September 15, 2005

For more than a year, leaders of the mainstream Christian and Jewish communities of the United States have been working constructively to address issues that concern the two communities, of which the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is by far the most serious.

Standing on the rich tradition of working together to address questions of social justice, 17 leaders representing eight Christian denominations and national organizations and six national Jewish organizations and religious movements will spend five days together, from September 18-23, in the land that is holy to both faiths.

The trip seeks to demonstrate that Christians and Jews can work together and dialogue on peace, even when there is disagreement on specific policies and solutions, and to enable the participants to become even more effective advocates for peace.

The group plans to meet with Israeli and Palestinian public officials, religious leaders and scholars. Delegates will spend time together listening to the voices of Israelis and Palestinians who have suffered in this conflict. Each group will plan two days of the visit.

The religious leaders hope to find new common ground in their commitment to peace to mobilize more effectively their communities of faith, elected officials and fellow citizens on behalf of a negotiated peace settlement. Further, they hope to support those Palestinians and Israelis who are courageously working to establish a secure, viable and independent Palestinian state alongside an equally secure State of Israel.

The Jewish and Protestant leaders who will be making the journey are:

• Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, Director of Interfaith Affairs of the Anti-Defamation League

• Vidette Bullock Mixon, Director, Corporate Relations and Social Concerns of The United Methodist Church

• Dr. David Elcott, U.S. Director, Interreligious Affairs of The American Jewish Committee

• Ethan Felson, Director, Domestic Concerns of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs

• Richard Foltin, Legislative Director and Counsel of The American Jewish Committee

• Dennis Frado, Director, Lutheran Office for World Community, Evangelical Lutheran Church In America

• The Rev. Canon Brian Grieves, Director, Peace & Justice Ministries, The Episcopal Church

• Dr. Darrell H. Jodock, Chair, Consultative Panel on Lutheran-Jewish Relations, Evangelical Lutheran Church In America

• Rabbi Dr. Eugene Korn, Director of Jewish Affairs of The American Jewish Congress

• Dr. Peter Makari, Executive for the Middle East and Europe of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

• The Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, Associate General Secretary for Interfaith Relations, National Council of Churches

• Mark Pelavin, Associate Director, Religious Action Center, Union of Reform Judaism; The Rev Dr. John E. Roberts, Alliance of Baptists

• The Rev. Dr. Jay Rock, Coordinator for Interfaith Relations, Presbyterian Church(USA)

• Emily Soloff, Executive Director, Chicago Chapter of The American Jewish Committee

• Mark Waldman, Director of Public Policy, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

• Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist Church.

Episcopal News Service