Prayers for Peace in the Middle East

Canberra 9 August 2009 Last Sunday 150 people from the Jewish, Christian and Islamic communities of Canberra met at the Jewish Community Centre in Forrest to pray for peace in the Middle East. It was a reverent but also inspiring time as representatives of the three traditions led worship segments from each tradition in turn. Sufi chant and music from Jewish and Christian choirs was heard together with readings from the Scriptures of each faith and brief comments and a prayer from a leader in each of the three communities. Participants had been asked to respect the intention that this was to be a time of prayer and meditation. The spirit of the event was prayerful and deeply peaceful and many from the different communities appreciated being able to pray together in such a simple but meaningful way. The event concluded with the signing of an Interfaith Commitment on Dialogue and Co-operation in which the three communities promised to continue to respect and listen to one another, to work together in discerning ‘principles for peace’ and seek a joint project in which they might support sister communities in the Holy Land working for peace. This Interfaith Commitment brought another dimension to the day and meant that sharing in prayer is but the first step in a process of engagement and dialogue that aims beyond symbols and words to mutual understanding and concrete action. None of the leaders participating in the process underestimates the complexity of the issues involved or the differences in perspective between the various faith traditions. However, there is a recognition that peace is the gift of the God of all the Abrahamic faiths and an objective common to all three communities. Bishop Pat Power, 2009 Canberran of the Year, said “Here in Canberra we are uniquely placed to promote dialogue. The good will which exists between the Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities enables us to cross divides which in other places seem insuperable.” Leaders from the three faith communities have met since the Prayers for Peace to take further the exploration of the ‘principles for peace’ and the shaping of an interfaith project in which they might co-operate.