From July 8th to August 1st, AR Programs Director and Rising Tide International Interreligious Dialogue Lecturer Abed Manasra traveled up and down the US East Coast offering 13 programs from Virginia to Maine. The goal was to meet new people, allies, organizations, congregations, and spread the word about Abrahamic Reunion’s work, and everywhere Abed and the AR were met with open arms, willing dialogues, and meaningful conversations.
Georgia
Longtime Abrahamic Reunion supporter Jim Burton hosted Abed and his family en route up the East Coast for a lovely conversation and dinner outside Atlanta.
Pictured (L-R): Mayan, Hayya Burton, Gulnar, Shayma, Laila, Israa, Abed, Jim Burton, and Ghassan.
Washington DC
Abed met with and was hosted by AR Supporter Claire Fuller MSW, LCSW-C, LICSW, LCSW, CSW, who is a specialist in PTSD counseling from conflict. Claire is consulting on the Abrahamic Reunion’s Young Peacemakers Training in the trauma-awareness curriculum and presentations.
20 years ago, Abed visited Washington DC — here he is then and now at the Washington Monument!
Middletown, CT
Saturday, July 11th
Peace Concert on the front lawn of Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity downtown on Main Street was warmly received by a multi-faith audience of Muslims, Christians, and Jews — Abed performed four Arabic and Sufi traditional compositions on Oud, while interspersing stories about peace, his background as a peacemaker, and the work of the Abrahamic Reunion.
Sunday, July 12th – Ecumenical Worship Service at South Church
South Church of Middletown featured three Reverends and Abed in conversation during their ecumenical worship service — Rev. Will Tanner (First Church Middletown UCC), Dr. Mary Barnett (Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity), and Rev. Dr. Kristen Provost Schwitzer (South Church UCC of Middletown).
Sunday, July 12th — “How to Disagree” at South Church
After the service, Abed, Revs. Will, Mary, and Kristen, and about 30 participants sat down for what was supposed to be a 45 minute dialogue on “How to Disagree,” a program showcasing the AR’s dialogue methods that don’t erase difference or identity, but help people learn to embrace it through encounter, connection, understanding, and empathy. The program went well over 90 minutes!
Radio Interview in Middletown, CT
Richard Kamins, a member of Congregation Adath Israel, is a music enthusiast, sometimes-lecturer, and radio show host at the local radio station, WLIS-AM & WMRD-AM. Click here to listen to the radio show and interview: https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/index.cfm?stationcallsign=WLISWMRD&autoStartApp=on-demand&autoStartPodcast=3163681
Lansdale, PA (outside Philadelphia)
Salem, MA
Rev. Emeritus Cliff Cutler and Grace Church of Salem, MA invited Abed for a peace luncheon and evening talk, with over 30+ people gathering for peace. Abed’s homestay host had connections to the local museum, which was featuring a gorgeous installation where Abed was invited to play his oud!
Portland, Maine
An evening of Peace and Music was held at the Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, where 30+ attendees listened to performance on Oud, stories of peace and peacemaking, and heard about the work of the Abrahamic Reunion.
Durham, NH
Rev. David Grishaw-Jones and the Community Church of Durham, NH (UCC) hosted Abed for an evening concert, July 26th, Saturday night, in their chapel. This was followed by a dialogue between Abed and Rev. David during the Sunday Service, on peace and the way of peacemaking, and a community dialogue following the service. Rev. David also hosted Abed in Maine for several nights, giving Abed’s family a lovely chance to rest between speaking tour stops.
Charlottesville, VA