Preview of tour in Wartburg Trumpet
21 March 2005
Preview of tour in Wartburg Trumpet
Israeli-Palestinian women will share
Ryan Hahn
Staff Writer
An Israeli Jew, Palestinian Muslim and Palestinian Christian will be speaking about their views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at 7:30 p.m. April 3 in Neumann Auditorium.
The women are sponsored by an organization called “Partners for Peace” in Washington, D.C., that is trying to promote peace in and understanding of the Middle East through dialogue.
The Rev. Dr. Fred Strickert, professor of religion, is one of the driving forces in bringing these women to Wartburg.
“This kind of presentation models for us the kind of dialogue that should take place in our society. The three women will likely have different views and beliefs, but they agree to discuss them in a civil and peaceful way,” Strickert said.
“One of the most powerful ways for situations to become real and relevant is to hear the stories of the people,” Melissa James, program associate of the Discovering and Claiming Our Callings initiative in Pathways, said.
The event will start at 3:45 p.m. in the Buckmaster Room with a presentation by the women, followed by an interfaith worship for peace in the chapel.
The women agreed to come and share their stories because they believe that dialogue is the only hope for the future of America’s role in the world community.
The “Jerusalem Women Speak” project was started by an American woman, Jerri Bird, who worked in the American consulate and was concerned with the violence in the Middle East. She felt women’s voices must be heard.
While Wartburg is its only college stop in Iowa, the group also will speak at Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis., Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, Minn., and George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
“By hosting events such as this, we strengthen our commitment as a community to both be aware of what is going on in our world as well as to live our lives in ways that build peace,” James said.
For more information about the Jerusalem women or about the project, check out www.wartburg.edu/discovering/events.html
