Sarah and Hajjar / Hagar – Our Abrahamic Matriarchs (with audio)

16 October 20241 December 2024 Dave Moskovitz

What	Sarah and Hajjar / Hagar – Our Abrahamic Matriarchs
When	Wednesday 20 November, 7:00 pm
Where	St Joseph’s Church 152 Brougham Street Wellington
Moderator	Rev Jenny Chalmers Jenny was the founding Christian Co-Chair of the Wellington Abrahamic Council, an Anglican priest, and until recently the Vicar General of the Waiapu Diocese. Jenny’s intro: download, or listen here:
Speakers
	Claire Massey (Jewish) Claire is former Chair of the Wellington Jewish Community Centre and current Chair of its advisory board, a professor emerita of Business, and currently teaches yoga. Claire’s speech: download, or listen here:
	Rota Stone (Christian) Rota is an ordained priest in the Anglican Church, and an ordained pastor in the Latvian Lutheran Church. She recently received a PhD on early Jewish-Christian relations. Rota’s speech: download, or listen here:
	Rehanna Ali (Muslim) Rehanna is a founding member of the Islamic Women’s Council of NZ. She has a background in Law, including Islamic Shariah, and has spent the last two decades working in the field of international development. Rehanna’s speech: download, or listen here:

Abraham is the esteemed patriarch of Jews and Muslims, and the spiritual father of Christians. Our matriarchs, Sarah and Hajjar / Hagar play a pivotal role in the unfolding stories of all three Abrahamic religions.

This evening we will focus on the vital roles of these women, Abraham’s wives, the mothers of his children, and the female co-founders of our three Abrahamic religions.

Our three speakers – each one learned and distinguished members of their religious communities – will introduce the stories from their traditions and explore their past and contemporary meanings.

Free or Koha tickets for this event are essential, and are available at:
https://events.humanitix.com/sarah-and-hajjar

If you’d like to help spread the word about this event, please download our poster, and distribute it at your church, masjid, or synagogue.

Note that all attendees to our events are expected to uphold and respect our Abrahamic Council Values.

Public Seminar: Pilgrimages in our Abrahamic religions

7 August 202316 October 2023 Dave Moskovitz

The Wellington Abrahamic Council is pleased to invite you to a discussion on pilgrimages in our three Abrahamic religions.

When	Wednesday 30 August 2023, 7pm – 9pm
Where	Garden Room, St Peter’s Church 211 Willis St, Wellington
Speakers	Professor Paul Morris (Jewish) Joe Green (Christian) Rehanna Ali (Muslim)

All welcome. Entry by koha.

Pilgrimages are spiritual and religious journeys to sacred places, that serve to renew faith and commitment. For Muslims, one of the five pillars of faith is the Haj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, and Jerusalem and the Holy Land is a place of pilgrimage for all three Abrahamic faiths.

Come along to this seminar to hear speakers from each of our traditions sharing from their personal experience and exploring the significance of pilgrimage in their respective traditions.

We’re interested in your personal perspectives of your journeys and experiences and pilgrims too. There will be an opportunity for everyone to share their views.

If you’d like to help us publicise this event you can download our attractive poster and put it up in your synagogue, church, or mosque.

Elastic Man – Religion and Gender

18 September 201718 September 2017 Dave Moskovitz

Public Meeting Announcement

Elastic Man: What do our religions (continue to) make of men, as they (continue to) re-define women?

Wednesday 15 November, 7:00pm
Salvation Army Citadel, 92 Vivian Street
Entry by Koha

In this ever-changing world, as Women’s role(s) have been and are constantly re-defined, they impact and revise the role of Men. This evening will consider our endlessly malleable religious roles, as they are experienced in our places of worship, and in our homes. Change can be as challenging – and acceptance as elusive – within the schools of a single religion as it can be in the streets we share.

What do our religions (continue to) make of gender?

Speakers:

Sue Esterman – Jewish

Sue has helped to shape gender roles in Wellington’s Progressive Jewish Congregation for 40 years. With a committed peer group, she studied, made herself competent, and acted: reading from the Torah, leading services and music, becoming the Temple’s first female marriage celebrant and its second funeral celebrant. She taught Hebrew school for 25 years, chaired the Board of Management (twice) and the Ritual Committee. Progressive Judaism has always professed equality, but it has taken real effort to, progressively, bring it to life.

Rehanna Ali – Muslim

Rehanna calls Wellington home and is an active member of the vibrant and diverse local Muslim community based at the Kilbirnie Mosque. A founding member of the Islamic Women’s Council of NZ and a long-term participant and supporter of NZ interfaith initiatives, she is currently a member of the Wellington Interfaith Council. With a background in Law, including Islamic Shariah, Rehanna has spent the last two decades working in the field of international development. She has a particular interest in issues related to gender equity, community development and diversity and is kept optimistic by an ongoing study of Islamic spirituality.

Diane Gilliam-Weeks – Christian

Diane has been working for gender and ethnic equity for 45 years first in television in the 70’s and 80’s in Media Women and later in her role as Director of Communications for the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. She was required to gain a degree in Theology before being ordained to ministry in 2002. Diane’s home church is in Eastbourne and she is active at regional and national levels. With a Muslim friend, Diane initiated an interfaith lunch some years ago where food, faith and friendship were shared. She identifies with the contemplative tradition in Christianity.

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, email Marilyn Garson, margarson@gmail.com, or ring Dave Moskovitz on 027 220 2202