Dialogue Must Become a Way of Life – New Book Teaches Readers How

Gathering the cumulative insight of over sixty years of Dr. Leonard Swidler’s work in interreligious, intercultural dialogue, a new book unpacks the underlying theory and practical methods needed to embrace all of its dimensions: Deep-Dialogue, Critical-Thinking, Emotional-Intelligence and Competitive-Cooperation. Dialogue for Interreligious Understanding: Strategies for the Transformation of Culture Shaping Institutionscombines these elements in addition to “common sense” guidelines on how to move beyond one’s own perspective to experience real encounter and dialogue with the Other.

In presenting a “Dialogue on Dialogue,” Swidler lays out both the theoretical and practical fruit of his more than sixty years of working in the field of ecumenical, interreligious, and interideological dialogue. He insists that dialogue is not just “talking together,” but is a whole new way of seeing oneself and the world, and then living accordingly.

“This is the summa of one of the greats of religious dialogue. The fruit of a lifetime of reflection and action, this book shows that dialogue is not merely an intellectual search for truth but a dance of life, a way of authentic, enriched living and a transformation of self. This volume is a gift to all who seek a humane, globally responsible, morally universal ethic for their own life, and it also shows you how to go about developing one,” says Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg, founding President of Jewish Life Network.

Dr. Leonard Swidler is Founder and President of the Dialogue Institute, as well as Founding Editor of the Journal of Ecumenical Studies. He is Professor of Catholic Thought and Interreligious Dialogue in the Religion Department of Temple University, where he has taught since 1966. At Temple, and as a visiting professor at universities around the world, Prof. Swidler has mentored generations of U.S. and international scholars in the work of interreligious dialogue.

‘Dialogue for Interreligious Understanding’ is published by Palgrave Macmillan and can be purchased in either print or digital format at www.palgrave.com or www.amazon.com. To learn more visit www.institute.jesdialogue.com or call 215-214-7520.

DI Board of Director Member Honored with Gold Medal Award at 18th Annual Independent Publisher Book Awards

Dr. Ellen Frankel, Dialogue Institute/ Journal of Ecumenical Studies (DI/JES) co- Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors, was recently honored as a gold medal winner in the Religion category at the 2014 Independent Publisher Book Awards for her ‘Preface to the Torah’, included in the revolutionary ‘Three Testaments’, the first work to combine the texts of the Torah, the New Testament and the Quran in one collective volume.

Frankel is a prolific author of Jewish scholarship, author of eleven titles including The Five Books of Miriam, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols, and The Classic Tales. She served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Jewish Publication Society (JPS) from 1991 until her retirement in 2009; she also served as the first woman CEO from 1998 - 2009. In addition, Frankel is an accomplished storyteller, lecturer and teacher. She continues to pursue her own writing and scholarly projects and remains actively engaged in the Jewish community. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the  DI/JES since 2012

The DI/JES work to bridge religious and cultural differences, build sustainable relationships and support interreligious scholarship and initiatives worldwide. The JES advances critical awareness of the latest directions in intra- and interreligious research and provides a print forum for scholarly discourse and dialogue. The Dialogue Institute trains students, scholars and religious and civic leaders in the skills of critical thinking and respectful dialogue in order to increase tolerance, understanding and cooperation toward positive social change.

“It is our honor to have Dr. Ellen Frankel serve as one of our distinguished Board of Director members, and her excellent work within the Jewish community has proven invaluable as we advance in our mission to cultivate relationships that bridge the divide of religion and culture across all faiths. As a prolific author and expert on the Torah, she is highly deserving of this gold medal award,“ reflects Rebecca Mays, Executive Director of the DI/JES.

‘Three Testaments’ is published by Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc. and can be purchased by contacting the DI/JES office at 215-204-7525, dialogue@temple.edu, or through a variety of online retailers. Plans are currently underway to present this work in a dramatic version off-Broadway in New York this fall.

Reactivating the Council on Interreligious Cooperation in Macedonia

The Dialogue Institute of Philadelphia contributed $2,300 to assist the dormant Council on Inter-religious Cooperation in Macedonia resume some of its activities. Having facilitated the creation of the Council beginning in 2002, which consisted of major representatives of five historical churches and religi-ous communities in the recently created country—the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the Islamic Religious Community, the Roman Catholic Church, the United Methodist Church, and the Jewish Community—the leaders of the Dialogue Institute assisted them in periodic meetings for the first five or six years. Gradually, however, meetings of the Council took place more and more infrequently, so that it seemed that its work might cease altogether.

On the initiative of the United Methodist pastor, Mihail Cekov, a meeting did take place in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia, on June 17, 2014. Present at the meeting were the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Stefan; Hadži Suleiman Redžepi, Reis ul ulema of the Islamic Community; Bishop Kiro Stojanov of the Catholic Church; the above-mentioned Rev. Mihail Cekov; and Berta Romano-Nikoliќ, president of the Jewish Community.

The agenda of the meeting consisted of (1) discussions of challenges meeting all religious communi-ties, namely, the high cost of utilities and telephone, for which it was decided to form a joint committee to negotiate better prices from the providers; (2) conversation regarding the general religious situation in Mace-donia, including the challenges facing young people and other themes; and (3) undertaking joint visits by the Council members to Štip, Berovo, and Strumica in July and in late September/early October to Tetovo, Gostivar, Ohrid, and Struga.

The proceedings took place in a friendly atmosphere, with the satisfaction that all representatives at-tended the meeting. Cekov thanked the Dialogue Institute for its funding of these efforts to resume the im-portant contacts in a conflict-ridden area, where there is often little enthusiasm for ecumenical cooperation.

Paul Mojzes, professor