INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS

E-Bulletin # 16

Istanbul conference: So you may know one another (Sura 49,13)

In this E-bulletin:

- The ICCJ conference in Istanbul: June 20 – June 23
Theme: So you may know one another

- Announcement of Youth conference in Dublin

- Visit of ICCJ President to UK

- Board meeting in Istanbul

- Upcoming events

ICCJ, the International Council of Christians and Jews:

a global network that

• builds Jewish-Christian and Jewish-Christian-Muslim understanding;
• brings the religious and moral principles of these traditions to bear upon the problems of interfaith, inter-racial and international relations;
• strives to eradicate prejudice, discrimination and their consequences;
• promotes attitudes of tolerance and mutual respect.

Istanbul conference: So you may know one another

At its meeting in Istanbul the ICCJ Executive Board decided the theme of our 2010 international conference will be a Qur`anic verse from Sura 49: In verse 13 the Qur`an states: O humankind! We have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, so you may know one another. According to the Holy Qur`an the diversity of humankind is an ultimate richness. The diversity of nations and religions is the precondition for understanding and dialogue. In this spirit representatives of the three monotheistic religions will meet during the ICCJ Istanbul conference.

Registration for the conference will open on March 1st at www.iccj.org. Until then the preparations are in full swing. Three keynote lecturers have been invited, internationally acclaimed and respected personalities from each of the three faith groups. A wide range of workshop topics has been suggested: ecology, women’s issues, Muslims in Europe, the local experience, islamophobia and antisemitism as well as tradition and modernity and the role of Istanbul-Constantinople.

Through Metropolitan Emmanuel in Paris contacts are made with His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The support of the highest representatives of all three faith traditions in Istanbul, is a guarantee for an unforgettable meeting this summer.

Announcement of Youth conference in Dublin

From Tuesday July 27 till Sunday August 1 the annual conference of the ICCJ Young Leadership Council will take place in Dublin, Ireland. Under the enthusiastic leadership of YLC chair Katie Sturm and with the tireless assistance of the YLC members, an inspiring and enriching meeting will take place in the Irish capital. For more information please contact Katie at javagirl58@gmail.com or contact the Martin Buber House in Heppenheim at info@iccj-buberhouse.de.

The ICCJ Executive Board urges all ICCJ member organisations to delegate at least two members of their own young leadership groups to attend this Dublin conference. In view of the future of our organisations it is vital for all ICCJ members to be represented in Dublin.

Visit of the ICCJ President to the UK

Dr. Debbie Weissman, president of the International Council of Christians and Jews, spent ten days in London, last November, during Interfaith Week at the invitation of ICCJ patron Sir Sigmund Sternberg. She addressed a variety of audiences, including theological school students of different faiths, and held meetings with religious leaders and government representatives. At the invitation of Rabbi Andrew Goldstein, ICCJ Executive Board member and Ruth Weyl, ICCJ consultant and the local UK CCJ branch she presented a fascinating view of A Jewish Theology of Other Religion.

Board meeting in Istanbul

From Sunday, January 10 till Wednesday January 13, the ICCJ Board met at the Kalyon Hotel in Istanbul, the 2010 conference venue. Apart from the topics aimed at enhancing our international dialogue work and stabilising more and more the financial situation of ICCJ, the Board in particular immersed itself into the local Istanbul situation.

The Board was briefed by Mr Dirk Kennis and Ms Nadine Chehab of the local Focolare group, who have been very helpful in making first contacts in Istanbul. Also the office of the Istanbul Grand Mufti was visited by the complete Board. At dinner on Tuesday we met Mrs. Yael Habif, the coordinator for international projects of Bahçesehir University, Mr Aviyente, member of the Board of the Jewish community and Dr. Ismail Taspinar of Marmara University.

In addition to these talks ICCJ secretary Ms Barbara Fruth and ICCJ General Secretary Rev. Dick Pruiksma also met with representatives of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Istanbul, the general manager of Sultan Tours, our local tour operator, and several others. At all levels in Istanbul we met enormous willingness to make the 2010 ICCJ Istanbul conference a success. So you may know one another!

Upcoming events

June 20-23, 2010 ICCJ conference Istanbul.
June 24, 2010 Annual General Meeting Istanbul.
July 27-August 1 YLC conference Dublin.