Interfaith Programs
UPF organizes programs that help build understanding, respect and cooperation among people of different faiths.
- Interfaith Programs
- Written by: Steinar Murud, secretary general, UPF-Norway
Oslo, Norway—UPF-Norway celebrated United Nations Day in partnership with Central Jamaat E Ahle Sunnat, the largest mosque in Oslo.
- Interfaith Programs
- Written by: UPF-Israel
Haifa, Israel—More than 20 people gathered for the Jerusalem Interfaith Forum to express their mutual hope for and determination to continue their efforts to promote peace.
- Interfaith Programs
- Written by: UPF-International
New York, United States—UPF participated in an interfaith program led by Pope Francis at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.
- Interfaith Programs
- Written by: UPF-Israel
Jerusalem, Israel—The Jerusalem Interfaith Forum gathered at the newly-opened Israeli Peace Education Center to discuss and promote educational initiatives.
- Interfaith Programs
- Written by: UPF-Israel
Jerusalem, Israel—Members of the Jerusalem Interfaith Forum visited a boy and his parents who were critically injured in an attack.
Jerusalem, Israel—On July 31, 2015, Jewish extremists torched a Palestinian house, causing the death of an eighteen-month-old Palestinian baby boy. The baby’s parents and four-year-old brother were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
On August 9, a delegation of 12 leaders of the Druze, Muslim, Christian, and Jewish faiths visited the victims’ family in the hospital. The delegation, which was co-organized by the Department of Religious Communities in Israel’s Interior Ministry and the Jerusalem Interfaith Forum, included several senior members of the Forum: Rabbi Edgar Nof; Dr. Ohr Margalit; Fr. Masud Abu Hatoum; and Sheik Dr. Omar Kayal, national inspector in the department.
A representative of the family met the delegation in the hospital. Journalists were also at the hospital and asked about the four-year-old boy’s condition. Representatives of the delegation, including Rabbi Nof and Dr. Margalit, expressed their support for the family and condemned the act of terrorism. Rabbi Nof said he was conveying his support on behalf of many citizens in Israel, as well as UPF members around the world. Dr. Margalit, who offered condolences on behalf of his community, said that his community is praying for the boy’s recovery.
A report about the visit was published in a local Israeli-Arab newspaper and received many positive responses from readers.
- Interfaith Programs
- Written by: UPF-Montreal
Quito, Ecuador—UPF-Ecuador held events in the cities of Guayaquil and Quito to celebrate the UN International Day of Peace 2017.
- Interfaith Programs
- Written by: Dr. Nurit Hirschfeld, secretary general, UPF-Israel
Jerusalem, Israel—At a time when tensions are high in the Middle East, the Jerusalem Interfaith Forum convened to discuss “The Holy Places in Jerusalem as an Anchor of Stability in a Long-Term Arrangement.”
- Interfaith Programs
- Written by: Rev. Noel Matthias Salogba, secretary general, UPF-Central African Republic
Bangui, Central African Republic—“Forgive, Love, Unite” was the theme of an interreligious meeting that was attended by more than 85 religious leaders.
- Interfaith Programs
- Written by: Jacques Marion, secretary general, UPF-Europe
Paris, France—In an atmosphere of mutual respect, speakers from several faiths kept the attention and won the hearts of participants at UPF-France’s third interreligious meeting of the year.
- Interfaith Programs
- Written by: Krishna Adhikari, secretary general, UPF-India
New Delhi, India—The inaugural conference of the Indian Interfaith Peace Initiative was held on the theme of “India’s Contribution to Global Peace, Sustainable Development and Interfaith Harmony.”
- Interfaith Programs
- Written by: Dmitry Samko, secretary general, UPF-Moscow
Moscow, Russia—The secretary general of UPF-Eurasia was one of the special guests at the opening ceremony of an exhibition and book fair organized by the Russian Orthodox Church.
- Interfaith Programs
- Written by: Franco Famularo, secretary general, UPF-Canada
Vancouver, Canada—A longtime member of the Baha’i Faith spoke about the origins of her faith and of its belief in humankind’s spiritual unity.