World

InterfaithHarmonyWeek

2018

Halifax,NovaScotia,Canada

"InHalifaxwe

celebrate

diversity.We

areenrichedby

ourincreasingly

vibrantmixof

faiths,cultures,

andcustoms."

-MayorMike

Savage,Halifax

Regional

Municipality

IHHTeamMember

SophiaJunfangFuand

HasmeetSingh

ChandokwenttoCity

Hallandtalkedwith

MayorMikeSavage

abouttheimportance

ofInterfaithHarmony

Week2018.

WorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek2018(WIHW2018)wascelebratedinHalifax,Nova

Scotia,Canadaduringoneofthewarmestwintersinourhistory.Thiswasthe5th

yearofInterfaithHarmonyHalifax's(IHH)celebrationsforthisimportantweek,

designatedbytheUnitedNations,initiatedbyHMKingAbdullahIIofJordan.Our

themefor2018was"ExploringSimilarities,CelebratingDiversity".Withthistheme

asourfocus,weonceagaincelebratedInterfaithHarmonyinHalifaxthroughthe

elementsofSacredSpaces:MeetingourNeighbors,InterfaithEngagementProgram,

InterfaithCelebration,andDeclarationsofInterfaithPeaceandFriendship.

IHH'sexciting,newinitiativein2018,wastorecordalloftheInterfaithMinutes

thatwespenttogetherinharmony.Asourcoordinator,KimMacAulay,encouraged:

"Everyminutethatpeopleofdiversefaithsandgoodwillcometogetherinanopen,

respectfulway,isaminuteofInterfaithHarmony.Howmanyminutesoccuraround

theworld,wherepeoplegather,notforfighting,butforInterfaithHarmony?Thisis

newswecanusetoencourageourheartsandmindsalongthepathofpeaceand

friendship."In2018,participantsinWIHWspent181,350minutestogetherfor

InterfaithHarmonyinHalifax.

InterfaithHarmonyHalifaxisespeciallygratefulthisyearforthesupportofour

Mayor-MikeSavage.IHHteammembersSophiaJunfangFuandHasmeetSingh

ChandokwenttomeetwithMayorMikeSavage.DuringtheirInterfaithHarmony

conversation,MayorMikeSavagerecognizedtheimportanceofWorldInterfaith

Week(andevenjoinedinsomeBhangradancing):"IamproudtorecognizeWorld

InterfaithHarmonyWeek;atimetodemonstratethatthereismorethatunitesus

thandividesus."ThankyouforcelebratingWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek2018

Halifax-itcanopenupandchangeourcityandourworld...

"InHalifaxwe

celebrate

diversity.We

areenrichedby

ourincreasingly

vibrantmixof

faiths,cultures,

andcustoms."

-MayorMike

Savage,Halifax

Regional

Municipality

IHHTeamMember

SophiaJunfangFuand

HasmeetSingh

ChandokwenttoCity

Hallandtalkedwith

MayorMikeSavage

abouttheimportance

ofInterfaithHarmony

Week2018.

WorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek2018(WIHW2018)wascelebratedinHalifax,Nova

Scotia,Canadaduringoneofthewarmestwintersinourhistory.Thiswasthe5th

yearofInterfaithHarmonyHalifax's(IHH)celebrationsforthisimportantweek,

designatedbytheUnitedNations,initiatedbyHMKingAbdullahIIofJordan.Our

themefor2018was"ExploringSimilarities,CelebratingDiversity".Withthistheme

asourfocus,weonceagaincelebratedInterfaithHarmonyinHalifaxthroughthe

elementsofSacredSpaces:MeetingourNeighbors,InterfaithEngagementProgram,

InterfaithCelebration,andDeclarationsofInterfaithPeaceandFriendship.

IHH'sexciting,newinitiativein2018,wastorecordalloftheInterfaithMinutes

thatwespenttogetherinharmony.Asourcoordinator,KimMacAulay,encouraged:

"Everyminutethatpeopleofdiversefaithsandgoodwillcometogetherinanopen,

respectfulway,isaminuteofInterfaithHarmony.Howmanyminutesoccuraround

theworld,wherepeoplegather,notforfighting,butforInterfaithHarmony?Thisis

newswecanusetoencourageourheartsandmindsalongthepathofpeaceand

friendship."In2018,participantsinWIHWspent181,350minutestogetherfor

InterfaithHarmonyinHalifax.

InterfaithHarmonyHalifaxisespeciallygratefulthisyearforthesupportofour

Mayor-MikeSavage.IHHteammembersSophiaJunfangFuandHasmeetSingh

ChandokwenttomeetwithMayorMikeSavage.DuringtheirInterfaithHarmony

conversation,MayorMikeSavagerecognizedtheimportanceofWorldInterfaith

Week(andevenjoinedinsomeBhangradancing):"IamproudtorecognizeWorld

InterfaithHarmonyWeek;atimetodemonstratethatthereismorethatunitesus

thandividesus."ThankyouforcelebratingWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek2018

Halifax-itcanopenupandchangeourcityandourworld...

"Istronglybelieveaspoliceofficersweneedtotryandunderstandthe

diversecommunityweserve."

-TrudiMcCulloch,HalifaxRegionalPoliceOfficer

LefttoRight:HasmeetSinghChandok,ChiefJean-MichelBlais,SophiaJunfangFu

IHHteammemberswerehappytoshareInterfaithMinuteswiththeChiefofHalifaxRegionalPolice

andtakesomevideotohelppromoteWIHW2018.

ThegreatestjoyincelebratingWorldInterfaith

HarmonyWeekyearafteryear,istoseethegrowth

incollaborationsandpartnershipsthatdevelops

overtime.OurpartnershipwiththeLocal

ImmigrationPartnershiphereinHalifax,begunin

previousyears,grewsignificantlythisyear,with

moremunicipalemployeestakingpartinevents.

Municipalleaderswhowereintroducedtoour

programlastyearactivelypromotedtheprogram

in2018,transmittingthebenefitsofinterfaith

understandingtotheircolleagues.

Themostsignificantexampleofthisexpansionof

themessageofInterfaithHarmonywasprovided

byourlocalChiefoftheHalifaxRegionalPolice,

ChiefJean-MichelBlais.ChiefJean-MichelBlais

metwithIHHteammemberstocontributevideo

supportandencouragedallofhisofficerstotake

partinallaspectsofWIHW2018.

In2018,ChiefBlaisparticipatedintheInterfaith

EngagementProgramhimself,visitingvarious

SacredSpacesandmeetingwithotherparticipants

tosharetheirexperienceswithother"students"in

1.5hoursessionsbeforeandafterWorldInterfaith

HarmonyWeek2018.Asaresultofhisleadership,

anumberofofficersfromtheHalifaxRegional

PolicealsotookpartintheInterfaithEngagement

ProgramandreceivedtheirCertificates.

AmitParasram,DiversityOfficerfor

theHalifaxRegionalPolice

receiveshisInterfaithEngagement

Certificate

HeatherMoran,HalifaxRegional

PoliceOfficerreceivesher

InterfaithEngagementCertificate

LearningmaterialsfortheInterfaithEngagementProgramincludepacketswithaguideforwhattoexpectat

eachSacredSpace,ajournal,anda"passport"aswellastheirbluetravelpouches-uniquesouvenirsoftheir

journeystothefaithcommunitiesinHalifax.

"Ithinkitisimpossibletocontinuehatredagainstawhole

communityofpeopleifyouareabletoputafamiliarfacetothat

community"-JingyiCeliaLuo,InterfaithEngagementProgram

Participant2015-2018

In2018,IHH'sInterfaithEngagementProgramexpandedtoover50"students"who

participatedineitherafternoonoreveningsessionstodiscusstheirlearningand

reflectontheirexperiencesattheSacredSpaceeventsthattheyallattended.The

programisopentoeveryone,regardlessofreligiousaffiliationornone,and

encouragesintentionalandexperientiallearningaboutinterfaithsimilaritiesand

differencesinasafeenvironment.

TheafternoonsessionofInterfaithEngagementParticipantsfor2018.

TheeveningsessionofInterfaithEngagementParticipantsfor2018.

InterfaithHarmonyHalifax'sSacredSpaces:MeetingourNeighborsisopentoall

peopleofanyfaithornone.Theprogramisespeciallymeaningfulforanyonewho

haseverwonderedwhatgoesoninaMosque,aTemple,oraPaganRitual.IHH

partnerswithvariousFaithCommunitiesinHalifax,andpreparesthehostswith

bestpracticesforwelcomingInterfaithexplorers.In2018,IHHpartneredwith13

communitiesin13differentSacredSpaceevents:

FungLoyKokTaoistTaiChi®Arts(Taoist)

SikhKirtan(SongsofPraise)andLangar(CommunalMeal)

UniversalistUnitarianService

MuslimJummahPrayer

JewishShabbat

Baha’iCommunityDevotional

PaganRitualCelebrationofImbolc

ChristianWorshipattheLutheranChurchoftheResurrection

ReligiousSocietyofFriends(Quakers)MeetingforWorship

HinduPuja(RitualWorship)

BrahmaKumarisGuidedMeditation

IndigenousTalkingCircleonReconciliation

TasteofShambhala

FormoreinformationontheSacredSpaces:MeetingourNeighbors(andotherIHH

events),checkoutthisarticlefromTouchbase,TheVoiceforImmigrants,that

publishedthisonlineandinprinttohelpusspreadthemessageofInterfaith

Harmony:https://touchbaseonline.com/2017/12/17/un-interfaith-harmony-week-

begins-february-1/

"I'mgladtheeventwentwellallacrossthe

city.Itwasapleasuretoagainreceivethevery

interestedandrespectfulguests."

-SteveDingwell,TaoistTaiChi

Sunday,January28FungLoyKokTaoistTaiChi®Arts(Taoist)

9:00a.m.–12:30p.m.FungLoyKokInstituteofTaoism,

AtlanticRegionCentre,2029NorthParkStreet,Halifax

OnSunday,January28,guestsarewelcomedtotheFungLoyKokInstituteof

Taoism.Sessionsforthemorningbeginat9a.m.withchanting.At10a.m.guests

willbeencouragedtojoinusaswecontinuewithTaoistTaiChi®practice.Guests

areinvitedtosharelunchat11:30a.m.LunchispreparedattheCentreby

volunteerseachSunday,andprovidesatimeofconversationandfellowship.

ThemissionoftheFungLoyKokInstituteofTaoismistodeliverallfromsuffering.

Itemphasizesspiritualdevelopmentthroughthecultivationofbothmindand

bodywiththeultimategoalofachievingharmonywithoneselfandwiththeworld.

FungLoyKokpromotestheprincipleofallculturesandreligionsmovingtogether

inpeaceandharmony.Individualsofallbackgroundsandbeliefsarewelcometo

participate.

"Peace be upon you. With your help the day

was great. I think we should arrange these

kindsofeventsmoreandmore."

-AbdallahYousri,ImamofUmmahMosque

Friday,February2MuslimJummahPrayer

12:00p.m.2510St.MatthiasStreet,Halifax

OnFriday,February2,2018allpeopleofgoodwillareinvitedtoexplorethe

truthaboutIslam,itshistory,itsculture,itspeople,andmorethanthoseat

UmmahMasjidandCommunityCenterinHalifax,NovaScotia.

Aftertheprayer,guestsareinvitedtoareceptionandanopenQ&Asession.

Therearecornerstotryonhijab,tohavetheirnamesbeautifullywritteninArabic

calligraphybyanIslamicartist,tositonthecarpetandhaveacupofArabictea,

andtoenjoytheMulticulturalDishes.

"Ifeltproudandhappyaboutourworkfor

InterfaithHarmonywhentheInterfaith

EngagementParticipantswereaskedtogo

uptothefronttobepresentedatthe

HinduTemple."

-IHHCommitteeMember

Sunday,February4HinduPuja(RitualWorship)

11:50a.m.6421CorkStreet(justoffOxfordStreet,Halifax)

GuideforGuests:Visitorsremovefootwearandwashtheirhandsonthefirstfloor,

andthenareescortedbyavolunteertothemaintempleonthesecondfloor.Men

sitontherightsideandwomenontheleftside.At12:20guestswillbeaskedto

introducethemselves.GuestscandoArati,theshowingoflightedlamptoGod.

Guestshavetheoptiontotaketheholydrinkwhichisamixtureofmilk,honey,

sugar,etc.Afterpuja(ritualworship),agourmetvegetarianmealfollowsonthefirst

level.

"Yougetallsortsofdifferentfoodsatthedifferent

SacredSpaces!"

-HasmeetSinghChandok,IHHCommitteeMember

OnSundayevening,February4,2018,Haligoniansofallfaithsandnonegathered

tosing,reflect,sharestories,andrefreshments,andjoinindancingwiththe

MaritimeBhangraGroup!AnoutdoorsmudgingwasledbyElderBillyLewisprior

tothestartofthegathering,andaninstrumentalflutesolowasofferedbyBuning

LiuonatraditionalChineseflute.

AveryspecialadditiontoourInterfaithCelebrationin2018werereflections

offeredby3ofourInterfaithEngagementParticipants.Theseleaderswerethe

firsttooffertheirthoughtson"ExploringSimilarities,CelebratingDiversity".Then,

theaudiencegottoparticipateininterfaithdialogue,aseveryonediscussedwith

theirneighborseatedattheirright:"Whatwillyoudoaftertodaytoexpressyour

'loveofGod,theloveofgood,andloveofyourneighbor?"Thethought-provoking

discussionthatfollowedwasalsoopeneduptoanyonetosharetheirconversation

withthelargeraudienceof100peoplegatheredattheHalifaxCentralPublic

Library-PaulO'ReganHall.

Toreadmoreaboutthe2018InterfaithCelebration(andotherWIHW2018events),

checkoutthisarticlepublishedinTheHalifaxCitizen,acommunitydivisionofThe

ChronicleHerald.Thiswaspublishedonlineandinprinttohelpusspreadthe

messageofInterfaithHarmony:http://thechronicleherald.ca/halifaxcitizen/

1540799-halifax-celebrates-world-interfaith-harmony-week

"Irecognizedthatdifferentexpressionsofuniversaltruthexistinall

peoples,cultures,religions,andidentities."

-MartinSolis,InterfaithEngagementParticipant

TheclosingoftheWIHW2018InterfaithCelebrationwasledbytheMaritime

BhangraGroup.Thesecommunitydancershaveraisedmoneyformanycharities,

includingover$5000forALSanddancedasfarawayasParliamentHillin

Ottawa,CanadaforCanada's150celebrations.

OntheeveningofFebruary4,2018,though,theMaritimeBhangraGroupdanced

forInterfaithHarmony-andtohelpIHHraisefundsfortheNewMi'kmawNative

FriendshipCentre.Throughtheireffortsandthegenerosityofallinattendance,

IHHwasabletoraisejustunder$500fortheFriendshipCentre!Thankyou

MaritimeBhangraGroup-Interfaithfunandexercisewasenjoyedbyall.

Thankyoutoallwhomade

DeclarationsofPeaceandFriendship

Thankyoutoallwhomade

DeclarationsofPeaceandFriendship

Amajorcomponentofoureffortstospreadthemessageof

InterfaithHarmonyduringWIHW2018wasthefilmingand

promotionofvideosonYoutube.IHHteammembersSophia

JunfangFuandHasmeetSinghChandokspentmanyhours

interviewinglocalofficials,pastengagementparticipants,and

IHHteammembersonwhyWIHW2018andInterfaith

Harmonywereimportanttothem.

Manyofourintervieweesmentionedour2018themeof

"ExploringSimilarities,CelebratingDiversity".John

MacLennanexpressedthissowell:"WorldInterfaithHarmony

Weekisawonderfulopportunitytomeetpeopleofdifferent

beliefs,faiths;torecognizethatwehavemuchincommonand

appreciatethedifferencesthatareexistingamongstdifferent

faiths."

Questionsincluded"Whydoyoufeelitisimportanttopromote

InterfaithHarmonyinHalifaxandintheworld?""DuringWorld

InterfaithHarmonyWeek,whathaveyouenjoyedabout

participatingineventsinHalifax?"

Intotal,8YoutubevideoswerepromotedduringWIHW2018

BhangrawiththeMayor(MikeSavage)

WhatisWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek?

IntroductiontotheUNWIHWinHalifax(KimMacAulay)

IHHInterview(HasmeetSinghChandok)

IHHInterview(DelvinaBernard)

IHHInterview(JingyiCeliaLuo)

IHHInterview(RanaZaman)

IHHInterview(Janet&JohnMacLennan)

InterfaithHarmonyHalifax

ThankyoutoallofoursponsorswhosupportedInterfaithHarmonyHalifaxin

2018.YourgenerosityallowedustopromotethevisionoftheUNWorldInterfaith

HarmonyWeek,whichistospreadharmonythroughpromotingLoveofGod,the

Good,andLoveoftheNeighbor.

InterfaithHarmonyWeek

TheWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeekwasfirstproposedattheUNGeneral

AssemblyonSeptember23,2010byH.M.KingAbdullahIIofJordan.Justundera

monthlater,onOctober20,2010,itwasunanimouslyadoptedbytheUNand

henceforththefirstweekofFebruarywillbeobservedasaWorldInterfaith

HarmonyWeek.ThreeprizesareawardedannuallybytheKinghimselfandIHHis

trulygratefultobethe20163rdprizewinner.

Vision:TospreadharmonythroughpromotingLoveofGod,theGood,andLoveof

theNeighbor.Thiswordingismeanttoincludepeopleofallfaiths,andallpeople

ofgoodwillwithnodeclaredfaithorspiritualtradition.

ThankyoutoallofourHostsoftheSacredSpaces

"Wefeelveryblessedtohavebeenabletoparticipate

againthisyearandthankyouforthisspecialopportunity

forusandourcommunity."-RabbiWeiss,SharShalom

Synagogue

"Itwasgreattohaveeverybodyhere.Itwasareally

wonderfulevening.Ihopethateveryonefeelswelcome

tocomebacksoon.WehavesoupeveryWednesday!-

RichardVogler,ProgramsManager,HalifaxShambala

Center

"Weweresurprisedbytheturnoutfortheservice.

Wefailedtogetaheadcount,buttherewereat

least50guests.-Rev.NormHorofker,Universalist

Unitarian

Thankyoutoourhostsandhostcommunitiesforparticipatingintherecent

observanceofWorldInterfaithHarmonyWeek.ThiswasthefifthyearthattheWeek

wasobservedinHalifax,andatotalofthirteencommunitiesopenedtheirdoors

andheartstoreceiveguests.AsparticipantsintheInterfaithEngagementprogram

(thosewearingthebluetravelpouches)metthisweek,theyusedwordslike“joyful,”

“unity,”“deeperconnection,”“anadventure,”“affirmingthekindnessandgoodnessof

others,”“feelingwelcometothiscity,”etc.toarticulatetheirexperienceofvisiting

SacredSpaces.AsincerethankyouforpromotingInterfaithHarmonyinHalifax.

"Alldifferentpeople

andfaithsareseeking

todogoodandbe

goodintheworld."-

JohnMacLennan,IHH

CommitteeMember

ThankyoutoallIHHPlanningCommitteeMembers

World

InterfaithHarmonyWeek

2018

Halifax,NovaScotia,Canada