Author: Dave Moskovitz

Religious Diversity Workshop for Young Adults 18-35

Dave Moskovitz

When: Thursday 31 October 2019 4-9pm
Where: Wellington Islamic Centre, 7 Queen’s Drive, Kilbirnie

Tickets are mandatory for this event. You can purchase tickets on Eventbrite.

Religious Diversity: Encountering other religions

The Religious Diversity and Anti-discrimination workshop is designed to facilitate safe and productive interreligious encounters between Jewish, Christian, and Muslim young adults (18-35).

Workshop Participants will:

  • Share experiences of religion, ethnicity and culture within a safe environment
  • Explore the meaning, impact and issues of religious diversity in Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Address local manifestations of stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination related to religion
  • Develop skills for creating inclusive intercultural environments.

The workshop will be highly interactive, fun, and challenging. It will be led by two facilitators trained and accredited by the internationally acclaimed Belieforama Programme. It is provided by the Religious Diversity Centre of Aotearoa / New Zealand in conjunction with the Wellington Abrahamic Council.

Please help us by promoting this event to young adults in your synagogue, church, or mosque.

Image credit: Aia Fernandez

CANCELLED – Public event: The Imam and the Pastor in person

Dave Moskovitz

Unfortunately, due to hiccups in their travel plans, The Imam and the Pastor won’t be able to make it to Wellington this time. We apologise for the inconvenience.

You may recall in February 2016, we showed a screening of the movie The Imam and the Pastor in Wellington, documenting how two bitter enemies became best friends, and overcame religious and racial strife to bring about peace and reconciliation in Nigeria and Kenya.

We are pleased that Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye will be in Wellington as part of their New Zealand tour, and will tell us about their experience in coming together to understand each other and each others’ religions.

Special thanks to the Initiatives of Change for making the tour and this event possible.

Religious Responses to the Climate Change Crisis

Dave Moskovitz

Public Meeting Announcement

Religious Responses to the Climate Change Crisis

Are you concerned about the climate change crisis? Join us for a special talk and discussion:

Saturday 3 August, 5pm – 6:30pm
Wellington Islamic Centre
9 Queens Drive, Kilbirnie

The discussion will be led by Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black from the Leo Baeck Centre in Melbourne, and will cover:

  • The work of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change and what we can learn in NZ
  • Our shared religious traditions of Jews, Christians, and Muslims in caring for the planet
  • The role of faith-based people in overcoming the crisis
  • What we can do in our own congregations and the Abrahamic and Interfaith communities

Rabbi Jonathan is passionate about climate issues, and has been active in this area for many years. He was also the founder of the Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia, and continues to strive for interfaith understanding.

This event is being held in conjunction with Temple Sinai’s 60th anniversary celebrations.

You can help get the word out about this event by downloading, printing, and distributing our attractive poster.

Reflecting on our faith and belonging post Christchurch

Dave Moskovitz

In this short interfaith roundtable, Professor Stephen Dobson (Dean, Faculty of Education, Victoria University of Wellington), Hon Luamanavao Dame Winnie Laban (Assistant Vice Chancellor Pasifika, Victoria University of Wellington), Prof Mohamad Abdalla (Director, Centre for Islamic Thought and Education, University of South Australia), and Tahir Nawaz (President of the International Muslim Association of New Zealand, and member of the Wellington Abrahamic Council) discuss wellbeing, and how to be well in multiple cultures.

We need to be speaking about the interconnectedness of civilisations as opposed to the clash of civilisations.

Prof Mohamad Abdalla

Thank You NZ from the Muslim Community

Dave Moskovitz

Thank you, New Zealand

I want the world to know the appreciation, love, and gratitude we have for New Zealand.

Thank you for the way you handled the unthinkable catastrophe that struck this nation on Friday 15 March 2019.

No nation is immune to such events but we are remembered for how we handle them. Thank you for showing the world how to deal with disasters of this magnitude.

Thank you to the people of this blessed nation. It was never easy but you showered the victims with care.

Thank you to the Government, with all its agencies, units and branches. Thank you to the Prime Minister for her leadership as we grieved and mourned. Her honest and personal approach, along with her swift actions, showered love and compassion on the nation.

Thank you to the law enforcement agencies, with all its units. Thank you to our health professionals. Thank you to the NGOs, political parties, community leaders, individuals, churches, synagogues, temples and people of other faiths, as well as the general public.

The intention was to strike at our core values, our social, political and religious fabric, our identity as a nation and our dignity as New Zealanders. Our enemy intended to weaken us. Instead, New Zealand emerged stronger, more united, and harmonious.

We must learn positive lessons from this tragedy and redouble our efforts to protect our future. We must enhance our education system. We must focus on our youth.

Above all, we must strengthen our ethnic relations so that we can build a better future for our nation, our children, and so that no evil action can divide us.

Tahir Nawaz, Muslim leader
President, International Muslim Association of New Zealand
Member, Wellington Abrahamic Council

Media Release – Violence against Muslims in Christchurch

Dave Moskovitz

MEDIA RELEASE

WELLINGTON ABRAHAMIC COUNCIL OF JEWS, CHRISTIANS, AND MUSLIMS

15 March 2019 5pm

The Wellington Abrahamic Council of Jews, Christians, and Muslims condemns the violence against the Muslim Community in Christchurch today.  While the situation is still unfolding, it is clear that many innocent people have been killed – may they rest in peace.

The Jewish and Christian communities send love and support to our Muslim brothers and sisters.

Such deadly violence aimed at religious people has been unknown in New Zealand – until now, and has no place in our normally peaceful country. Now is the time to stand together, support our Muslim friends, and most importantly, keep talking and keep working to better understand each other.

ENDS
For more information, contact:
Dave Moskovitz 027 220 2202

POSTPONED: Abrahamic Meditation Day 2019

Dave Moskovitz

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED in the aftermath of the Christchurch terrorist attacks on 15 March. Please stay tuned for updates.

Come and join us for a time of silent prayer together, sharing the practice and insights into this form of spirituality from our three traditions within the Abrahamic religious family.

During our time together there will be three periods of silent prayer. Each of these will be introduced by a talk about the contribution of meditative prayer within their tradition. Following each time of silent prayer there will be the opportunity for questions and sharing about the significance of meditative practice within our communities.

Rabbi JoEllen Duckor from Temple Sinai, Rehanna Ali from the Islamic community and Nick Polaschek from the Catholic Christian tradition will lead the three sessions.

Please bring a vegetarian plate for a shared lunch. Free tea/coffee available.                                         

A koha of $5-10 to help cover costs would be appreciated.

Pā Maria is on a back section, drive to door for drop-off, but parking only in nearby streets, easy access within the building.

Chairs provided, if you meditate sitting on a cushion please bring your own.

Contact: Nick Polaschek nandlpolaschek@gmail.com 04 4797955 or 020 4797956 for more info.


Homeless in our community: what can we do together?

Dave Moskovitz

Public Meeting Announcement

Homeless in our community: what can we do together?

Update: Listen to the audio from the event – see below

Wellington Islamic Centre
9 Queens Drive, Kilbirnie
Wednesday 20 February, 7pm

All Welcome. Food and beverage will be provided.

Speakers:

Jewish Prof Paul Morris
Christian Rev Brian Dawson
Muslim
Dr Faried Fachruddin

Audio from the event:

Paul Morris

 

Brian Dawson

 

Faried Fachruddin

 

The Abrahamic traditions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – have insights about homelessness and of ways of mobilising support and energies to address this growing concern.

The aim of this forum is twofold. First, to explore the insights and understandings of the significance of a having and not having a home in our religious traditions, focussing on our responsibilities for the homeless in our community. Secondly, to raise awareness about homelessness – why? who? and what can we do together to alleviate the plight of the homeless in our community?

You can help us publicise this event by sharing with your friends, or downloading, printing out, and putting up our attractive poster.

For more information, contact us.

Photo: RNZ

Our holy day of the week

Dave Moskovitz

Update:  Listen audio from the talks (see below)…

Public Meeting Announcement

Our holy day of the week in the three Abrahamic traditions

Temple Sinai
147 Ghuznee St
Wednesday 24 October 2018, 7pm

All Welcome.

Speakers:

Jewish Tadhg Cleary
Christian Rev Jenny Dawson
Muslim Tahir Nawaz

Audio from the event –

Tadhg Cleary (Jewish):

 

Rev Jenny Dawson (Christian):

 

Tahir Nawaz (Muslim):

 

Where does our holy day of the week come from?
What do we do that is different from other days of the week on our holy day?
What happens in the ritual on our Holy day of the week?
What is the meaning of the ritual we participate in on our holy day?
Is our holy Day celebrated differently in different communities and places
Has the celebration of our holy day changed over time?

Our three speakers will each talk about the Holy day of the week in their own Abrahamic tradition, then answer questions in a group discussion.

Light refreshments will be served.

Come to the event, learn and contribute to the conversation.

You can help us publicise this event by downloading, printing, and distributing our poster.

For more information, please contact Nick Polaschek
(nandlpolaschek@gmail.com or 020 4797956).

Sharing Our Scriptures 2018

Dave Moskovitz

Sharing our scriptures: an Abrahamic interfaith dialogue

When: 7.30PM Tuesday 27 February and monthly thereafter
Where:
 Nick Polaschek’s home at 12 Everest Street Khandallah

You are invited to an ongoing informal discussion sharing our perspectives of the Torah, New Testament, and Koran.

The Wellington Abrahamic Council is again sponsoring a series of evening meetings to help foster understanding and friendship between people from the three Abrahamic faith traditions in Wellington.

Last year a group met monthly to reflect together on a theme expressed in a selected passage from the sacred scriptures of each of the three Abrahamic faith traditions. During the meetings each of us listens to the other participants sharing their understanding of the selected scripture from their faith traditions, in turn sharing our understanding of the scriptures from our own tradition.

Participants last year found the experience enriching and were keen to continue in 2018.

Our shared aim is to understand more deeply the perspectives of the other Abrahamic faith traditions and, in this light, to understand more deeply our own faith tradition. From this we hope to better recognize our shared understandings and values and appreciate positively our differences as faith traditions that come from Abraham, our father in faith.

The evenings will once again use Scriptural Reasoning, a tool for interfaith dialogue developed by the Cambridge University Interfaith Programme and now used in a number of countries. We will use the guidelines and text packs, available at their website.

The theme for our first meeting of 2017 is Encountering God, which can be found in the Resources section of the Scriptural Reasoning website.

Our shared aim is to understand more deeply the perspectives of the other Abrahamic faith traditions and, in this light, to understand more deeply our own faith traditions. From this we hope to better recognize our shared understandings and values and appreciate positively our differences as faith traditions that come from Abraham, our father in faith.

For more information, contact Nick Polaschek, nandlpolaschek@gmail.com or (020) 479 7956