Statement by Michael Kinnamon, Gen. Sec., National Council of Churches I am honored to be invited by friends at B'nai B'rith to offer these brief remarks on "interreligious responses to the Holocaust." Throughout its history, B'nai B'rith has been devoted to promoting at least two things: a) respect for religious diversity and b) moral backbone that, by remembering the past, stands firmly against radical evil in the present. I obviously, wholeheartedly, applaud both of these goals. But, in my judgment, it is the tension between them that may well constitute the major challenge facing religious communities sixty-five years after the end of World War II.
Interreligious Responses to the Holocaust:
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 From left: Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America; Daniel S. Mariaschin, executive vice president of B’nai B’rith International; and Allan J. Jacobs, B’nai B’rith chairman of the executive. Photo: Julian Voloj |
Eminences, Excellencies, Reverend Clergy, Distinguished Leaders, Friends:
I'd like to first thank the eminent Christian leaders who have preceded me on this dais for having joined us on this occasion, and for their thoughtful and important reflections. These mean a great deal to us at B'nai B'rith, and in the Jewish community.
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Talk about the stars aligning, the day after the nation celebrates Martin Luther King's birth we'll inaugurate the nation's first Black president. It is such an incredible time in our history one that many never thought would happen and certainly not at this time. That is one of the ironies and the challenges we now face. To borrow the line from Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard Barack Obama was ready for his close up. He had the intelligence, charm, brilliance, oratory and most of all he had the audacity to become President of the United States.
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Soccer for Peace, A Common Goal: Uniting Arab and Jewish YouthWhen Ori Winitzer originally created Soccer for Peace he envisioned a one–time event that would raise funds for soccer equipment in the integrated Israeli town of Neve Shalom/Wahat Al-Salam, Hebrew and Arabic for Oasis of Peace.
Despite Winitzer’s short-term intentions, Soccer for Peace proved to have long-term potential.
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Chiune Sugihara, The “Japanese Schindler”The first time I heard the name Chiune Sugihara was about a year ago from my Israeli-Bosnian friend, Sasha Toperich. Sasha, a renowned classical pianist and the founder of the World Youth Leadership Network (WYLN) - a non-profit organization that aims to unite the international youth community through good works and cultural exchange - had just arrived from Japan, where he was giving a concert in Yaotsu - Chiune Sugihara`s hometown. .
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ABRAHAM FUND: Getting Cain and Abel to CooperateBuilding a shared future for Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens. Is it a dream or can it become a reality? The Abraham Fund Initiatives has been a leading advocate for coexistence and equality since 1989. Since then they have funded dozens of organizations each year with this goal in mind. Arab Israelis have had their economic gap with their Jewish counterparts reduced over the years, but wages still show a 40% difference. There are other discrepancies as well including a much higher infant mortality rate among the Arab citizens. Read More...
Thank you Reza. You've given us a great deal to think about, and wrestle with. [With the diversity of people and views in the room, I expect that some members of the audience might take exception to a few of your conclusions, but that's what makes for an interesting program.and you have certainly given us that!] Read More...
Made for the Media: An Orthodox Rabbi and His Congregation Flock to the MosqueThe idea is great. The place, the Islamic Cultural Center in New York, looks fantastic. Three bottles of Coke for the thirsty, two plates of biscuits to the hungry, and numerous chairs for the tired bones who are not learned in the art of sitting on the floor welcome the herd of Jews. Read More...
Pope to underscore importance of visiting the Holy LandRome, Italy - Pope Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger, responds warmly to the appeal by Isaac Herzog, Israel's Minister of Tourism, to encourage Catholics to visit Israel. Mr. Herzog's request was delivered personally through his envoy in Rome, Suzanne Klagsbrun. Read More...
Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, Israel - Major Jewish-American organization have been discussing, recently, the reality of Jewish citizens in Israel living together with the State's Arab citizens. The Israeli Democracy Institute, United Jewish Community, Jewish Funders Network, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, UJA-Federation of New York, New Israel Fund, Alfred and Hanna Fromm Fund, and the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, and even AIPAC, have all formed task forces, held conferences and panels or are planning events addressing this issue. Read More...
Shalom Articles:
• The annual Marting Luther King Junior Tribute
• American Christians: The Righteous Gentiles of Today?
• The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)'s 23rd Annual Reception and Dinner in NYC
