INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE, PEACE, AND GLOBAL SOLIDARITY
JUSTICE, PEACE, AND INTEGRITY OF CREATION (JPIC)

Based on Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and the leadership of our parishioners, our Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Interreligious Dialogue, Peace, and Global Solidarity formation and advocacy efforts currently focus on two main areas:
1) JEWISH-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE
  • In the spirit of the Second Vatican Council’s Nostra Aetate, our efforts continue to focus on addressing the long history and current reality anti-Judaism in all forms, including the ways it has evolved in pre/post-Sho'ah theologies, secular philosophies, the pseudo-science of racial theory, nationalism, or within human rights rhetoric. Since truth is the handmaiden of agape love, authentic discourse within and between our faith traditions can bring greater clarity and accountability only when we walk together in solidarity toward a shared commitment to change our communities for the better. To honor God’s enduring covenant with our Jewish sisters and brothers in our present day, we are working to foster concrete relationships grounded in mutual trust, healing, understanding, and friendship.
​2) NONVIOLENCE, JUSTICE, AND GLOBAL SOLIDARITY: PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND AND UKRAINE
  • Our JPIC parishioners' commitment to the Franciscan and Gospel call to nonviolence, justice, and global solidarity has also centered on peace in the Holy Land and in Ukraine.
Related justice issues (i.e. immigrants and refugees, racial justice, etc.) can be found on our other JPIC website pages.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Ken Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)

I. JEWISH-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE

“FROM ANCIENT PREJUDICES TO MODERN CHALLENGES:” EXPLORING HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY RELATIONS BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND JUDAISM

CONFRONTING ANTISEMITISM TODAY: THE LATEST INSIGHTS INTO THE OLDEST ETHNIC HATRED

In our continuing efforts to combat anti-Judaism and all forms of hate, members of our JPIC Interreligious Dialogue, Peace, and Global Solidarity ministry attended a presentation and conversation at Beth El Synagogue about the history of antisemitism and its impact on the Jewish community today.
 
Speakers included Vlad Khaykin, the Antidefamation League (ADL) National Director of Programs on Antisemitism, and Meredith R. Weisel, Regional Director of ADL’s D.C. Office. Co-sponsors included Jewish for Good, The Israel Center, Voice for Israel, Judea Reform, Durham Chabad, Calvary Church of Chapel Hill, Oak Church, Chapel Hill Kehillah, River Church, Chabad Young Professionals, The Honor Israel Group, Holocaust Speakers Bureau, Individual Donations.

INTERFAITH CLERGY CONFERENCE

Beth El Synagogue hosted its annual Interfaith Clergy Conference for clergy and lay leaders. This year's conference featured Rabbi Shai Held, President and Dean at the Hadar Institute. His presentation and our discussion focused on his latest book, “Judaism is About Love: Recovering the Heart of Jewish Life.” All registrants received a copy.
The discussion probed the similarities and differences about the way that Christianity and Judaism think about love. In his latest book, -Rabbi Held recovers the heart of the Jewish tradition, offering the radical and moving argument that love belongs as much to Judaism as it does to Christianity. Blending intellectual rigor, a respect for tradition and the practices of a living Judaism, and a commitment to the full equality of all people, Held seeks to reclaim Judaism as it authentically is.

SOME WERE NEIGHBORS: CHOICE, HUMAN BEHAVIOR, AND THE HOLOCAUST

“Some Were Neighbors examines a variety of motives and pressures that influenced individual choices to act. These influences often reflect fear, indifference, antisemitism, career concerns, community standing, peer pressure, or chances for material gain. It also looks at individuals who did not give in to the opportunities and temptations to betray their fellow human beings, reminding us that there is an alternative to complicity in evil acts—even in extraordinary times.” -USHMM Website
This is our common space for conversation, learning, and action. This exhibit is meant to combat religious hate, racism, and genocide. If you were unable to attend the opening of the exhibit, you will have numerous opportunities to visit the exhibit individually or as a group.

We are truly grateful to all those in our community who participated in this important exhibit, either as individuals or leading school, religious, or other groups to engage in this important experience.
Thank you to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and Duke Memorial UMC for co-sponsoring. We also would like to thank DCIA and Duke Memorial UMC, Watts St. Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, and Epworth UMC for graciously hosting this exhibit for our community.

WHY SUCH HATE? AN INTERFAITH PANEL DISCUSSION ON ANTI-JUDAISM/SEMITISM IN THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

JPIC VISIT TO DACHAU HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL

Despite the Jewish community only making up 2% of the US population and .2% of the global population, the past few years have set a new high for worldwide violence and hate crimes that target Jewish people, particularly in the United States.
On Sunday, October 22, over 20 members of our parish community joined our Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Promoting Human Dignity Team to visit the Dachau ashes burial site and memorial at the Durham Hebrew Cemetery. Sharon Halperin with the Holocaust Speakers Bureau, along with her husband Dr. Ed Halperin, shared with us the history of the memorial.
We are grateful to them and all who participated as we continue our journey to foster understanding and kinship with our Jewish brothers and sisters as we seek to learn from our past and build a better community together.

CONFRONTING ANTI-SEMITISM IN OUR COMMUNITY 

II. NONVIOLENCE, JUSTICE, AND GLOBAL SOLIDARITY: PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND AND UKRAINE
 

PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND 

LETTER FROM U.S. CATHOLICS ON ISRAEL-PALESTINE
Published May 2024

Br. Lawrence J. Hayes, OFM, Provincial Minister of the Franciscan Friars Province of Our Lady of Guadulupe, along with Provincial Vicar Br. Mark Soehner, OFM, shared the following statement:
​The ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza cries out for action to make it cease.  The most recent UN reports cite nearly 35,000 Palestinian deaths — most of whom were women and children — with another 78,000 wounded. On May 6, the head of the United Nations World Food Program declared that northern Gaza has entered “full-blown famine” and added that famine is now moving south in Gaza.
 
As Franciscans committed to living the Gospel and to following in the footsteps of Jesus, we cannot remain silently on the sidelines while so many Palestinians – overwhelmingly women and children – are condemned to indiscriminate killing and mass starvation. International law and human rights conventions, in addition to the Gospel, also compel us to raise our voices in solidarity with those who are bearing the brunt of this violence, with those who cry out for a release of the hostages, and with those who call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, provision of humanitarian aid and protection of humanitarian workers.
 
Recently, Mark Soehner, several members of the Provincial Council and I, along with many other Franciscan and Catholic leaders, co-signed a letter in support of measures that can bring an end to the horrific violence in Gaza and Israel. Here is the link to the letter we signed. How could we not sign when, as Franciscans, we so often pray, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace”?

Yet our voices are not enough. Therefore, as leaders of our coast-to-coast U.S. Franciscan province, we urge you, our brothers, to join this Gospel-inspired peace initiative of the Franciscan Action Network. It provides you with the opportunity to join the chorus of prophetic voices calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages, and a political solution to ensure justice, equality, peace, security, and freedom for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.
Hundreds of Catholic leaders have already signed, including Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop John Wester and dozens of other Franciscan friars, sisters and Catholic lay leaders. The final letter will be delivered to the White House to mark the Feast of Pentecost. Click here to add your name before May 19.
In addition to signing it yourself, we highly encourage you to invite your friends, partners-in-ministry and other Catholics in our respective networks also to sign. 
 
To learn more about the ongoing peacemaking efforts around the ceasefire campaign, please go to Franciscan Action Network's website.
 
Thank you for considering this invitation to join in this peace-making effort.

CHRISTIANS FOR CEASEFIRE
​CAMPAIGN POLICY GOALS
FRANCISCAN ACTION NETWORK (FAN)

  1. Immediate, sustained bilateral ceasefire
  2. Demilitarization rather than sending weapons
  3. Release of all hostages and Palestinian prisoners held without due process
  4. Robust humanitarian assistance, including funding UNRWA, the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees
  5. End the siege on Gaza and end the occupation
  6. A political process to address root causes, accountability of harm, and a lasting just peace

DIALOGUE WITH PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI BEREAVED FAMILIES FOR PEACE

The Franciscan Action Network hosted a Dialogue with Palestinian and Israeli Bereaved Families for Peace. The event featured two speakers from the Holy Land, one Israeli and one Palestinian, who are members of the Parents Circle – Families Forum. 
They shared their personal stories of loss and discussed how they continue to work together for peace and reconciliation even under current challenging circumstances. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session. Read more about the speakers by clicking here. If you were unable to attend the event, I have included the YouTube recording below:

ROOTS: AN INTERFAITH EVENT
AN ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE FOR UNDERSTANDING, NONVIOLENCE, AND TRANSFORMATION

Roots, an Israeli-Palestinian grassroots initiative for understanding, nonviolence and transformation based in Judea and Samaria/the West Bank, is a unique network of Palestinians and Israelis who have come to see each other as the partners they both need to make changes to end our conflict.

If you were unable to attend the event with the speaking team -- a Palestinian and an Israeli -- Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Noor Awwad from the Israeli/Palestinian non-profit Roots, who shared the groundbreaking Roots message as well as their personal stories of transformation, I have included the YouTube video here. The event was hosted by Jewish for Good, Judea Reform Congregation, and Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church.

​ISRAEL AND THE WAR IN GAZA
LECTURE SERIES AT JUDEA REFORM WITH ISRAELI JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR, GERSHOM GORENBERG

Join Judea Reform Congregation on February 17th and 18th for our annual Levin-Moscovitz Lecture Series. Our speaker this year is Israeli journalist and author, Gershom Gorenberg. There will be two opportunities to study and learn with this renowned Israeli journalist and scholar. You and your communities are welcome to attend as you are available.
On February 17th at 9 am in the Levin Social Hall at Judea Reform, Gorenberg will teach "The Midrash on Messianism: Enraging a Lion or Ascending a Ladder?" On Sunday, February 18th at 9:30 am in the Levin Social Hall at Judea Reform, the keynote is titled "Israel and the War in Gaza: What Went Wrong. What Must Go Right." 

THE WAY FORWARD FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE CONFIRMATION
A report from two U.S. Catholic representatives who recently returned from Israel-Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon where they met with Christian leaders and others working for peace in the Israel-Gaza war, as part of a delegation organized by Churches for Middle East Peace in January 2024.
  • What’s happening in Gaza?
  • What’s happening in the West Bank?
  • What can U.S. churches do to promote peace?
  • What is the way forward for Israel and Palestine to end the conflict?
SPEAKERS
  • Susan Gunn, Director, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
  • Russ Testa, JPIC Co-Director, Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Susan and Russ will share their photos, stories, and impressions from visits with church leaders, government representatives, and peace and human rights activists in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Ramallah in the West Bank, as well as Jordan and Lebanon.
“Take our hearts with you back to the United States because they are full of pain and hopelessness but feel inspired knowing that we will teach the world how to recover by working in accordance with the principle that we are all human beings.”
​– Palestinian Christian minister in Bethlehem

A HELPFUL REFLECTION ON MOURNING, SOLIDARITY, AND SOCIAL PROTEST

The reflection has been shared widely across the internet. Since I have been unable to confirm the author of this statement, I cannot properly acknowledge the author whose hard work, efforts, gifts, and creative spirit helped capture the sentiment that so many of us feel. Unfortunately, this has become an increasingly common problem in the era of the internet. I hope in sharing the author's work we can work together to embody the spirit that led to its composition. 

PEACE IN UKRAINE

“THE WAR AGAINST UKRAINE AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS:” WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON
A PANEL DISCUSSION HOSTED BY IMMACULATE CONCEPTION'S JUSTICE, PEACE, AND INTEGRITY OF CREATION (JPIC) AND DUKE UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR RECONCILITION 

JPIC PRAYING IN SOLIDARITY FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE: AN ECUMENICAL PRAYER VIGIL

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AND COMMUNITY BUILDING

THE PACT: A FRIENDSHIP ACROSS FAITH 

© All rights reserved.
If you have questions regarding our various JPIC ministries, please contact:
Kennith M. Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - 901-A West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-3449 Ext. 293 - [email protected]
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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH   |  810 W CHAPEL HILL STREET, DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA 27701  |  919-682-3449


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