“What do We Want the Other to Teach About Our Ethical Traditions?”
Jewish-Christian-Muslim Dialogue
Fairfield, Connecticut, March 31-April 2, 2003

The Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding (CCJU) of Sacred Heart University sponsored a symposium March 31-April 2, 2003, at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut. The conference, “What Do We Want the Other to Teach About Our Ethical Traditions?” is part of CCJU's ongoing work to promote dialogue and understanding. This was the final of five conferences with Jews, Christians and Muslims focusing on the topic, “What Do We Want the Other to Teach About Us?” (Other conferences have focused on the theological, historical, and prayer and liturgical traditions.)

Forty scholars and religious leaders agreed to participate in this symposium. Papers were presented, after which there was prepared responses and general discussion by all of the participants. Presenters included: Rabbi EuGene Korn (Anti-Defamation League, New York), Rabbi Barry R. Friedman (Temple B'nai Abraham, Livingston, New Jersey), Dr. John Elias (Fordham University, New York), Dr. Brian Stiltner (Sacred Heart University), Dr. Asad Husain (American Islamic College, Chicago, Illinois), Dr. Mohammad A. Siddiqi (Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois), and Imam Dr. Kareem Adeeb (American Institute for Islamic and Arabic Studies, Stamford, Connecticut). In addition to the participants, several faculty, staff and students from Sacred Heart University attended one or several of the sessions.

Rabbi Tsvi Blanchard, Director of Organizational Development
at the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, New York,
spoke about the necessity and importance of interreligious dialogue.



Christian presenter, Dr. John Elias (Fordham University) delivers his paper as Dr. Brian Stiltner (Sacred Heart university) prepares to offer his response.



In addition to the sessions led by the scholars and religious leaders, there were two events that were also open to the public. First, Rabbi Tsvi Blanchard, Director of Organizational Development at the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, New York, spoke about the necessity and importance of interreligious dialogue. He offered a rational reconstruction for the need to dialogue from a Jewish perspective and invited the Christians and Muslims to do the same in the quest for understanding and critical dialogue. His lecture was followed by a reception in the lobby of the Pitt Center where a cultural exhibit, “World Religions, Universal Peace, Global Ethic,” was being featured. The exhibition invited the viewer to explore the spectrum of world religions to have a better understanding of the importance of their ethical messages for present-day society. With the help of short text panels, quotations, photographs and other illustrations, the exhibition introduced principles for a global ethic which world religions could better understand each other and bring them closer together.

On Tuesday, April 1, the Fairfield County Jewish Chorale of Fairfield, Connecticut, offered a moving performance of religious music and was followed by a rousing concert by the Newark Boys Chorus. The Newark Boys Chorus School, founded in 1969, is a private school located in Newark, New Jersey. Known as Newark's “Musical Ambassadors,” the Chorus has been heard throughout the world. Their music rang clear and true that evening.

Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz jokes with a member of the Newark Boys Chorus who performed one evening as part of the CCJU program.

 

List of Invited Participants:

• Imam Dr. Kareem Adeeb, American Institute for Islamic and Arabic Studies, Stamford, Connecticut 
• Judith Banki, Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, New York 
• Dr. Adena Berkowitz, New York 
• Rabbi Tsvi Blanchard, Director of Organizational Development, National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership (CLAL)
• Dr. Anthony J. Cernera, President, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut 
• John Clabeaux, St. John's Seminary College, Brighton, Massachusetts 
• Dr. David L. Coppola, CCJU of Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut 
• Rabbi Joseph H. Ehrenkranz, CCJU of Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut 
• Dr. John L. Elias, Fordham University, New York
• Rabbi Barry R. Friedman, Temple B'nai Abraham, Livingston, New Jersey 
• Dr. Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Divinity School, University of Chicago, Illinois 
• Mrs. Deborah Goldberg, Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut, Stamford, Connecticut 
• Rabbi Emanuel S. Goldsmith, Congregation M'Vakshe Derekh, Scarsdale, New York 
• Dr. Frances Grodzinsky, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut 
• Dr. Hugh Talat Halman, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 
• Imam Abdul-Majid Karim Hasan, Muhammad Islamic Center, Hamden, Connecticut 
• Dr. Sohail Hashmi, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts 
• Dr. Frank Henderson, professor emeritus of Newman and St. Stephen's, Edmonton, Canada 
• Rabbi Mitchell M. Hurvitz, Temple Sholom, Greenwich, Connecticut
• Sr. Phyllis Kapuscinski, NDS, Institute of Judeo-Christian Studies, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey 
• Dr. Colleen Keyes, Tunxis Community College, Farmington, Connecticut 
• Rabbi Eugene Korn, Anti-Defamation League, New York 
• Dr. Ahmad Moen, Howard University, Washington, DC 
• Imam Sulayman S. Nyang, Howard University, Washington, DC 
• George Papademetriou, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts 
• Imam Izak-El Mu'eed Pasha, Masjid Malcolm Shabazz, New York 
• Rev. Thomas P. Ryan, CSP, Paulist Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, New York 
• Rabbi David Fox Sandmel, K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Congregation, Chicago, Illinois 
• John Schramm, St. Francis of Assisi Men's Roundtable, Weston, Connecticut 
• Dr. Claudia Setzer, Manhattan College, New York 
• Dr. Mohammad A. Siddiqi, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois 
• Dr. Brian Stiltner, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut 
• Dr. Michael Ventimiglia, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut 
• Dr. Fayette Veverka, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania

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