CHRISTIAN-JEWISH ALLIES
for peace with justice in Israel/Palestine
Our Common Ground:
- As people of faith we come together in our local work and in Israel/Palestine to build relationships with one another and nourish hope that we may work together to fulfill the promise of God’s creation.
- We reach out to other faith-based communities to educate and inform.
- We seek to dispel the myth that criticism of the government of Israel is anti-Semitic. There is nothing anti-Semitic about opposing injustice.
- We challenge, prod, and encourage each other to explore the range of our possible actions to foster justice and peace for all people of Israel/Palestine.
- We ground this work in our common religious tradition that inspires ethical living, respects human dignity, and guides us to act according to God’s will for the well-being of all.
What we do:
We offer a variety of educational resources tailored to the particular needs of each faith-based community, such as:
- Film or film series and discussions
- Educational workshops
- Book group reading materials, with or without facilitation
- Presentations by speakers
- Resources for those considering a delegation to the Holy Land
- Fair trade Palestinian products, such as olive oil and crafts, that support peace and sustainability
- Children and teen programming
History: C-J Allies grew out of local participation in the Tree of Life Conference in Philadelphia in November 2009. Its formation reflects our shared sense of urgency as people of faith to work together toward justice and peace in the Holy Land. In two short years, we have hosted appearances by author Mark Braverman in several area churches, colleges, and seminaries; our interfaith teams have taught adult education courses on Israel/Palestine in seven regional churches; we have presented at conferences, workshops, and denominational gatherings; and we have sponsored relevant films, programs and talks by visiting scholars and journalists. We are now regularly invited to plan and present classes and programs in churches of varied denominations throughout the Delaware Valley.
C-J Allies of the Greater Philadelphia area has established relationships with organizations such as Philadelphia Jews for a Just Peace and Friends of Sabeel, North America. Our founding members identify as Baptist, Catholic, Episcopalian, Jewish, Quaker, Lutheran, Mennonite, Presbyterian, United Methodist and United Church of Christ. We extend an invitation to individuals and groups who share our common ground.
For more information, including the dates and locations of upcoming meetings, please contact: The Reverend E. Clifford Cutler: ccutler@stpaulschestnuthill.orgHannah Schwarzschild: hannahesq@gmail.com
