INTERFAITH DIALOGUE: DOES IT WORK?

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Comment by Kinana on January 26, 2013 at 16:42

Mission Statement

For the past three decades the name Spiro has been synonymous with the pioneering of new approaches to Jewish Education; both in general schools and for adults.

Our thrust has been not to accept that the widespread loss of Jewish identity among the majority is irreversible. Instead we have reached out to this majority.

Our teaching of the amazing Jewish heritage has reached thousands. Many people from many different backgrounds have told us how our cultural activities, classes and tours have affected them and in turn their families.

Perhaps our greatest achievement has been to see how others follow our lead and emulate our work.

So far as the future is concerned we shall continue to bring forward new and effective ideas for Jewish education -- the most important factor in ensuring our survival as a people.

Spiro Ark is a London-based charitable organisation which organises Jewish cultural events and courses in Jewish History, culture and languages. It has been established by Nitza and Robin Spiro, well known for their pioneering work in Jewish Education in Britain.

Spiro Ark aims to teach and enthuse about Jewish History and Culture, both because of the intrinsic fascination of these subjects, and because of the central role of Jewish Education in maintaining a Jewish sense of identity in the 21st century.

Besides the regular classes we put together in what we consider to be an inspiring and unique cultural programme to cover many aspects of Jewish interest, and in a somewhat unusual manner. Much thought and work goes into putting together the programmes for the benefit of the community at large. As you know you can harvest only as much as you put in and our teachers are like cows who are desperate to give of their milk!

But it will only achieve its aims if you become followers and act also as our supporters and promoters by widening the network and notifying your friends about these events and encouraging them to join us.

Our budget is small but our vision is not so please let us prove that even with little money one can bring new life into our search for increasing Jewish knowledge and commitment.

With best wishes,

Nitza & Robin Spiro

Comment by Kinana on January 26, 2013 at 16:39

Participants include Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Sheikh Muhammad al-Hussaini and Reverend Patrick Morrow and Patrick Sookhdeo

Sheikh Dr Muhammad Al-Hussaini is Fellow in Islamic Studies at Leo Baeck College, where he teaches classical study of the Quran relevant to Jewish-Muslim relations. He is researching comparative Islamic, Rabbinic and Karaite exegesis in the Middle Ages. He is Lecturer in Abrahamic Religions at Al-Azhar College, Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, and visiting lecturer at a number of Evangelical Christian theological colleges, as well as teaching on counter-terrorism at defence institutions in the UK and overseas. He is founder and leader of a number of interfaith charities, principally concerned with the shared study by Jewish, Christian and Islamic scholars of their sacred texts in order to advance understanding and respect for religious differences. He is Secretary of the Imams and Rabbis Council of the United Kingdom, and is currently working with an international Jewish body on an academic text on antisemitism in Arabic, addressed to the Muslim world. Muhammad is also Consultant to the Christian charity, the Barnabas Fund, on the issue of the persecution of Christian minorities in Muslim countries.

Patrick Morrow is an Anglican priest, currently working as a Programme Manager with the Council of Christians and Jews. He has long had an interest in interfaith relations, since attending a weekend for Christian theologians at Leo Baeck rabbinical college, as an undergraduate. He has studied Christian theological approaches to other religions, and has an MPhil in Ecumenics and an MA in Jewish-Christian relations. As a member of the Lambeth Jewish Forum he has written on Christian mission and Jewish-Christian particularities. Patrick has studied in Germany, tries to read the Bible in Hebrew, and has even tried a couple of brief courses in Arabic.

Born in Guyana, and brought up in the UK, Patrick Sookhdeo studied theology in London, later gaining a Ph.D. from London University's School of Oriental and African Studies (Department of Languages of the Near and Middle East). He has been awarded a D.D. from Western Seminary, Oregon, USA, for work on pluralism, as well as a D.D. from Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary, Wisconsin, USA, for work on human rights and religious freedom. He was awarded the 2001 Coventry Cathedral International Prize for Peace and Reconciliation and the 1990 Templeton UK award for work in the community. In 2010 he was awarded the St Ignatius Theophorus Decoration as Commander (the highest honour of the Syrian Orthodox Church). He is currently the International Director of Barnabas Fund, serving the persecuted Church worldwide by providing practical aid. He also has a ministry of encouragement and teaching for Christian leaders in situations of oppression and persecution in contexts from the Middle East and Africa to South and South-East Asia. He is the author/editor of numerous articles and books.

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg is, the Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism UK. He is a leading writer and thinker on Judaism. He is Rabbi of the New North London Synagogue, with approximately 2400 members. He has initiated a project to create a multi-faith secondary school, launching the vision in the House of Lords. He has a strong interest in pastoral work, particularly in the care of the sick and dying. He is deeply engaged in Jewish / Christian and Jewish / Muslim interfaith dialogue. He lectures widely and writes frequently for the Jewish and interfaith press. He is the author of several books.