Jerusalem: Muslim, Jewish, Christian clergy meet at ecology symposium

l-r: Sheik Hasan Abu Galiun of Rahat, Rabbi Yonatan Neril of The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, Nelson Ekeh, a seminarian at Salesian Pontifical University Jerusalem campus, Asi Barhum Brahma Kumaris.

Bedouin sheiks, Catholic priests, and Orthodox rabbis gathered yesterday at the Interfaith Seminary Symposium on Ecological Behaviour in Jerusalem. The Symposium engaged seminary deans, faculty, and students, on integrating environmental sustainability into seminary education and religious living. The event on Monday October 28, took place at the University of Notre Dame at Tantur.

More than 100 clergy, theological students, and others engaged on how to integrate faith-based environmental education in rabbinical and theological schools. Religious figures who spoke included Sheik Hasan Abu Galiun of Rahat; Rev Dr Maria Leppakari, director of the Swedish Theological Institute, and Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Dean of Yeshivat Hesder Amit Orot Shaulr.

"The Symposium helped reveal the connection between religion and ecology and encourage people to act," said Rabbi Yonatan Neril, founding director of The Interfaith Centre for Sustainable Development.

Father Russ Mcdougall, Rector of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute, highlighted how the Vatican recently published new guidelines for seminaries which include ecology as part of the recommended education of emerging priests.

Brother Steven Joseph De Maio of the Salesian Pontifical University's Jerusalem campus said: "It's not always easy, but it is worth the effort to try to live a simpler life."

The Symposium was co-organized by The Interfaith Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Notre Dame at Tantur, Studium Theologicum Salesianum, the Swedish Theological Institute, and A New Dawn in the Negev. Support from The Julia Burke Foundation enabled the Symposium to take place.

LINKS

Tantur Ecumenical Institute - https://tantur.org/

Interfaith Centre for Sustainable Development - www.interfaithsustain.com/