Overview notes - Wednesday evening

There is much to report in terms of specific programs, ideas shared, presenters etc. But, for now, I will make a few random overview notes.

About the youth delegates--40 total ---they are a lot of fun, very engaged, asking great questions, 'hanging' with one another. This is a great model, giving scholarships to youth and young adults to attend an event such as this. They are Jewish, Christian and Muslim.

Lutherans are making a good showing here. Frank Sherman, retired from the Center for Christian - Jewish Understanding at Muhlenberg College did a fine workshop presentation on the ELCA's work on repudiating Luther's diatribe against the Jews. It was very well received and prompted a lot of conversation and further interest even outside the workshop. The feeling on the part of many delegates seems to be that Lutherans have made the most consistent effort to heal relations and work constructively on fostering good relations with the Jewish community. That is after the Roman Catholics, of course, who lead the way in this regard.

Islam - there are a number of delegates here from the Muslim community. Most impressive is Rehanna M Y Ali from Wellington, New Zealand. She stepped in at the last minute to fill in for a speaker who did not arrive and addressed very powerfully the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. She was bold, forthright and compassionate toward all concerned. Rehanna is a specialist in Sharia law and English common law having received her law degree in London.

Later she was one of 3 speakers on Islamaphobia. Amazing! I took extensive notes on her talk. She is matter of fact, straightforward and very well informed. She would be a great speaker in some place like Columbus, OH for addressing the issues, real and imagined around Islam. A lot of it is imagined, which she documents quite well. She draws from the Koran as one of the sources for her presentation.

Jewish delegates and the local Jewish community-- Many of the Jews here are forthrightly and unapologetically liberal and progressive in their outlook. There are quite a few Rabbis participating, especially from Aus and NZ. We visited The Great Synagogue, sort of the mother house of Judaism around here. It dates back to the 1800, located in downtown Sydney. Here is their web page http://www.greatsynagogue.org.au/. Jews have been in Australia since the 1700, and have done very well here, encountering little if any anti - semitism.

Final note for the moment - The ICCJ is meeting in Jerusalem next year, June 22 forward, 2008 and the topic will be the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. In preparation, they will be conducting an on-line forum designed to lay some foundations for conversation that will take place in Jerusalem. More possibilities for the Columbus conversations...........

Ok, one more final note - we were hosted last night at Sydney city chambers by the Lord Mayor. That is their term. He hosted very well, lots of hordouerves, wine, beer, orange juice....I actually ate my dinner there, discreetly so, of course.

Closing dinner tonight -Wednesday -- more to say later -- travelling to the Blue Mountains tomorrow, Thursday, which will be Wednesday evening for Ohio et al.