Khalili Foundation

The Khalili Foundation is a UK-based organisation focused on ordinary Jewish - Christian - Muslim communication.[1] It is committed to fostering relationships among believers of the Abrahamic religions. Established in 1995, the foundation has created links between the three peoples through "cultural, academic, sporting and educational programmes".[2] The chairman, Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili,[3] believes that "art...is one of the major means of bringing people...together".[2]

The Khalili Foundation
Founded1995
FounderProfessor Sir Nasser David Khalili
Registration no.1044028
Location
Area served
UK and international
Key people
Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili, Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet, Lord Hameed of Hampstead, Robert Yentob
Websitewww.khalili.foundation

History

The foundation was previously named the Maimonides Foundation after Moses Maimonides, a Jewish philosopher, theologian and leader of the Jewish faith in the 12th century.[4] Maimonides represents the common heritage among all Jews and Muslims.[5]

Partnerships

Along with the Commonwealth of Nations, the foundation has created the Faith in the Commonwealth, a global citizenship education programme.

In partnership with the Prince's Trust, the foundation has created the Mosaic Initiative which promotes social integration via youth leadership.

For the twentieth anniversary of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, the Khalili Foundation partnered with UNESCO to publish a commemorative book collecting essays on cultural diversity from a wide variety of public figures.

Interfaith programmes

Interfaith Explorers

Interfaith Explorers is a Maimonides Foundation education project. EdisonLearning has put together a Learning Unit for Primary School children. The course is completely underwritten by the Maimonides Foundation and is offered free to the 23,000 primary school of England and Wales.

House of Peace

The House of Peace project uses paintings, photography, and cinematography to illustrate peace. It is centred on 4 paintings of Jerusalem by Ben Johnson. One is a great panorama of Jerusalem, one shows the Western Wall of the Temple, another the Christian Quarter and Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and another the Dome of the Rock. A fifth symbolic painting, is a circle of words for peace in Hebrew, Arabic, and English centring on the words for God in those three languages.

Schools programme

The Schools Programme brings Jewish and Muslim people together at a younger level.[6] The programme was introduced in 2003, when some sixth formers paid a visit from Immanuel College to Brondesbury College. The students were given a talk on the similarities between the history and the culture of the Jewish and Muslim people. The message of the talk was "harmonious co-existence and good citizenship in the United Kingdom".[6]

Football programme

The Football Programme began in 1990, with Jewish and Muslim children playing football on Sunday mornings for three weeks.[7] The Arsenal football club supported this cause by providing training and grounds for the children at Highbury, London. Parents also had the chance to interact, and they understood that teambuilding is more important than individualism. The programme was made an example in the Respect programme introduced by the Prince of Wales and the Chief Rabbi.

International visits

The Foundation has sent many representatives in the past to many countries, which they believe could enhance understanding and relationships between Jews and Muslims.[8]

Academic programmes

The programmes include theology seminars, academic lectures, and a Jewish-Muslim lecture series.[9] It has examined medical ethics with Jewish and Muslim students in students forums. Scholars and MPs have delivered speeches to "stress the importance of dialogue between faiths".

Art programmes

One of the foundation's art programmes, Dialogue Through Art, creates an opportunity for Jewish and Muslim students to collaborate on an art project. It also offers students a positive experience of both Jewish and Islamic heritage through joint visits to relevant art exhibitions and museums.[10]

References
  1. Charity Commission: Khalili Foundation governing document
  2. The Maimonides Foundation Official Website
  3. "British entrepreneur Nasser David Khalili named UNESCO goodwill ambassador". UN News. 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  4. Dominic, Casciani (2005-03-16). "How do Jews and Muslims talk?". BBC News. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  5. "Moses Maimonides". Archived from the original on 29 September 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  6. "Schools Programme". Archived from the original on 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  7. "Football Programme". Archived from the original on 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  8. "International visits". Archived from the original on 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  9. "Academic Programmes". Archived from the original on 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  10. "The Maimonides Foundation, London". Coventry University. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.