The Culture of Interfaith Harmony in Indonesian Islam a also testify ...
World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018€¦ · The greatest joy in celebrating World Interfaith Harmony...
Transcript of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018€¦ · The greatest joy in celebrating World Interfaith Harmony...
World
InterfaithHarmonyWeek
2018
Halifax,NovaScotia,Canada
"InHalifaxwe
celebrate
diversity.We
areenrichedby
ourincreasingly
vibrantmixof
faiths,cultures,
andcustoms."
-MayorMike
Savage,Halifax
Regional
Municipality
IHHTeamMember
SophiaJunfangFuand
HasmeetSingh
ChandokwenttoCity
Hallandtalkedwith
MayorMikeSavage
abouttheimportance
ofInterfaithHarmony
Week2018.
WorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek2018(WIHW2018)wascelebratedinHalifax,Nova
Scotia,Canadaduringoneofthewarmestwintersinourhistory.Thiswasthe5th
yearofInterfaithHarmonyHalifax's(IHH)celebrationsforthisimportantweek,
designatedbytheUnitedNations,initiatedbyHMKingAbdullahIIofJordan.Our
themefor2018was"ExploringSimilarities,CelebratingDiversity".Withthistheme
asourfocus,weonceagaincelebratedInterfaithHarmonyinHalifaxthroughthe
elementsofSacredSpaces:MeetingourNeighbors,InterfaithEngagementProgram,
InterfaithCelebration,andDeclarationsofInterfaithPeaceandFriendship.
IHH'sexciting,newinitiativein2018,wastorecordalloftheInterfaithMinutes
thatwespenttogetherinharmony.Asourcoordinator,KimMacAulay,encouraged:
"Everyminutethatpeopleofdiversefaithsandgoodwillcometogetherinanopen,
respectfulway,isaminuteofInterfaithHarmony.Howmanyminutesoccuraround
theworld,wherepeoplegather,notforfighting,butforInterfaithHarmony?Thisis
newswecanusetoencourageourheartsandmindsalongthepathofpeaceand
friendship."In2018,participantsinWIHWspent181,350minutestogetherfor
InterfaithHarmonyinHalifax.
InterfaithHarmonyHalifaxisespeciallygratefulthisyearforthesupportofour
Mayor-MikeSavage.IHHteammembersSophiaJunfangFuandHasmeetSingh
ChandokwenttomeetwithMayorMikeSavage.DuringtheirInterfaithHarmony
conversation,MayorMikeSavagerecognizedtheimportanceofWorldInterfaith
Week(andevenjoinedinsomeBhangradancing):"IamproudtorecognizeWorld
InterfaithHarmonyWeek;atimetodemonstratethatthereismorethatunitesus
thandividesus."ThankyouforcelebratingWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek2018
Halifax-itcanopenupandchangeourcityandourworld...
"InHalifaxwe
celebrate
diversity.We
areenrichedby
ourincreasingly
vibrantmixof
faiths,cultures,
andcustoms."
-MayorMike
Savage,Halifax
Regional
Municipality
IHHTeamMember
SophiaJunfangFuand
HasmeetSingh
ChandokwenttoCity
Hallandtalkedwith
MayorMikeSavage
abouttheimportance
ofInterfaithHarmony
Week2018.
WorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek2018(WIHW2018)wascelebratedinHalifax,Nova
Scotia,Canadaduringoneofthewarmestwintersinourhistory.Thiswasthe5th
yearofInterfaithHarmonyHalifax's(IHH)celebrationsforthisimportantweek,
designatedbytheUnitedNations,initiatedbyHMKingAbdullahIIofJordan.Our
themefor2018was"ExploringSimilarities,CelebratingDiversity".Withthistheme
asourfocus,weonceagaincelebratedInterfaithHarmonyinHalifaxthroughthe
elementsofSacredSpaces:MeetingourNeighbors,InterfaithEngagementProgram,
InterfaithCelebration,andDeclarationsofInterfaithPeaceandFriendship.
IHH'sexciting,newinitiativein2018,wastorecordalloftheInterfaithMinutes
thatwespenttogetherinharmony.Asourcoordinator,KimMacAulay,encouraged:
"Everyminutethatpeopleofdiversefaithsandgoodwillcometogetherinanopen,
respectfulway,isaminuteofInterfaithHarmony.Howmanyminutesoccuraround
theworld,wherepeoplegather,notforfighting,butforInterfaithHarmony?Thisis
newswecanusetoencourageourheartsandmindsalongthepathofpeaceand
friendship."In2018,participantsinWIHWspent181,350minutestogetherfor
InterfaithHarmonyinHalifax.
InterfaithHarmonyHalifaxisespeciallygratefulthisyearforthesupportofour
Mayor-MikeSavage.IHHteammembersSophiaJunfangFuandHasmeetSingh
ChandokwenttomeetwithMayorMikeSavage.DuringtheirInterfaithHarmony
conversation,MayorMikeSavagerecognizedtheimportanceofWorldInterfaith
Week(andevenjoinedinsomeBhangradancing):"IamproudtorecognizeWorld
InterfaithHarmonyWeek;atimetodemonstratethatthereismorethatunitesus
thandividesus."ThankyouforcelebratingWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek2018
Halifax-itcanopenupandchangeourcityandourworld...
"Istronglybelieveaspoliceofficersweneedtotryandunderstandthe
diversecommunityweserve."
-TrudiMcCulloch,HalifaxRegionalPoliceOfficer
LefttoRight:HasmeetSinghChandok,ChiefJean-MichelBlais,SophiaJunfangFu
IHHteammemberswerehappytoshareInterfaithMinuteswiththeChiefofHalifaxRegionalPolice
andtakesomevideotohelppromoteWIHW2018.
ThegreatestjoyincelebratingWorldInterfaith
HarmonyWeekyearafteryear,istoseethegrowth
incollaborationsandpartnershipsthatdevelops
overtime.OurpartnershipwiththeLocal
ImmigrationPartnershiphereinHalifax,begunin
previousyears,grewsignificantlythisyear,with
moremunicipalemployeestakingpartinevents.
Municipalleaderswhowereintroducedtoour
programlastyearactivelypromotedtheprogram
in2018,transmittingthebenefitsofinterfaith
understandingtotheircolleagues.
Themostsignificantexampleofthisexpansionof
themessageofInterfaithHarmonywasprovided
byourlocalChiefoftheHalifaxRegionalPolice,
ChiefJean-MichelBlais.ChiefJean-MichelBlais
metwithIHHteammemberstocontributevideo
supportandencouragedallofhisofficerstotake
partinallaspectsofWIHW2018.
In2018,ChiefBlaisparticipatedintheInterfaith
EngagementProgramhimself,visitingvarious
SacredSpacesandmeetingwithotherparticipants
tosharetheirexperienceswithother"students"in
1.5hoursessionsbeforeandafterWorldInterfaith
HarmonyWeek2018.Asaresultofhisleadership,
anumberofofficersfromtheHalifaxRegional
PolicealsotookpartintheInterfaithEngagement
ProgramandreceivedtheirCertificates.
AmitParasram,DiversityOfficerfor
theHalifaxRegionalPolice
receiveshisInterfaithEngagement
Certificate
HeatherMoran,HalifaxRegional
PoliceOfficerreceivesher
InterfaithEngagementCertificate
LearningmaterialsfortheInterfaithEngagementProgramincludepacketswithaguideforwhattoexpectat
eachSacredSpace,ajournal,anda"passport"aswellastheirbluetravelpouches-uniquesouvenirsoftheir
journeystothefaithcommunitiesinHalifax.
"Ithinkitisimpossibletocontinuehatredagainstawhole
communityofpeopleifyouareabletoputafamiliarfacetothat
community"-JingyiCeliaLuo,InterfaithEngagementProgram
Participant2015-2018
In2018,IHH'sInterfaithEngagementProgramexpandedtoover50"students"who
participatedineitherafternoonoreveningsessionstodiscusstheirlearningand
reflectontheirexperiencesattheSacredSpaceeventsthattheyallattended.The
programisopentoeveryone,regardlessofreligiousaffiliationornone,and
encouragesintentionalandexperientiallearningaboutinterfaithsimilaritiesand
differencesinasafeenvironment.
TheafternoonsessionofInterfaithEngagementParticipantsfor2018.
TheeveningsessionofInterfaithEngagementParticipantsfor2018.
InterfaithHarmonyHalifax'sSacredSpaces:MeetingourNeighborsisopentoall
peopleofanyfaithornone.Theprogramisespeciallymeaningfulforanyonewho
haseverwonderedwhatgoesoninaMosque,aTemple,oraPaganRitual.IHH
partnerswithvariousFaithCommunitiesinHalifax,andpreparesthehostswith
bestpracticesforwelcomingInterfaithexplorers.In2018,IHHpartneredwith13
communitiesin13differentSacredSpaceevents:
FungLoyKokTaoistTaiChi®Arts(Taoist)
SikhKirtan(SongsofPraise)andLangar(CommunalMeal)
UniversalistUnitarianService
MuslimJummahPrayer
JewishShabbat
Baha’iCommunityDevotional
PaganRitualCelebrationofImbolc
ChristianWorshipattheLutheranChurchoftheResurrection
ReligiousSocietyofFriends(Quakers)MeetingforWorship
HinduPuja(RitualWorship)
BrahmaKumarisGuidedMeditation
IndigenousTalkingCircleonReconciliation
TasteofShambhala
FormoreinformationontheSacredSpaces:MeetingourNeighbors(andotherIHH
events),checkoutthisarticlefromTouchbase,TheVoiceforImmigrants,that
publishedthisonlineandinprinttohelpusspreadthemessageofInterfaith
Harmony:https://touchbaseonline.com/2017/12/17/un-interfaith-harmony-week-
begins-february-1/
"I'mgladtheeventwentwellallacrossthe
city.Itwasapleasuretoagainreceivethevery
interestedandrespectfulguests."
-SteveDingwell,TaoistTaiChi
Sunday,January28FungLoyKokTaoistTaiChi®Arts(Taoist)
9:00a.m.–12:30p.m.FungLoyKokInstituteofTaoism,
AtlanticRegionCentre,2029NorthParkStreet,Halifax
OnSunday,January28,guestsarewelcomedtotheFungLoyKokInstituteof
Taoism.Sessionsforthemorningbeginat9a.m.withchanting.At10a.m.guests
willbeencouragedtojoinusaswecontinuewithTaoistTaiChi®practice.Guests
areinvitedtosharelunchat11:30a.m.LunchispreparedattheCentreby
volunteerseachSunday,andprovidesatimeofconversationandfellowship.
ThemissionoftheFungLoyKokInstituteofTaoismistodeliverallfromsuffering.
Itemphasizesspiritualdevelopmentthroughthecultivationofbothmindand
bodywiththeultimategoalofachievingharmonywithoneselfandwiththeworld.
FungLoyKokpromotestheprincipleofallculturesandreligionsmovingtogether
inpeaceandharmony.Individualsofallbackgroundsandbeliefsarewelcometo
participate.
"Peace be upon you. With your help the day
was great. I think we should arrange these
kindsofeventsmoreandmore."
-AbdallahYousri,ImamofUmmahMosque
Friday,February2MuslimJummahPrayer
12:00p.m.2510St.MatthiasStreet,Halifax
OnFriday,February2,2018allpeopleofgoodwillareinvitedtoexplorethe
truthaboutIslam,itshistory,itsculture,itspeople,andmorethanthoseat
UmmahMasjidandCommunityCenterinHalifax,NovaScotia.
Aftertheprayer,guestsareinvitedtoareceptionandanopenQ&Asession.
Therearecornerstotryonhijab,tohavetheirnamesbeautifullywritteninArabic
calligraphybyanIslamicartist,tositonthecarpetandhaveacupofArabictea,
andtoenjoytheMulticulturalDishes.
"Ifeltproudandhappyaboutourworkfor
InterfaithHarmonywhentheInterfaith
EngagementParticipantswereaskedtogo
uptothefronttobepresentedatthe
HinduTemple."
-IHHCommitteeMember
Sunday,February4HinduPuja(RitualWorship)
11:50a.m.6421CorkStreet(justoffOxfordStreet,Halifax)
GuideforGuests:Visitorsremovefootwearandwashtheirhandsonthefirstfloor,
andthenareescortedbyavolunteertothemaintempleonthesecondfloor.Men
sitontherightsideandwomenontheleftside.At12:20guestswillbeaskedto
introducethemselves.GuestscandoArati,theshowingoflightedlamptoGod.
Guestshavetheoptiontotaketheholydrinkwhichisamixtureofmilk,honey,
sugar,etc.Afterpuja(ritualworship),agourmetvegetarianmealfollowsonthefirst
level.
"Yougetallsortsofdifferentfoodsatthedifferent
SacredSpaces!"
-HasmeetSinghChandok,IHHCommitteeMember
OnSundayevening,February4,2018,Haligoniansofallfaithsandnonegathered
tosing,reflect,sharestories,andrefreshments,andjoinindancingwiththe
MaritimeBhangraGroup!AnoutdoorsmudgingwasledbyElderBillyLewisprior
tothestartofthegathering,andaninstrumentalflutesolowasofferedbyBuning
LiuonatraditionalChineseflute.
AveryspecialadditiontoourInterfaithCelebrationin2018werereflections
offeredby3ofourInterfaithEngagementParticipants.Theseleaderswerethe
firsttooffertheirthoughtson"ExploringSimilarities,CelebratingDiversity".Then,
theaudiencegottoparticipateininterfaithdialogue,aseveryonediscussedwith
theirneighborseatedattheirright:"Whatwillyoudoaftertodaytoexpressyour
'loveofGod,theloveofgood,andloveofyourneighbor?"Thethought-provoking
discussionthatfollowedwasalsoopeneduptoanyonetosharetheirconversation
withthelargeraudienceof100peoplegatheredattheHalifaxCentralPublic
Library-PaulO'ReganHall.
Toreadmoreaboutthe2018InterfaithCelebration(andotherWIHW2018events),
checkoutthisarticlepublishedinTheHalifaxCitizen,acommunitydivisionofThe
ChronicleHerald.Thiswaspublishedonlineandinprinttohelpusspreadthe
messageofInterfaithHarmony:http://thechronicleherald.ca/halifaxcitizen/
1540799-halifax-celebrates-world-interfaith-harmony-week
"Irecognizedthatdifferentexpressionsofuniversaltruthexistinall
peoples,cultures,religions,andidentities."
-MartinSolis,InterfaithEngagementParticipant
TheclosingoftheWIHW2018InterfaithCelebrationwasledbytheMaritime
BhangraGroup.Thesecommunitydancershaveraisedmoneyformanycharities,
includingover$5000forALSanddancedasfarawayasParliamentHillin
Ottawa,CanadaforCanada's150celebrations.
OntheeveningofFebruary4,2018,though,theMaritimeBhangraGroupdanced
forInterfaithHarmony-andtohelpIHHraisefundsfortheNewMi'kmawNative
FriendshipCentre.Throughtheireffortsandthegenerosityofallinattendance,
IHHwasabletoraisejustunder$500fortheFriendshipCentre!Thankyou
MaritimeBhangraGroup-Interfaithfunandexercisewasenjoyedbyall.
Thankyoutoallwhomade
DeclarationsofPeaceandFriendship
Thankyoutoallwhomade
DeclarationsofPeaceandFriendship
Amajorcomponentofoureffortstospreadthemessageof
InterfaithHarmonyduringWIHW2018wasthefilmingand
promotionofvideosonYoutube.IHHteammembersSophia
JunfangFuandHasmeetSinghChandokspentmanyhours
interviewinglocalofficials,pastengagementparticipants,and
IHHteammembersonwhyWIHW2018andInterfaith
Harmonywereimportanttothem.
Manyofourintervieweesmentionedour2018themeof
"ExploringSimilarities,CelebratingDiversity".John
MacLennanexpressedthissowell:"WorldInterfaithHarmony
Weekisawonderfulopportunitytomeetpeopleofdifferent
beliefs,faiths;torecognizethatwehavemuchincommonand
appreciatethedifferencesthatareexistingamongstdifferent
faiths."
Questionsincluded"Whydoyoufeelitisimportanttopromote
InterfaithHarmonyinHalifaxandintheworld?""DuringWorld
InterfaithHarmonyWeek,whathaveyouenjoyedabout
participatingineventsinHalifax?"
Intotal,8YoutubevideoswerepromotedduringWIHW2018
BhangrawiththeMayor(MikeSavage)
WhatisWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek?
IntroductiontotheUNWIHWinHalifax(KimMacAulay)
IHHInterview(HasmeetSinghChandok)
IHHInterview(DelvinaBernard)
IHHInterview(JingyiCeliaLuo)
IHHInterview(RanaZaman)
IHHInterview(Janet&JohnMacLennan)
InterfaithHarmonyHalifax
ThankyoutoallofoursponsorswhosupportedInterfaithHarmonyHalifaxin
2018.YourgenerosityallowedustopromotethevisionoftheUNWorldInterfaith
HarmonyWeek,whichistospreadharmonythroughpromotingLoveofGod,the
Good,andLoveoftheNeighbor.
InterfaithHarmonyWeek
TheWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeekwasfirstproposedattheUNGeneral
AssemblyonSeptember23,2010byH.M.KingAbdullahIIofJordan.Justundera
monthlater,onOctober20,2010,itwasunanimouslyadoptedbytheUNand
henceforththefirstweekofFebruarywillbeobservedasaWorldInterfaith
HarmonyWeek.ThreeprizesareawardedannuallybytheKinghimselfandIHHis
trulygratefultobethe20163rdprizewinner.
Vision:TospreadharmonythroughpromotingLoveofGod,theGood,andLoveof
theNeighbor.Thiswordingismeanttoincludepeopleofallfaiths,andallpeople
ofgoodwillwithnodeclaredfaithorspiritualtradition.
ThankyoutoallofourHostsoftheSacredSpaces
"Wefeelveryblessedtohavebeenabletoparticipate
againthisyearandthankyouforthisspecialopportunity
forusandourcommunity."-RabbiWeiss,SharShalom
Synagogue
"Itwasgreattohaveeverybodyhere.Itwasareally
wonderfulevening.Ihopethateveryonefeelswelcome
tocomebacksoon.WehavesoupeveryWednesday!-
RichardVogler,ProgramsManager,HalifaxShambala
Center
"Weweresurprisedbytheturnoutfortheservice.
Wefailedtogetaheadcount,buttherewereat
least50guests.-Rev.NormHorofker,Universalist
Unitarian
Thankyoutoourhostsandhostcommunitiesforparticipatingintherecent
observanceofWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek.ThiswasthefifthyearthattheWeek
wasobservedinHalifax,andatotalofthirteencommunitiesopenedtheirdoors
andheartstoreceiveguests.AsparticipantsintheInterfaithEngagementprogram
(thosewearingthebluetravelpouches)metthisweek,theyusedwordslike“joyful,”
“unity,”“deeperconnection,”“anadventure,”“affirmingthekindnessandgoodnessof
others,”“feelingwelcometothiscity,”etc.toarticulatetheirexperienceofvisiting
SacredSpaces.AsincerethankyouforpromotingInterfaithHarmonyinHalifax.
"Alldifferentpeople
andfaithsareseeking
todogoodandbe
goodintheworld."-
JohnMacLennan,IHH
CommitteeMember
ThankyoutoallIHHPlanningCommitteeMembers
World
InterfaithHarmonyWeek
2018
Halifax,NovaScotia,Canada