By Lucy Atkinson and Rabbi Yonatan Neril for The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development
There is light in a Jerusalem enshrouded in increased violence and tension. On October 22nd, 2014, the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD) collaborated with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Salesian Pontifical University to host the Faith and Ecology Conference in Jerusalem. This event brought together over 100 Christian, Jewish, and Muslim clergy, seminary students, and others. It focused on faith teachings on stewardship of the land and planet that can link emerging clergy of several faiths on an issue of joint concern. Rabbi Michael Melchior, who acted as moderator for a panel of faith leaders and scientists underlined how “the holy city of Jerusalem sometimes goes astray to points of violence, but really we can make it a gate to Heaven. The world really belongs to God, and all of us are temporary residents in this world, which we have been given to take care of.”
Speakers on this panel included Bishop William Shomali (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem), Rabbi Yuval Cherlow (Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshivat Hesder Petach Tikva), Hashimony Yaffe (Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yafo) some of them can be seen in this video which, was produced by MediaLine who attended the event. Dr. Yaffe highlighted the fact that environmental concerns transcend religious and national differences and can help to overcome them. This was further supported by Bishop William Shomali saying, “We need to collaborate together– Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and Hindus. Ecology unites the religions. If we speak together as religious leaders, our impact is really stronger”. Further teaching of scripture, and the importance of creation care from the story of the Great Flood and Noah was brought forward by Imam Wisam Barhum.
Following the panel and a video session that included pre-recorded addresses from the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, participants took part in both interfaith and environmental appreciation activities. In the park near the Mishkenot Sha’ananim Conference Center, participants took part in outdoor, experiential activities including ‘human camera’. This is where one partner in a pair leads the other with their eyes closed to a beautiful ‘picture’. Amidst a grove of olive trees, and with the Old City in the background, participants engaged in small group discussions about personal experiences and faith responses to the environment. Some participants said that this time outside gave them the opportunity to really encounter people from different faiths, whose paths rarely cross in “day-to-day” life.
Member of Knesset (Parliament) Rabbi Dov Lipman gave a short talk on how Jewish environmental teachings can inform legislative decisions that the Knesset is making, and why these actions are so important. During the action planning session, each faith group met and discussed how they could develop their own stewardship of the earth and share this message within their own communities and institutions. A representative of each group shared their plans, building a feeling of accountability and commitment for future actions. These plans included setting up recycling stations in their institutions, workshops with children in their communities and development of an ‘Eco Club.’ ICSD staff is working to follow up on the action plans that were created to promote them being put into place.
One participant said that the conference opened his eyes to realize that we care and all live in the same climate. He commented that it united future faith leaders and community figures in shared understanding and respect for each other and ecology.
Videos of the conference can be viewed here.
We are thankful for the significant media presence that covered the event.
Jerusalem’s on fire, but these “enemies” put faith in ecology (Green Prophet)
Jerusalem: Christian, Jewish & Muslim clergy discuss faith & ecology (Independent Catholic News)
Jerusalem conference promotes interfaith environmental activism (Jewish New Service, By JNS.org )
Ecology, a ground of common understanding among the three monotheistic religions (Latin Patriarchate News)
