussion to discuss the Role of Interreligious Initiatives in Reconciliation and Peacebuilding on February 2, 2023, at 11:00am EST. 

Around the world, interfaith initiatives carried out by various civil society organizations, sometimes also promoted by governments or international organizations, help to establish networks of reconciliation and containment in contexts of conflict and often establish the necessary dialogues for peace building. This panel intended to shed light on the work that various interfaith leaders are doing on the ground to create communities and environments of peace. 

Date/Time: February 2, 2023 – 11:00am – 12:30pm EST 

Organizers: Journalists and Writers Foundation, in partnership with Peace Islands Institute NY   

Speakers 

Rabbi David Shlomo Goodman (Israel) 

Fellow at KAICIID, Rabbinical Seminar of Beit Midrash Harel in Jerusalem 

Dr. Mduduzi Xakaza (South Africa) 

Chair, Nazarene Scripture Research Institute  

Emre Celik (USA) 

Executive Director, Peace Islands Institute NY 

Dr. Amarbir Singh (India) 

Representative of Akaal Purkh Ki Fauj (APKF) 

Tsering Youdon Lama (Nepal) 

Student, Pokhara University Moderators 

Dr. Rajendran Govender, 

Social Cohesion Advocate (JWF) 

Nancy Falcon, 

Interfaith Dialogue Expert (JWF)   

SPEAKERS’ BACKGROUND 

Rabbi David Shlomo Goodman (Israel) 

Rabbi David S. Goodman is a fellow at KAICIID. Rabbi Goodman got his ordination from the Rabbinical seminar of Beit Midrash Harel in Jerusalem. He studied in a variety of higher Jewish studies programs, including Yeshivat Otniel (2003-2009) and the Shalom Hartman Institute (2012-2016). Besides his Jewish training, David is a research student in the department of philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His research is dedicated to the role of aesthetics in twentieth-century philosophy. 

Dr. Mduduzi Xakaza (South Africa) 

Mduduzi Xakaza is a priest within the Nazarite Church of God (NCG) and Chair of a recently founded Nazarene Scripture Research Institute (NaSRI).  He holds a PhD in History (UWC) and his research interests are a bit diverse, including hidden Hebrew identities and geopolitical implications within contemporary global human society.  His PhD thesis looks into questions around cultural and socio-political significance of representing landscape by photographic means during apartheid and post-apartheid eras of the South Africa.  He also works as Director of the Durban Art Gallery and practices as a part-time visual artist.  His main theme is landscape as a lived human experience and its social relevance as a medium of social critique in this most unequal society.  He has participated in various selected group and solo exhibitions since 1993.  His work is represented in various public, private and corporate collections in South Africa and abroad, including the Carnegie Art Gallery, Newcastle; Pretoria Art Museum; Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg; Durban Art Gallery, Reserve Bank of South Africa; Modern Museum of Art, New York; United Nations Office, Geneva; Renault South Africa, Sandton; and MTN Arts Foundation, Johannesburg. 

Emre Celik, Executive Director, Peace Islands Institute New York (USA) 

Emre Celik is the Executive Director at Peace Islands Institute New York. He arrived in New York with more than 20 years of experience in the interfaith, multicultural and education fields having worked in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Washington DC. He was a member of the Religious Freedom Center’s Committee on Religious Liberty, the International Religious Freedom Roundtable on Capitol Hill and the FBI ‘s Arab Muslim Sikh Advisory Council (AMSAC). He organized the first ever Eid-ul Adha Celebration at the Whitehouse and has received Alumni awards for community service from his 2 alma mater. He is the Chairman of the International Festival of Language and Culture USA and is also completing a PhD in Islamic studies. 

Dr. Amarbir Singh (India) 

Dr. Amarbir Singh is the Representative of Akaal Purkh Ki Fauj (APKF) “ as a Medical Supervisor. Dr. Singh is the CEO of KYB Blood Bank and Diagnostic Laboratory and Administrator in Josan Multispecialty Hospital in Sri Amritsar. Since 1999, the APKF (Akaal Purkh Ki Fauj) has organized numerous projects such as APKF Public School that provide free education for 300+ economically disadvantaged children near Goindwal Sahib, Tarn Taran. Dr. Singh organized the World’s largest blood donation camp in a Single day collected around 18k + units. Some of the projects include Free Turban Clinics for Youth; adopted 3 villages during floods in Punjab around Ferozepur; Regular Medical Aid to around 200+ patients throughout a year.   

Tsering Youdon Lama, Student, Pokhara University (Nepal) 

Tsering Youdon Lama, 23, is a public health undergraduate student from Pokhara University, Nepal. She is highly inspired by this quote; Ms. Lama believes in the power of hard work to turn vision into reality. She is a light-hearted person, who is equally responsible when it comes to work. Always open to new ideas, she likes to spend time learning and exploring different places and people. Apart from her studies, she is engaged in different organizations and is actively working in the field of health promotion and education. 

About Us 

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) is an international civil society organization dedicated to the culture of peace, human rights and sustainable development. The JWF promotes diversity and inclusion by creating forums for intellectual and social engagement, generates and shares knowledge with stakeholders, builds partnerships worldwide and develops policy recommendations for positive social change.

 Journalists and Writers Foundation 

56 W 45 Street 4th Floor New York, NY 10036 | www.jwf.org 

* JWF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization registered in New York State. 

* JWF is associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications. 

SUMMARY OF THE EVENT 

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/vvaYdLXa9pk?feature=share 

The event take place online with the participation of a very diverse global audience, more than 500 people from all over the world through our YouTube channel. Some interesting points that were exposed during the virtual meeting were the importance of religions themselves as agents of peace. Each religion carries in its bosom the wisdom, the teaching and the principles to build peace together. The actors and religious leaders agreed that it is important to know our identity, our origins in order to know our own religious cosmovision and not to give way to ignorance, a source of future conflicts and enmity. In each of our native languages the word peace is present and central in our sacred texts. 

Young people and adults are on the same path to build peace, it is important to walk together with the youth because it will be the young people who will carry the flag of the transformation of the world in the future. When asked by a member of the audience about the responsible use of technology by young people, the panelists responded that, in this sense, the use of technological tools in favor of peace is crucial.

 In conclusion, the panelists agreed to work together to continue building peaceful paths in different parts of the world. When asked by someone from the audience how members of different religious traditions can work together for peace and keep their own identities alive in the process, the panelists emphasized the importance of dialogue and working together from a consolidated identity of their own. Each religious tradition carries a different richness, and this is what has to be brought into play, through difference peace is built. 

One of the participants shared the following statement: “This platform for interfaith dialogue was very valuable and that there should be more of these events so that there can be more peace and harmony in the world. 

The event ended after an hour and a half of presentations and questions and answers from the online audience. 

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) hosted a series of events to mark the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2023. This year, Dr Rajendran Govender from South Africa and Mrs. Nancy Falcon from Italy/Argentina, Advisory Board members of the JWF, coordinated and participated in a number of programs to commemorate the WIHW. Many people benefitted from these series of events and several stakeholders was involved. 

7 DAYS OF ACTIVITIES   

Day 1 – (February 1, 2023) 

The program commenced on day one, 1 Feb, where Dr. Govender visited Ground Zero in Manhattan, where he did a video recording on the importance of promoting peace and harmony in the global community. This was shared on all the social media platforms of the JWF and was viewed 1,336 people globally. 

Tweet Cap 1 

Join us at our World Interfaith Harmony Week event “The Role of Inter-religious Initiatives in Reconciliation and Peacebuilding” on February 2 (Thursday) at 11 AM EST New York time. @rtgovender @nancecyl @PeaceIslandsNY @emrecelikrumi Twitter https://twitter.com/jwfoundation_/status/1620874186150522880?s=46&t=qPjrvxydawuggofTvfxBow LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7027310599055273985 

Day 2 (February 2, 2023) 

On Day 2, both Dr. Rajendran Govender and Mrs. Nancy Falcon moderated a virtual Interfaith Harmony panel discussion with the theme, "The Role of Interreligious Initiatives in reconciliation and peacebuilding". The panel comprised leaders from different religious denominations, which included Christianity, Sikhism, Islam, Judaism, and African Traditional religion. There were over 500 online participants. The discussions were robust, relevant, and very inspiring and elicited positive responses from the online attendees who hailed from many parts of the world. One of the positive outcomes of the panel discussion was a call for more of these events, which has a great potential for promoting greater religious understanding and tolerance. 

Tweet Cap 2 

Join us at the virtual panel "Role of Interreligious Initiatives in Reconciliation and Peacebuilding" on the occasion of the World Interfaith Harmony Week on February 2, Thurs. at 11 AM EST to listen experts from USA, Italy, South Africa, Israel, India, Nepal 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvaYdLXa9pk&t=38s LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7026936975920111616   

Day 3 (February 3, 2023) 

Morning 

A delegation from the JWF, including Mr. Mehmet Kilic, President of the JWF and Dr. Rajendran Govender, Advisory Board Member of the JWF participated in the Opening of the World Interfaith Harmony Week event on "Working together to achieve peace, gender equality, mental health and well-being and environmental preservation" joined by over 200 delegates and representative of different religious faiths from different parts of the world. The main objective of the gathering was to bring key people together to promote peace, understanding, and reconciliation. It was hoped that the attendees would go back to their respective constituencies and disseminate the information obtained from this gathering. The delegation from the JWF met with religious leaders and exchanged ideas to enhance sustainable peace through interfaith dialogue. 

Tweet Cap 3 

The Journalists and Writers Foundation is at the @UN Headquarters joining the World Interfaith Harmony Week, working together to achieve peace, gender equality, mental health, and environmental preservation. @wihw @HolySeeUN 

https://twitter.com/jwfoundation_/status/1621539375392718849?s=46&t=qPjrvxydawuggofTvfxBow 

Tweet Cap 4 

The JWF Interfaith Committee with the World Interfaith Leaders at the United Nations in New York; Imam Beytullah Colak @beytullahtx, Imam Shamsi Ali @ShamsiAli2, Salwa Kader, Ralph Kader, Dr. Rajender Govender @rtgovender and Nirmala Govender @UN @UNDGC_CSO @wihw 

Tweet Cap 5

 JWF celebrates the #WorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek to establish peaceful and cohesive societies for all in collaboration with various faith leaders at United Nations. @wihw Rabbi @JoePotasnik JWF President Mehmet Kilic JWF Advisory Board Member @rtgovender Imam @beytullahtx 

https://twitter.com/jwfoundation_/status/1621542652494680066?s=46&t=qPjrvxydawuggofTvfxBow 

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7027310599055273985 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mehmet-kilic-b6608348_interfaith-activity-7027308877025026048-50RC?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop 

Evening 

In the evening, a dinner was arranged with guests that participated in an intercultural and interreligious discussion in an informal setting. A platform was created to share some insights on how different programs can be arranged to promote peace and harmony. The objectives of WIHW were also discussed in great detail. 

Day 4 (February 4, 2023) 

The delegation of the JWF was invited to an interfaith dinner by a family in New Jersey. A traditional Hindu dinner was held at an Islamic home. A traditional Indian Hindu cuisine was prepared and was complimented by a cultural program featuring classical Indian music, screening of a Bollywood movie, and the sharing traditions of Islamic and Hindu religious traditions and religions. The main objective of this program was to show how homes can be opened to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue. It is a way of strengthening relationships at the grassroots level. 

Day 5 (February 5, 2023) 

An interfaith family dinner was hosted, featuring guests from different cultural and religious groups including South Africa, Indian, Turkish, and Greek backgrounds. Following the dinner intensive discussions were held on how intercultural and interfaith dialogue which is the main objective of the WIHW can strengthen relations between different people. 

Day 6 (February 6, 2023) 

Morning 

In the morning, the delegation from the JWF visited Pioneer Academy, a K-12 grade school in New Jersey. Dr. Rajendran Govender talked to a group of 175 high school students (grade 9-12), teachers, and staff members. The topic of discussion was "Becoming a Global Citizen and Building Peaceful and Inclusive Societies through intercultural and interfaith dialoigue". The speech was well received and during the Q and A session the students engaged the discussion with thought provoking questions pertaining to contemporary global issues that were impacting negatively on global peace. Dr Govender used the example of Malala Yousufzai and Greta Thunberg whose actions and presence at the United Nations paved the way for the youth becoming responsible global citizens. 

The delegation visited the EDEP Academy in New Jersey, which provides a holistic education that blends inherited Islamic tradition with the Western educational norms and values. The school provides quality education and guidance in Islamic studies without steering away from the normal state curriculum. An opportunity was created for Dr. Rajendran Govender to address the principal and staff of the academy to share some insights on the importance of World Interfaith Harmony Week and how this could be used to prepare students to becoming great leaders of peace in a cosmopolitan society like New Jersey. 

Afternoon 

The JWF delegation visited Peace Islands Institute in New Jersey that promotes peace, love, respect, humanity, integrity, welfare, and understanding. The delegations discussed the main objectives of the World Interfaith Harmony Week and how the Institute can conceptualize and implement programs that can add more value to their work in promoting peace and harmony. Some recommendations were given to fast track this process. 

Day 7 (February 7, 2023) 

On the last day of the World Interfaith Harmony Week, a dinner was hosted by the Peace Islands Institute of New York. This engagement provided a wonderful opportunity to share insights and to develop programs in keeping with the objectives of WIHW. It was clear from the discussions that the WIHW was an important catalyst and provided a great platform for promoting peace and understanding in the global arena.