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Action Card Briefing - March 2004
The card for March shows a gathering where people of many cultures and faiths are dancing together. Celebration is vital in developing listening, understanding and trust between people.
Practical work is another important way for people to listen and learn about each other and to grow into friendship and trust. Every year in Leicester there is an international gardening work camp in which 10 international volunteers live a common life together and work in the gardens of the faith communities, including Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Christians.
A day is also spent at Beth Shalom, the Holocaust Centre in Nottinghamshire. We all remembered the Holocaust at the end of January, and this year we also remembered that it is ten years since the genocide took place in Rwanda. Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and writer who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, understands very well that listening and the development of trust are vital for the growth of a world where peace and justice prevail. He said,
“It is not because I cannot explain that you won’t understand!
It is because you won’t understand that I cannot explain.”
Through the gardening work there is the opportunity for participants to listen and to get to know the people of the faith communities, to share meals, to visit homes and to discuss important issues. Every year the camp has a special focus around which talks are given and people invited to meet the workers.
The gardening work camps are the vision of Sarah Elkes, of the Elchanan and Miriam Elkes Association. Sarah has written,
“It is the spirit which recognises the bridge building that can be done so simply and by every person, that brings peace and joy in life”.
Please send a card of thanks and support to Sara Elkes, The Elchanan and Miriam Elkes Association, 10 Hanbury Road, off Downing Drive, Leicester.
Please do something towards bridge building in your community.
The book “A Sacred Memory. Lectures in Honour of Elchanan and Miriam Elkes” is published by the University of Leicester and Christians Aware and is available from Christians Aware, 2, Saxby Street, Leicester. LE2 OND
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