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The Fourth Annual Interfaith Iftar, hosted by the Scioto Educational Foundation,was held September 28 at Confluence Park Restaurant in Columbus and included representatives of the various faiths, scholars, and other community leaders.
“This meal provides an opportunity for us to learn about each other and our faiths, promote education, dialogue, and, most of all, peace,” said Oguz Kurt, president of the Scioto Educational Foundation.
In his keynote speech, Yehezkel Landau, a faculty member at Hartford Seminary who has been involved in peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians, reflected on the significance of diversity in interreligious encounters and the building of relationships among Jews, Muslims, and Christians.
Historically, “the three Abrahamic traditions have viewed sacred history as a competitive race—each believing that its ‘truth’ would be vindicated at the end of time, ‘winning’ the spiritual marathon and earning the … gold medal,” Landau said.
He instead offered an understanding of an “inclusive Covenant,” in which the Biblical story of Noah and the rainbow are viewed “as symbols for our membership in a wider human family, embracing religious and cultural differences in the same way that we delight in the different colors of a rainbow.”
Landau also referred to the Biblical figures of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael and how they transcended division and disharmony within their family. “As their descendants, we can look to them for guidance on our own faith journeys and in our struggles for genuine peace,” Landau added.
The evening also featured a special video presentation on the life and teachings of Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi, a spiritual master who founded the Mevlevi Sufi order.
Ray Jones (Special Assistant to the Ohio Secretary of State), Paul Numrich (Associate Professor of World Religions and Inter-Religious Dialogue at the Theological Consortium of Greater Columbus), Jim McGregor (a Member of the Ohio House of Representatives) and Asma Mobin-Uddin (President of Council of American-Islamic Relations-Ohio) emphasized the importance of dialogue in their remarks.
The co-sponsors of the dinner, in alphabetical order, were: Columbus Christian Ecumenical Journal and Associated Ministries, Columbus Sufi Circle, the Fountain Magazine, "Good News" Ecumenical TV Magazine, Interfaith Association of Central Ohio, Metropolitan Area Church Council of Columbus, The Multicultural Center and New Diversity Initiatives at OSU, North Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Ohio Dominican University, Ohio State Hillel, Spiritual Sadhna Society, Students for Dialog at OSU, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, St. Thomas More Newman Center, University interfaith Association at OSU