Staff Transitions

Racelle leading a discussion at the inaugural Muslim and Jewish Women Leadership Conference, hosted by the DI and Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom this past November.

The past few months have brought several significant staff transitions at the Dialogue Institute and the Journal of Ecumenical Studies.

Racelle Weiman left her position as Director for Global Education and Program Development at the end of February, having first joined the staff in 2006. She served as Executive Director from 2006 to 2009 before moving to her most recent role.

Meliani, pictured far right, welcoming SUSI/YSEALI students arriving in Philadelphia this past January.

A strong advocate for both dialogue and human rights, she helped to create programs for Kurdish officials visiting Philadelphia, for Yazidi women, for Jewish and Muslim youth, and for our Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) students. Returning from one session with her this past winter, one SUSI student exclaimed, “Wow! I am so inspired to return to my country and care for the minorities!” 

Racelle's knowledge of the myriad ways in which minority/majority relations balance power is well grounded in her astute observations of culture in the many countries where she has taught. This knowledge and wisdom joined with Leonard Swidler (her M.A. and Ph.D advisor) to organize, among other efforts, international “trialogues" intended to improve Jewish- Muslim-Christian relations.  

Racelle's passion for recognizing those who do support minority populations will carry on through her recently founded, "The Humanization Project." The first initiative is a documentary called Indonesian Lullaby: Courage and Compassion in a Time of Hate. Click here to learn more.

Meliani Murtiningsih left the DI and the Journal of Ecumenical Studies at the end of March. She began as an Editorial Assistant for the Journal in 2010 and as Program Associate for the DI beginning in 2011.

Devoted to her native Indonesian culture,  Yeni came to the United States to study at Hartford Seminary and then to work for the DI with an intense passion for creating peace among Christians and Muslims. Beyond her editorial responsibilities at J.E.S., her work with the DI focused primarily on our bi-annual Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) program. In addition to accompanying students through most of the five-week programs, Yeni provided strong leadership in handling much of the program logistics and administration, and also led sessions introducing our students to religious pluralism in America. Her sensitivity to their concerns made her our cultural ambassador, helping to interpret for students many of their most challenging questions and to draw them into the skills of dialogue and their plans for action. 

Yeni has returned home to Indonesia to be with her family, and is currently considering options to further her education.

Tim Emmett-Rardin joined the DI staff this past November as the part-time Development Manager, focused primarily on grant writing. He moved into an expanded role as Director of Marketing and Development in February.

Tim has worked in a variety of nonprofit, religious (including interfaith), and higher education contexts over the past 20-plus years. He received his M.Div. from Drew Theological School in 2004 (with a focus on interfaith studies/world religions, urban ministry, and social activism), and his B.A. in English and Communication from the University of Michigan in 1994.

He lives in West Philadelphia with his partner, Amy, and their five-year-old son, Gabriel. Tim can be reached at ter@dialogueinstitute.org.

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The staff and Board of Directors are extremely grateful to both Racelle and Yeni for their time, their leadership and their giftedness in support of the DI/J.E.S. mission. Click here to make a donation in honor of Racelle and/or Yeni (and/or long-time staff member Julia Sheetz-Willard, who left this past November to begin a new position as Assistant Director of Campus Ministry for Ecumenical and Interfaith Outreach at Villanova University).

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Leonard Swidler Interviewed in The Journal of Inter-religious Studies

Dialogue Institute founder and president Leonard Swidler was recently interviewed for Issue 16 of the The Journal of Inter-religious Studies.

In the interview, Dialoguing with a Dialogue Pioneer, Professor Swidler is invited to reflect on his "pioneering work in the field of interreligious dialogue and the future of this evolving discipline."

Click here to read the full article.

The Journey of a Lifetime – New Book Shares the Journey of Dr. Leonard Swidler

We live in the era of dialogue, an era Leonard Swidler helped birth. This is his story: the son of a Jewish Ukrainian immigrant and an Irish Catholic, a boy who set out to become an intellectual and a saint. There Must Be YOU: Leonard Swidler’s Journey to Faith and Dialogue explores how and why, out of this aspiring Norbertine priest, there emerged Professor Swidler of today: a teacher, a reformer of the church, a preeminent feminist, and one of the fathers of interreligious dialogue with an international following, who argues passionately that Dialogue is a matter more than of peace-making but of living authentically human in a fundamentally dialogical universe. Born at the start of the Great Depression, he represents by his journey the very turmoil and growth of American modernity: our search for faith, our struggle with diversity, our fight for social justice.

Written by Len’s colleague and friend, this book weaves together the narrative of his life, conversations with him, and excursions into history; the past and the present; the depth of reflection about faith and reason, Antisemitism, feminism, the meaning of being a Christian—and a sparkle of humor. The book provides the opportunity to laugh with Len, consideration of his ideas on where history is taking humanity, having lived intimately through the moments in time that are only historical accounts to some, and stirring provocative thought about one’s own questions, faith journeys, and the dialogue of life.

 “This creative, well-written, and unique biography is a spiritual gift to our times, a teaching tool, and an introduction to one of the great thinkers of the day. It is Len Swidler’s biography, but it is also a cultural history of the era, and a call to all of us to revisit our religious-intellectual roots. There can be no greater or more necessary intellectual challenge than that in this mercurial time.” said Joan Chittister, a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, PA and prominent Catholic author and lecturer.

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.

Author River Adams grew up a classically trained pianist in Soviet Russia, came to America as a Jewish refugee, and became a Christian by way of conversion. She is an alumna of Harvard Divinity School and a former Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies at Rosemont College. She writes on biblical themes and on themes of peace and justice, and she runs a blog on faith and theology OnMountHoreb.com.

‘There Must Be YOU: Leonard Swidler’s Journey to Faith and Dialogue’ is published by Wipf and Stock and can be purchased in either print or digital format at www.wipfandstock.com or www.amazon.com. To learn more visit www.institute.jesdialogue.com or call 215-214-7520.

DI Hosts 20 Students from Southeast Asia

The Dialogue Institute, along with the the International Center for Contemporary Education, hosted 20 young adult students from Southeast Asia (Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand), January 10-February 14.

The five-week program, focused on Religious Pluralism in the United States, is run in conjunction with the U.S. State Department (Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs), and its Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) and Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI).

The first four weeks were spent primarily in Philadelphia, along with a few days in New York City, and included an opening community-building retreat, interactive workshops on dialogue, critical thinking, communication and leadership, religious and historical site visits and a weekend staying with American host families. The fifth week began with a study tour in New Mexico and Arizona, with a particular focus on the rich cultural and religious identity of Native Americans. The final few days in Washington, D.C. included touring, embassy visits and various meetings with government officials.

This was the 9th Institute the DI has facilitated since 2010, and plans are already underway for the 10th - hosting 20 students from the Middle East this summer. These 20 students now join a growing network of nearly 200 SUSI alumni.

Click here to see pictures.

DI Hosts Yazidi Activist Vian Dakhil on U.S. Tour

The Dialogue Institute, led by Board Chair Majid Alsayegh, hosted Iraqi Member of Parliament and Yazidi representative, Vian Dakhil, for a nine-day tour in the United States, December 9-17, 2014, to help call attention to the humanitarian crisis facing the Yazidi people in Iraq.

She received international attention last summer for her impassioned plea on the floor of the Iraqi Parliament on behalf of Yazidis, tens of thousands of whom were stranded in the mountains of Mt. Sinjar as they attempted to flee ISIS militants.

During the tour, with stops in Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C., she met with U.S. Senators, key White House personnel, members of the U.S. Department of State, USAID representatives and members of the media. A highlight of her visit was the opportunity to share testimony to the Senate Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy and Global Women's Issues (see full testimony at foreign.senate.gov hearings/120914am).

Speaking to Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Rand Paul and other delegates, Dakhil gave a moving account of the atrocities suffered by the Yazidi people at the hands of the “so-called Islamic State.” She described her commitment to her people, and her tireless work to bring awareness of their plight to influential leaders worldwide. The hearing concluded with an earnest plea for U.S. aid – both in the short term to assist the Yazidi refugees with the supplies needed to sustain themselves through the harsh winter months, and long-term assistance in establishing peace in the region.

During her White House visit, Dakhil was able to outline her primary aid requests to the assembly. These included help in freeing the women held by ISIS, support in helping the women survivors of ISIS crimes, assistance for the families still trapped on Mt. Sinjar, and improved delivery and quality of humanitarian aid to the refugees in Kurdistan.

Dakhil and her sister, Dr. Deelan Dakhil, were given a tour of the National Cathedral and offered an opportunity to say a prayer for the Yazidi people at the Cathedral. Canon Precentor Gina Campbell was pleased to recognize and host this visit as it was the first time that the Yazidi faith had been recognized and honored at the Cathedral. In a fitting end to her stay in Washington, D.C., Dakhil visited the Holocaust Museum and participated in a round-table discussion upon completion of the tour. Bearing witness to the genocide of the Holocaust provided a common discussion point as Dakhil correlated these past atrocities with those being committed against the Yazidi people today.

Dakhil then traveled to Philadelphia, where she met with members of the Board of Directors and staff of the DI, and visited the Museum of Tolerance with a program involving survivors of genocide.

Dakhil’s trip concluded with a visit to New York City and a meeting with U.S. Ambassador Samantha Powers at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, as well as an interview with Al Jazeera, the Qatar- based television broadcast network.

“All I see as the girls return are tears. They have difficulty even speaking but tell us ‘They ruined us.’ They return with nothing, not even shoes, only memories of the horrors that they have endured, leaving them mentally and physically damaged.” These words from an eyewitness to Yazidi women who managed to flee their ISIS captors are what motivate Dakhil to continue her awareness campaign to bring help and hope to her people.

To date, the Dialogue Institute also helped raise more than $6,500 in support of Dakhil's ongoing humanitarian efforts in Iraq.

DI Partners with Hong Kong Baptist University to Launch Asia Interreligious Development Network

The Dialogue Institute, in partnership with Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), launched the Asia Interreligious Development Network (AIDN) with an initial gathering in Hong Kong of 15 Asian scholar-activists from 10 different countries, December 10-12, 2014. The three-year project is funded by the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, with participants from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

The AIDN initiative will enable participants to share their visions and accomplishments in the arena of interreligious engagement, and learn from one another so that best practices can be honed and disseminated throughout the region. The purpose of the AIDN is three-fold:

          1) To build an effective network of academics and practitioners across Asia (East,            Southeast and South Asia) who work in the area of interreligious dialogue, in order to develop and share best practices in the field;

            2) To develop curricula for interdisciplinary General Education courses and modules,      adapted to the needs of each particular country context, through which the values and skills of interreligious engagement can be taught to undergraduate students; and

            3) To publish an edited volume presenting network members’ interreligious projects –   challenges overcome, theoretical questions, lessons learned – that will foster wide-scale replication and innovation in the field.

During the initial gathering, participants shared oral presentations of their interreligious dialogue work, including case studies and identifying practices and strategies they've found useful in overcoming obstacles. Over the next two years (through the end of the academic year, 2016-2017), participants are also being asked to launch and complete a pilot project (General Education course or other training module) in their home institution, in consultation with DI/HKBU staff. These projects will inform the final edited volume.

The next gathering will be held again in the Philippines in February of 2016.

Dialogue Institute Represented at Annual AAR Conference

The Dialogue Institute (DI)/Journal of Ecumenical Studies (JES) presented new books and papers at this year’s American Academy of Religion (AAR) and Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) Conference, held on November 22-25, 2014 in San Diego, CA. A themed DI exhibit display also offered conference attendees the opportunity to network with DI staff members, learn about how the DI is actively engaged in interreligious and intercultural affairs both stateside and abroad, and purchase a wide array of books penned by DI Founder and President Dr. Leonard Swidler as well as two edited by the Institute’s director, Rebecca Kratz Mays.

DI Executive Director Rebecca Kratz Mays presented a paper to the Quaker Theological Studies Group centered on the theme “Pushing Boundaries: Mystics as Expansive Religionists” titled “Becoming Broader: Risking Boundaries as Taking Religion Seriously,” Dr. Leonard Swidler presented a paper to an Interreligious and Interfaith Studies Group centered on the theme “Dialogue Among Three Strands of Dialogue Researchers” titled “Perspectives on Interreligious Dialogue and Theology: Parallel Constructions of Dialogue.”

The DI was proud to showcase its work at the conference, the largest gathering of the year in the fields of religious studies and theology. Professors, students, authors, publishers, religious leaders and interested laypersons gathered together to participate in academic sessions, receptions, tours and workshops. An estimated 10,000 attendees participated in the event.  

An enhanced DI presence at the conference was of significant importance this year, as the DI/JEScelebrates its 50th anniversary and the recent release of two publications highlighting Dr. Leonard Swidler and his more than 60 years of work in the field of interreligious and intercultural studies. The first publication is a biography penned by River Adams entitled “There Must Be YOU: Leonard Swidler’s Journey to Faith and Dialogue,” which details Dr. Swidler’s history and storied career. The second, penned by Dr. Swidler himself, is a collection of his most poignant insights on interreligious dialogue and is titled “Dialogue for Interreligious Understanding: Strategies for the Transformation of Culture Shaping.”

“The annual AAR conference provides a key venue through which to network and engage with a selection of our constituency that are actively involved in the fields of religious study and theology. A new section at AAR focused on interfaith work is making great strides in advancing the important role of interreligious dialogue in today’s world,” reflects Rebecca Mays. “We look forward to following up with them and others at the conference so that we may together collaborate in those projects that foster respect for religious diversity.”

About the Dialogue Institute/Journal of Ecumenical Studies:  The Dialogue Institute (DI) teaches religious, civic, and academic leaders the skills of respectful dialogue and critical thinking, empowering them to build and sustain transformative relationships across lines of religion and culture.  It provides resources and creates networks for intra-and inter-religious scholarship and action that value difference and foster human dignity. Established in 1964, the peer-reviewed Journal of Ecumenical Studies (JES) advances critical awareness of the latest directions in ecumenical and interreligious research.

DI Alumni Launch Interfaith Youth Forum

{This event occurred on November 19-22, 2014 and was an overwhelming success according to the Interfaith Youth Forum 2014 Committee. A total of 26 future student leaders participated in a variety of seminars, workshops, dialogue simulations and site visits to various houses of worship throughout the city. The ultimate purpose of this forum was to empower young leaders to confront issues of religious and cultural intolerance and respond to such through respectful interfaith dialogue. DI President and Founder Dr. Leonard Swidler, Executive Director Rebecca Mays and DI Associate Meliani Murtiningsih actively participated in the forum via Skype. Students concluded the event by taking a vow to promote peace, harmony and interreligious unity in their respective communities. Plans are already underway for the 2015 forum. A full report on this event may be found here.}

Indonesian student leaders who participated in the Dialogue Institute’s Study of the U.S. Institutes on Religious Pluralism (SUSI) five week intensive study program in 2012 and 2013 have launched the Interfaith Youth Forum in their native country of Indonesia. I Gede Pandu Wirawan (SUSI 2012), Agus Burniat (SUSI 2012) and Ahmad Rafuan (SUSI 2013) have united to create the Interfaith Dialogue Program: Interfaith Youth Forum 2014. This program aims to empower and equip young leaders with the skills necessary to engage in interreligious dialogue in their own communities.

This is the third annual forum hosted by the Youth Interfaith Community, with previous events held in Palembang in 2012 and Bali in 2013. The 2014 event will be held on November 19-22 in Palangka Raya under the theme “Huma Betang: Unity in Diversity”. The event will consist of seminars, interfaith dialogue sessions, and visits to a variety of houses of worship and other religious sites.  

Participants include young adults (ages 18-25) from all regions of the country. They will be encouraged to dialogue together to promote tolerance, mutual understanding and collaborative efforts to engage in interfaith issues, leading by example. Additionally, students will learn through the arts how anti-violent actions can resolve conflict. The ultimate goal of the event is to increase the spirit of “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika”, or nationalism as the unifier of all Indonesians. 

The concept of this forum was birthed from the experiences of the SUSI alumni listed above who, through their intensive five week training with the Dialogue Institute, identified the need for such collaborative dialogue work in their home country of Indonesia. The experiences they shared while in the US paved the way for the creation of the Interfaith Youth Forum.  

“As young people, we would like to contribute to the democratic process of Indonesia, which is to strengthen our democracy by educating people about religious tolerance. This creates a better understanding of differing religious beliefs. It is only through tolerance and greater understanding that the people of Indonesia can practice their respective religions freely without fear of being persecuted. This is how a democracy should be.” reflects Ahmad Rafuan, Chairman of Operations for Interfaith Youth Forum.

The biannual SUSI program is hosted by the Dialogue Institute and the International Center for Contemporary Education (ICCE) and is funded by the U.S. State Department’s Study of the U.S. Branch. The program is designed to include classroom work as well as frequent interactions with many Americans from diverse backgrounds. Courses offer a variety of learning opportunities including lectures, classroom discussions, field trips, volunteer service projects, cultural events, and a study tour—all designed to help students increase their understanding of American democracy and the way in which religious practice is protected and expressed in U.S. society.

DI/J.E.S. Bids Farewell to Key Staff Member

Director of Programs and Grants, Dr. Julia Sheetz-Willard, left her position with the Dialogue Institute and the Journal of Ecumenical Studies to begin a new position as the Associate Director of Campus Ministry for Ecumenical and Interfaith Outreach at Villanova University, effective November 17, 2014.

Julie began work at the DI/J.E.S. as a graduate assistant while she completed her dissertation. Upon receiving her Ph.D. from Temple University's Department of Religion in 2007, she moved into a full-time position as Administrative Coordinator of both the DI and J.E.S. As the DI and its reach expanded, she took the lead in applying for our first Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) grant from the U.S. State Department, awarded in 2010. Since then, the now semi-annual SUSI programs on Religious Pluralism in the United States have become a major part of the DI’s work.

“Working with our international students in the SUSI programs has been life-changing for me," says Sheetz-Willard. "These courageous student leaders return home to situations of conflict and struggle, with a commitment to foster respectful engagement across lines of difference. They are my inspiration!”

In addition to her role as Administrative Coordinator, Julie has served as Acting Director of the DI, and most recently, as Director of Programs and Grants. “The Dialogue Institute’s mission of building bridges of understanding is desperately needed in today’s world. It has been a privilege to work among colleagues – DI/J.E.S. staff and Board, and our many stakeholders – whose vision, wisdom, and skills are helping to advance interreligious and intercultural respect in a global context.”

The position Sheetz-Willard fills at Villanova draws together her 17 years of experience as a Presbyterian pastor, along with her DI experience in ecumenical and interfaith scholarship and activism.

“Julie’s dialogue work is moving physically from Temple University to Villanova University," says Leonard Swidler, DI founder and J.E.S. co-founder, "and linking the two!” We look forward to continuing our work with her in this new context.

Click here to contact Julie at Villanova.

DI Hosts Inaugural Leadership Conference for Muslim & Jewish Women

On November 2, 2014, the Dialogue Institute (DI) partnered with the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom to host over 100 Muslim and Jewish women leaders for a first-ever leadership conference. The event was held at Temple University as part of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding’s Weekend of Twinning.

This trailblazing conference aimed to bring together female leaders from Muslim and Jewish faith traditions and equip them with the skills necessary to advance interfaith communication and engagement among their own communities.

“Now, more than ever, there is a need to build bridges and shatter negative stereotypes between Muslims and Jews,” said Sheryl Olitzky, President of Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom. 

Keynote speakers included DI Board Member, Ellen Frankel, and DI Director of Global Education, Racelle Weiman, as well as Daisy Khan, Blu Greenberg, and Rabia Chaudy, among others. World-renowned Jordanian musician and peace activist Farah Siraj also performed at the event.

The Dialogue Institute provides avenues through which leaders can develop and enhance the skills of interreligious and intercultural dialogue in an effort to build long-term relationships that bridge differences. This objective aligns well with the mission of Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom: to end anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish sentiments by building meaningful relationships between both faith groups. This event served as the launching point for continued collaboration between the DI and Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom.

“Our mandate is to facilitate these types of grassroots initiatives and celebrate their focus to create and sustain lifelong relationships and partnerships,” said Dr. Racelle Weiman.

Click here to see additional pictures from the event.