The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, in collaboration with partners, held an Interfaith Seminary Symposium on Ecological Behavior at the University of Notre Dame at Tantur in Jerusalem on October 28, 2019. Religious figures spoke about religious imperatives for promoting environmentally sustainable practices. The one-day Symposium engaged 100 seminary deans, faculty, and students, and clergy on how to integrate environmental sustainability into seminary education. Religious figures who spoke included Sheik Hasan Abu Galiun of Rahat; Rev. Dr. Maria Leppakari, director of the Swedish Theological Institute, and Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Dean of Yeshivat Hesder Amit Orot Shaul.
The Symposium:
- Featured seminary deans and faculty speaking about successes and challenges in regards to integrating religion and ecology into their current course offerings;
- Further empowered seminary faculty and staff to teach on faith and ecology;
- Publicized faith and ecology syllabi and reading lists to seminary deans, students, and teachers, by utilizing the extensive ICSD online syllabus collection;
- Included plenary, panel discussion and breakout sessions on the emerging field of faith-based environmental education in seminaries and theological schools;
- Included networking and discussions on topics such as how seminaries can encourage faculty to include issues of ecology and creation-care in new and existing courses on Bible, theology, homiletics and liturgy, ethics, and more;
- Involved discussions about practical steps that seminaries can take.
In addition, the Symposium announced the award winners of the Catholic Seminarian Essay Contest on Sustainable Behavior, which is being organized by ICSD and other partners.
Generous support for the Symposium was provided by The Julia Burke Foundation. The Symposium will be organized by The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development. Symposium Partners include the University of Notre Dame at Tantur, the Studium Theologicum Salesianum/ Salesian Pontifical University Jerusalem campus, the Swedish Theological Institute, and A New Dawn in the Negev.
To read evaluation results from the Symposium participants, click here.
Symposium Program and Schedule
TIME DESCRIPTION
9:00 AM Registration, refreshments, and meet other participants
9:20 AM Introduction by representatives of the sponsoring organizations
9:30 AM Climate Change and the Middle East: Ambassador Gideon Behar
9:40 A.M Plenary Session One: Religion and ecological behavior—perspectives from religious figures
Imam Hasan Abu Galiun, Rahat; Fr. Russ Mcdougall, Rector of Tantur Ecumenical Institute; Rev. Dr. Maria Leppakar, director, Swedish Theological Institute; Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Dean/Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Hesder Amit Orot Shaul in Raanana. Moderated by R’ Yonatan Neril.
10:50 AM Break & Refreshments
11:15 AM Interfaith Musical Performance
11:30 AM Big Thoughts….Little Talks on Ecological behavior and Religion
Eleven speakers talking for five minutes each, using 15 slides each
Confirmed speakers: Dr. Maria Leppakari, Swedish Theological Instititute; Rev. Prof. Piotr Zelazko and Bro. Steven Joseph De Maio, Studium Theologicum Salesianum; Jamal Alkirnawi, founding director, A New Dawn in the Negev; Dr. Jeremy Benstein, Heschel Center for Sustainability; Asi Barhum, Brahma Kumaris; Dr. Lori Noguchi, Director, Bahá’í International Development Organization; Rabbi Yonatan Neril, Rabbi Leo Dee and Faygle Train from The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development.
12:40 PM Vegan Lunch (Kosher and Halal)
1:40 PM Practical Workshop #1: Composting, led by Dvir Ben Aharon of Mahapach Hayarok (Jerusalem Municipality)
2:25 PM Practical Workshop #2: Vertical gardening, led by Amir Elron of Agrocity
3:10 PM Outdoor experiential education session on the grounds and olive groves of Tantur
4:00 PM Refreshments and break
4:30 PM Closing Session: Facilitators of breakout sessions will present a summary of the outcomes, the discussions and share this with the participants.
5:45 PM End of Main Conference Program
6:15 PM Optional Video Screening on faith and ecology activism from the film ‘Renewal’
Symposium Partners:
The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD) works to catalyze a transition to a sustainable human society through the active leadership of faith communities. Its work focuses on several projects. The Interfaith Eco Seminary Engagement Project promotes courses for seminarians on faith and the environment. Second, the Faith Inspired Renewable Energy Project spurs renewable energy projects in faith communities in Africa. Third, ICSD has co-organized ten interfaith environmental conferences in Israel and internationally.
The University of Notre Dame at Tantur facilitates the work of both the Tantur Ecumenical Institute and the Jerusalem Global Gatway. Both entities welcome faculty, scholars, students, educators, pastoral ministers, pilgrims from all over the world, along with local and regional partners. Committed to creating an inclusive environment for all, Notre Dame at Tantur’s mission is to facilitate study, scholarship, research, and spiritual enrichment within the fascinating, diverse and complex religious and geopolitical reality of the Middle East.
The Studium Theologicum Salesianum (STS) is the Jerusalem Campus of the Faculty of Theology of the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome. The STS offers a four-year Pontifical Bachelor’s Degree in Theology. The STS, by enabling the study of Theology in the Holy Land together with the academic rigor of a Pontifical University, offers its academic community, a very unique opportunity.
The Swedish Theological Institute is the Church of Sweden’s study and dialogue institute in Jerusalem. It is a place for studies and meetings for peoples of different faiths and traditions. STI is a meeting place for people in Jerusalem as well as for temporary visitors, from different parts of the world, who are involved in matters concerning religion, culture and dialogue. STI seeks to further a deeper understanding of the religious traditions in Jerusalem: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. STI in Jerusalem was founded in 1951.
A New Dawn in the Negev is an Arab-Jewish community development organization based in Rahat, Israel where we promote education, employment, and leadership.Our mission is that one day, the diverse residents of the Negev, young and old, will live celebrating their differences and working together toward a peaceful, and equal future together. We work together with other NGOs to promote unity, peace and understanding.