EdinburghInter-FaithAssociation

The Inter-Faith Golden Rule:

“Try to understand the other’s faith as you would like your faith

to be understood.”

EdinburghInter-FaithAssociation

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Dear Friends,

The Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association with the support of the Scottish Government and the city of Edinburgh Council warmly welcome you to our programme of events, concerts, dialogues and encounters to celebrate Interfaith Week 2012.

This is one of our most varied and diverse programmes yet and we thank everyone who has helped to bring this together. The theme of Scottish Interfaith Week 2012 is

Celebration and we believe that this is reflected in our programme.

“Celebration is a kind of food we all need in our lives, and each individual brings a special recipe or offering, so that together we will make a great feast. Celebration is a human need that we must not, and can not, deny. It is richer and fuller when many work and then celebrate together.”

Corita Kent and Jan Steward

In order to build an harmonious and peaceful society it is essential that we learn to greater understand and respect one another. We hope that our programme of celebration encourages you to make your offering, to build friendships across communities and through doing so feel richer and fuller for having done so.

Rev Donald ReidCo-Conveners of EIFA

Sunday 25th of November4.30pm – 5.30pm

Launch of Inter-Faith Week programme

Monday 26th November 6.00pm – 7.00pm

Inter-Faith Week Community Meal

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Welcome by the convenor of Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association. Outline of Inter-Faith Week Programme. Presentation to Victor

Spence, former General Secretary of EIFA followed by an introduction from the new EIFA General Secretary, Iain Stewart.

Interspersed with a multi-faith/ cultural entertainment programme.

Venue: St Johns, Princes Street (Lothian Road)

5.45pm -6.45pm: Social gathering after event

A chance to network, learn more about Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association and the programme for the week, what happens behind

the scenes and meet some new friends.

Venue St Johns, Princes Street (Lothian Road)

Come and join us for a ‘taster’ of our monthly Community Meal during Inter-Faith week.

The Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association hosts a Community Meal in the Church Hall of St John’s

Church, Princes Street on the first Monday of every month. Come and meet old and new friends. All food is

vegetarian and there is a vegan option by request.

Venue: Church Hall, St John’s Church, Princes Street (Lothian Road)

A lecture by Rabbi Mark Solomon with a response from Christian and Muslim representatives.

Mark Solomon is Rabbi of the Edinburgh and Manchester Liberal Jewish Communities, Associate Chair of the Rabbinic Board of Liberal Judaism and Interfaith Consultant for Liberal Judaism.

Monday 26th November 7.00pm - 8.00pm

Islam’s influence on Judaism

Venue: Martin Hall, New College(University of Edinburgh), the Mound

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Tuesday 27th November 7.30pm

Locanda da De Gusti restaurant eveningEvents for World AIDS Day 2012 Cost: £25

In recognition of World AIDs Day, Locanda De Gusti invites you to an evening of sumptuous Italian food and musical entertainment from celebrated LGBT choir, Loud & Proud in aid of Waverley Care.

For more information or for tickets contact the Waverley Care Fundraising Team on 0131 556 9710.

For further information on World Aids Day Events contact: HIV Scotland, Suite 2, 27 Beaverhall Road, Edinburgh. EH7 4JE Telephone: +44(0)131 558 3713.

Hosted by: Waverley CareLocation: Locanda De Gusti Restaurant, Broughton Street, Edinburgh

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Wednesday 28th November 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Civic Café- One Last Request

At the end of our lives we would all like to think that our dying wishes are followed through. Whether we would want to be cremated, buried or our ashes scattered according to our tradition. At present next of kin have rights to decide what happens to the body of a loved one when they pass away. Is this right? What happens when their beliefs conflict?

Venue: St Andrews & St Georges West, Shandwick Place.– By Invitation Only –

Thursday 29th November 7.00pm

Tinderbox Orchestra Performance

Venue: Wester Hailes Education Centre, 5 Murrayburn Drive, Edinburgh. Telephone: 0131 442 2201

December 15th Tinderbox Festival

Venue: Roxy Art House Edinburgh, 2 Roxburgh Place, Old Town

The Tinderbox Project’s vision is a cultural landscape in which young people have a place and a voice, and where their views, experiences and ideas are listened to and valued by society. Music and the arts are used to achieve positive social change and create far-reaching and accessible opportunities for young people. The Tinderbox arts festival brings together people from different backgrounds and communities, in which they all collaborate in creating a really exciting event. During the Festival on December 15th there will be a collaborative exhibition with workshops including: Beyond the Vale - Arts and crafts workshops with Muslim boys aged 10-13, Kaimes School: Sikh Sanjog/ Wester Hailes Arts Learning and Eduction (WHALE) centre/other groups.

For further details contact:Jack Nissan Creative Director jack@tinderboxproject.co.uk

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Friday 30th November 10.00am – 11.00am

Freedom to Practice Religion

A conversation between Ewan Aitken (Church of Scotland Minister and City Councillor) and Ravinder Nijjar (Scottish Sikh Women’s Association, the Co-Chair of Religions for Peace European Women of Faith Network)

on how far religious freedoms should extend. The discussion follows on from recent debates

surrounding religious groups’ rights to maintain traditional practices such as carrying and wearing

symbols/ articles of clothing central to their faith (e.g. kirpan, hijab, crucifix).

Venue: St Marks Unitarian Church, Castle Terrace, Edinburgh

Friday 30th November – Sunday 2nd December

Three Faiths, Three Friends, Three Encounters

The Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association and the ‘Three Faiths Forum’ Edinburgh welcome people to a unique three day programme of dialogue whereby we welcome faith teachers from three of the Abrahamic traditions to one anothers’ services of worship.

One of the event organizers Bashir Malik said, “We must show respect for each other from the core of our hearts, and these visits of each other’s place of worship is the best way to express our

respect and commitment to contributing to achieving peace and harmony within our communities.”

The programme will see representatives visit Blackhall Mosque on the Friday, Edinburgh Jewish Synagogue on the Saturday and Mayfield Salisbury Church on the Sunday.

For further details please contact: Reverend Ian Gilmour at ianyg2@gmail.com

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Saturday 1st December 2pm – 3.15pm Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association presents:

Bollywood Dreams

We are very proud in presenting one of the UK’s best ‘upcoming Bollywood singers’, Scotland’s very own talent, SAJ SABRI. This young artist has been performing in front of large audiences since the age of 12. His awe-inspiring melodious voice has entertained hundreds of audiences for over a decade, and we are fortunate to have him perform for us at this very special and unique Interfaith event.

The Sweet Sounds of Saj Sabri

Come along and enjoy an afternoon of LIVE bollywood musicals, and be prepared to be moved and inspired as you are transported through the wonderful world of Bollywood.

£8 (£6) St John’s Church, Princess Street. Tickets on the door.£1 from every ticket sold will go to Mary’s Meals.

The Bahá’i Community invite you to come and

experience Bahá’i worship, hear a short introduction to the Bahá’i faith with

the opportunity for questions then we are further invited to

enjoy light refreshments.

Venue: The Edinburgh Baha’i Centre 44 Albany Street, EH1 3QR

Sunday 2nd December 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Meet Your Bahá’i Neighbour

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Sunday 2nd December 6.30pm – 8.30pm

The Labyrinth

Sunday 2nd December at 7.00pm by donation

The Big Inter-Faith QuizSt Marks Unitarian Church , Castle Terrace

Following the success of last year’s Big Inter-Faith Quiz, we invite you to flex your grey matter once again and show us how much you know about the world’s great faith traditions. Remember, the more religiously diverse your team is, the greater chance you have of being crowned Big Inter-Faith Quiz Champions! Tea, coffee and delicious kosher cakes will be served.

For more information or to enter as an individual team, please contact:

Iain Stewart on 01312297565 or at iain@eifa.org.uk

You can enter as an individual and be assigned to a team on the night or enter a team.

Polwarth Parish Church warmly invites you to celebrate Scottish Inter-Faith Week with a pot-luck

supper and an introduction to The Labyrinth.Bring food to share (tea, coffee and juice provided).

• Meet local people of other faiths •

• Experience the labyrinth as meditation, prayer and pilgrimage •

To RSVP or for further details please contact:layassistant@polwarth.org.uk

Venue: Polwarth Parish Church, 36-38 Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh, EH11 1LU

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Advent World Religions Study Programme

Saturday, 8 December 2.00pm – 4.00pm

What does it mean to be a woman? A Celebration of Strength and Sisterhood

Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association is delighted to support the advent study programme at St James Church, Portobello which will see speakers from four different faith traditions

deliver an introduction to their faith followed by small group discussion.

Venue: St James Church, Portobello

A women-only safe space for sharing our thoughts on power (positive and nega-tive) in our lives, our relationships, our faith communities. How do we support one another, grieve our losses, come together in times of crisis, and celebrate our triumphs? We imagine the answers will be as varied as the women who give them.

In partnership with Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association, Edinburgh Women’s Interfaith Group and Scottish Women’s Aid, this event takes place within the international campaign, 16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence aiming to strengthen networks of women working towards justice in their communities.

Space is limited. Please RSVP by December 3 to:Julia Cato at julia@eifa.org.ukVenue: To be confirmed.

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Date: Sunday 9th of December 11.00am – 5.30pmThe Beauty and the Word:Islamic Calligraphy workshop with Jawdat Kadhim (£20)

Jawdat Kadhim Kaiby taught Arabic cal-ligraphy in Iraq for thirteen years at the Basra Fine Art Institute and was the head of his department for four years. He also served three years as head of the Basra Arabic Calligraphy Society.

Jawdat moved to Scotland in 2008 and has led calligraphy workshops at the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian

Museum and the prestigious Burrell Collection.

In this day-long workshop, students will be introduced to three different calligraphic styles and will have the chance to try their hand at this traditional and celebrated art of the Islamic World.

All necessary materials will be provided. No previous experience necessary.

For more information and to book your place, please visit www.alwaleed.ed.ac.uk and follow the “Calligraphy Workshop” link.If you have any questions please contact the Alwaleed Centre: thealwaleedcentre@ed.ac.uk.

Venue: Department of Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies, University of Edinburgh, 19 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LD.

Saturday 1st December 2pm – 3.15pm Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association presents

Bollywood DreamsThe Sweet Sounds of Saj Sabri

Be prepared to be moved andinspired as you are transported through the wonderful world of Bollywood.

£8 (£6) St John’s Church, Princes Street. Tickets on the door.

£1 from every ticket sold will go to Mary’s Meals.