National Interfaith Week runs from the 13 -20 November and aims to:
- Strengthen good interfaith relations at all levels
- Increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK, in particular celebrating and building on the contribution which their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society
- Increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs
As part of this year's events, students, staff and Visiting Local Faith Leaders from the Bath University Interfaith Community have got together to create a series of podcasts, videos and blogs sharing their own faiths and celebrating the joy of building interfaith relationships.
Tuesday, 15 November
Watch staff and students from the Brew@2 group share the food that reminds them of their favourite faith celebrations! @uniofbathchaplaincy
Wednesday, 16 November
Read more from our Local Visiting Faith Leader Dr Mohammed Gamal Abdelnour (Imam of Bath Mosque) Chaplain’s Reflections
Thursday 17 November
Listen as Orthodox Nun and Visiting Local Faith Leader Mother Sarah is joined by students from the Christian Union and the Islamic Society to discuss how faith writings can help with feelings of loneliness and isolation. The panel share Christian, Islamic and Buddhist writings that have proved helpful to them. Interfaith Community: Faith Writings and Loneliness
Friday 18 November
Watch Revd Canon Nigel Rawlinson, University Chaplain, and our Local Visiting Faith Leaders: Dr Mohammed Gamal Abdelnour, Mother Sarah, Dr Jason Hart and Iris Segal, discuss the importance of building interfaith bridges. Watch on Facebook
Online Events
You can also get involved with the host of online events planned all across the UK. Here’s a roundup of what's on, but don’t forget to check out the details as some events require registering in advance:
MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY - STORIES OF FAITH: VICTIMS, SURVIVORS AND RESCUERS
MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER 17.00 – 18.00
This event explores the stories and experiences of different faith groups and individuals of faith during the Holocaust, Nazi persecutions and genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. While highlighting the many different individual and collective experiences of people of faith it we will also discuss why Holocaust Memorial Day is a time when all faiths come together to remember those that suffered and to think about how we can stand together against identity-based bigotry, hatred and persecution today.
The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
Contact: Joseph Millerjoseph.miller@hmd.org.uk
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82907428529?pwd=dlFUaWdrOFNac090SFhkTENUZjFaZz09
Meeting ID: 829 0742 8529
Passcode: 395574
MOTHER-DAUGHTER EARTH STORIES: INHERITING A PASSION FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE
MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER 19:00 - 20:00
Join Interfaith Glasgow during Scottish Interfaith Week as we go Live on Facebook for a very special hour of mother-daughter storytelling and conversation. All welcome. Hear about the journeys of two mothers and their daughters whose passion for the natural world and climate activism is shared across generations.
Facebook: Watch this event on Facebook Live @interfaithglasgow
Interfaith Glasgow
https://interfaithglasgow.org/
TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER
CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM RELATIONS: REMEMBERING KENNETH CRAGG
TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 14.30 – 16.00
On the 10th anniversary of the death of Bishop Kenneth Cragg, the Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies in Oxford is hosting a panel discussion with Q&A. Cragg was an eminent scholar of Christian-Muslim relations and an original Christian thinker who read the Qur'an and Bible comparatively. He devoted his life to the interaction between Muslims and Christians as an active churchman and pastor who spent time in the Middle East. He was a prolific writer over a wide variety of genres, from academic papers to translations of Arabic texts, to poems and prayers for interfaith occasions. Cragg was also influential in bringing Islam to the general readership of the Anglican Church from the mid-twentieth century onwards.
Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies Oxford
Contact: Georgina Jardim (g.jardim@cmcsoxford.org.uk)
Website: https://www.cmcsoxford.org.uk
This is an online event within a series of term-time events on Tuesdays at 2:30. You can register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qd-ipqj4rHtZ3ssHWFS-zmQCQRJad8FHw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The panel will consist of Muslim and Christian speakers, including Rev. Dr. Christopher Lamb, author of A Policy of Hope: Kenneth Cragg and Islam
TALK - AFTER BELSEN: CHRISTIAN ENCOUNTERS WITH JEWS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE HOLOCAUST
TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 18.00 – 19.30
In post-war occupied Germany British and American Christians encountered Jews who had survived the years of Nazi persecution. In liberated concentration camps and Displaced Person centres, through interfaith campaigns and the immigration movement to Mandate Palestine, army chaplains, relief workers, and interfaith activists listened to survivor testimony. They witnessed the rebuilding of Jewish community life, debated their understanding of antisemitism, and advocated causes which could shape the future of Jews in Europe and elsewhere. This lecture will explore some of these unique stories of Christian-Jewish encounters in the wake of the Holocaust.
The Parkes Institute for the Study of Jewish/non-Jewish Relations, University of Southampton
Contact: parkes@soton.ac.uk
Website: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/parkes
This event is taking place in-person on Avenue Campus, University of Southampton, but will also be streamed online via Zoom. This activity is free of charge and open to all. Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/interfaith-lecture-2022-tickets-420563806667?aff=ifwebsite
ZOOM FORUM: ‘PEACE IS NOT A GIFT FROM GOD TO MAN, BUT A GIFT FROM MAN TO HIMSELF’ (ELI WIESEL)
TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 19.30 – 21.00
A zoom online event with speakers from a range of religion and belief traditions, followed by discussion on the theme of 'What can religious and belief traditions contribute to the search for peace within our local and global communities?'
Canterbury and District Interfaith Action (CANDIFA)
Contact: candifa123@outlook.com
Website: https://candifa.gbsite.org/ https://www.facebook.com/Candifa123
Important information: A zoom link will be necessary to join this event. Contact details as listed.
MILLICHAP PEACE FUND LECTURE: ACTION AGAINST MODERN SLAVERY: THE RESPONSE OF THE UK
WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBER 19.00
A talk by Prof. Gary Craig on the topic of 'action against modern slavery' looking at the response of the UK. Prof. Craig is Honorary Professor at York University, visiting Professor at Newcastle & St John’s York Universities. He was a founding member of The Wilberforce Institute, Hull, which is now a world leader in the study of modern slavery.
Millichap Peace Fund
Contact: Millichap Peace Fund millichap.peacefund@gmail.com
Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpce-rrzsjE91eq-xOWzp-mUurOcBcouN
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER
SCRIPTURAL REASONING AND THE REFUGEE CRISIS
THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER 19.00
Scriptural Reasoning is a tool for interfaith dialogue, where people of different faiths gather and reflect on short passages from their scriptures together. With a faith representative from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam we'll go over the basics of Scriptural Reasoning then put what we've learned into action looking at the topic of the refugee crisis. Our hope is that you'll leave confident in how to engage in Scriptural Reasoning and inspired to use this tool for interfaith dialogue in your own group settings.
Student Christian Movement
https://www.movement.org.uk/events
For more information and to register for this zoom event: john@movement.org.uk
ONLINE TALK BY RABBI JONATHAN WITTENBERG
THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER 18.00 – 19.00
Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg is a regular speaker on BBC Radio 4’s Prayer for the Day. He is Rabbi of the New North London Synagogue and has taken a leading role in the development of the Masorti Movement for traditional non-fundamentalist Judaism in England. In 2008 he was appointed Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism in the UK. He is a President of the Council of Christians and Jews and a member of the Council of Imams and Rabbis. He is a co-founder of Eco-Synagogue and deeply engaged in environmental issues and is closely involved in supporting refugees. Further interests include pastoral work, hospice care, and literature, especially poetry. He teaches and speaks widely.
Animal Interfaith Alliance
Contact: Barbara Gardner barbgard.aia@gmail.com
Website: www.animal-interfaith-alliance.com
Please email Barbara using the email above to register and receive the zoom link.