wfn.org | [ENS] Jewish, Christian leaders on a mission of peace to Jerusalem

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

September 15, 2005

Jewish, Christian leaders on a mission of peace to Jerusalem

ENS091505-2

[Episcopal News Service] For more than a year, leaders of the mainstream
Christian and Jewish communities of the United States have been working
constructively to address issues that concern the two communities, of
which
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is by far the most serious.

Standing on the rich tradition of working together to address questions
of
social justice, 17 leaders representing eight Christian denominations
and
national organizations and six national Jewish organizations and
religious
movements will spend five days together, from September 18-23, in the
land
that is holy to both faiths.

The trip seeks to demonstrate that Christians and Jews can work together
and
dialogue on peace, even when there is disagreement on specific policies
and
solutions, and to enable the participants to become even more effective
advocates for peace.

The group plans to meet with Israeli and Palestinian public officials,
religious leaders and scholars. Delegates will spend time together
listening
to the voices of Israelis and Palestinians who have suffered in this
conflict. Each group will plan two days of the visit.

The religious leaders hope to find new common ground in their commitment
to
peace to mobilize more effectively their communities of faith, elected
officials and fellow citizens on behalf of a negotiated peace
settlement.
Further, they hope to support those Palestinians and Israelis who are
courageously working to establish a secure, viable and independent
Palestinian state alongside an equally secure State of Israel.

The Jewish and Protestant leaders who will be making the journey are:

Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, Director of Interfaith Affairs of the
Anti-Defamation League
Vidette Bullock Mixon, Director, Corporate Relations and Social Concerns
of
The United Methodist Church
Dr. David Elcott, U.S. Director, Interreligious Affairs of The American
Jewish Committee Ethan Felson, Director, Domestic Concerns  of the
Jewish
Council for Public Affairs Richard Foltin, Legislative Director and
Counsel
of The American Jewish Committee Dennis Frado, Director, Lutheran Office
for
World Community, Evangelical Lutheran Church In America
The Rev. Canon Brian Grieves, Director, Peace & Justice Ministries, The
Episcopal Church
Dr. Darrell H. Jodock, Chair, Consultative Panel on Lutheran-Jewish
Relations, Evangelical Lutheran Church In America
Rabbi Dr. Eugene Korn, Director of Jewish Affairs of The American Jewish
Congress
Dr. Peter Makari, Executive for the Middle East and Europe of the United
Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, Associate General Secretary for
Interfaith Relations, National Council of Churches
Mark Pelavin, Associate Director, Religious Action Center, Union of
Reform
Judaism; The Rev Dr. John E. Roberts, Alliance of Baptists
The Rev. Dr. Jay Rock, Coordinator for Interfaith Relations,
Presbyterian
Church(USA) Emily Soloff, Executive Director, Chicago Chapter of The
American Jewish Committee Mark Waldman, Director of Public Policy,
United
Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Jim Winkler, General Secretary,
General
Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist Church.

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