by Pave The Way Foundation | Oct 22, 2009 | Peace
As a non-sectarian organization, Pave the Way Foundation has worked hard, through gestures of good will, to develop trusted personal relationships with the religious and political leaders in the Holy Land. When problems develop, we attempt to take an unbiased position, in order to suggest solutions. Many times this methodology succeeds, and avoids the “turf wars” that usually inhibit interreligious cooperation in the region. Back door communication and diplomacy usually succeeds when public confrontation confounds solutions.
PTWF maintains open lines of communication with many of the Holy Land’s religious and political leaders in order to call upon them to quietly solve problems that may normally erupt into public confrontation.
by Pave The Way Foundation | Sep 2, 2009 | Education
Recently, The Vatican lifted the ban of excommunication to the Society of Pius X, an ultra right wing group, and to its four illicitly ordained Bishops. The Bishops were ordained by the breakaway Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Archbishop Lefebvre split from the Vatican for a number of reasons, one of which was the action of the Second Vatican Council in adapting and passing Nostra Aetate.
This is a document of tolerance of other religious beliefs. On the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Benedict XVI used this occasion to lift the ban of excommunication, which was generated when Archbishop Lefebvre ordained four Bishops in direct violation of a papal order not to, issued by Pope John Paul II. It was this act of defiance against the Papal order that generated the excommunication. After the announcement of the lifting of the ban was made on January 21, 2009, a video interview with one of the Bishops, Richard Williamson, surfaced where he quite plainly denied the holocaust impact on the Jewish people and stated that not one Jew had perished in any gas chamber. This Holocaust denial set off a firestorm of protests and negative remarks, which created a temporary rift in Jewish Catholic relations.
Unlike many other inter-religious organizations, Pave the Way did not immediately release a statement condemning the Church for lifting the ban. Instead we launched an investigation to discover the facts behind this alleged action.
In furtherance of our mission to identify and eliminate obstacles between the faiths, we issued the following statement of our findings and the role the media played in exacerbating this highly explosive and sensitive issue.
Further Readings
by Pave The Way Foundation | Nov 11, 2008 | Charity & Commemoration
PTWF is keenly aware of the concept of “the Gesture.” Mindful of this, we have used gestures in almost all of our projects to demonstrate something concrete, something one can see and feel, as a means to “pave the way” to positive relations and open paths to better understanding between the faiths. This is particularly important to children, in combating the intentional distortion of religious and prophetic texts, which has been used as a tool to teach bigotry and hatred. Food is the most basic of human needs, and helping provide for a newborn baby is a universal gesture of caring and could not be more fundamentally vital.
Personally managed through our advisors in Israel, famed sculptor Sam Philipe and Fr. Angelo Ison OFM, PTWF has begun a project, wherein basic baby supplies are made available to moms and families on public assistance in Israel. The difference is that our gifts are not restricted to one group. One third goes to Muslim moms, one third to Christian moms and one third to Jewish moms. We hope to expand this throughout the region. We are told by the welfare department that no one is helping in this critical area of need.
PTWF is currently seeking to advance this project by soliciting religious institutions to support the families of other religions. Churches will adopt a Jewish and Muslim family, Synagogues will adopt a Christian and Muslim family and Mosques will adopt a Christian and Jewish family. Each family will receive a six-month supply of baby formula and diapers for their child, and the supporting institutions will be able to meet the family and engage them if anyone travels to the region. The giving institution will receive a beautiful silver sculpture created by Sam Philipe as a thank you for their participation and generosity, along with press coverage on our website and with the international media.
If you, or someone you know wishes to sponsor a needy family, please email us at office@ptwf.org and let us know you wish to help. The cost of six months’ supply of baby formula, diapers and some toys is approximately $525.00 per family.
OUR DONORS for Project Baby- 100% of the money collected goes to this most important gesture:
Christian and Muslim moms are given these much needed gifts of love through the help of Fr. Peter Vasko OFM, President of the Franciscan Foundation of the Holy Land and Fr. Angelo Ison, OFM Special Advisor to PTWF Jerusalem. This funding comes from the Islamic Center of Long Island as a gesture of good will and loving humanity.
Nick Drexel, Meredith Krupp and Sam Philipe of PTWF present some of the gift baskets to Mr. Alian Hamed, Director of the East Jerusalem Welfare Center. These are being given to needy Arab moms. One comment was that the moms couldn’t believe the thoughtfulness, concern and friendship the baskets represent. Right – Sam is greeted by Jewish recipients.
Merry Krupp and Sam Philipe distribute gifts to Jewish moms. The money for these packages came from the Islamic Center of Long Island, New York.
Directors Gary and Meredith Krupp and Dan and Cyndi Buttafuoco plant three olive trees on the Mount of Olives to commemorate the three Abrahamic Faiths.
PTWF representative in Israel Sam Philipe delivers donated iPads to a school for disabled children.
“Operation Cleansweep” PTWF Director in Israel Sam Philipe, PTWF Advisor Mahmud Ashayer, and Youth Director Abdulla Kisswani in East Jerusalem initiated Operation Cleansweep. PTWF is hiring Israeli Palestinian kids from the Mount of Olives to clean the streets in East Jerusalem, which are full of garbage and debris.
by Pave The Way Foundation | May 1, 2008 | Education
Pave the Way Foundation sponsored a series of educational lectures by Rabbi Abraham Kiss and Rabbi Bennett Herman, Advisors to Pave the Way Foundation.
The program is entitled “Islam and Judaism – Closer Than Further Away.” Rabbi Abraham Kiss is an expert in the Qur’an, the New Testament, as well as the Hebrew Scriptures. The Rabbi speaks 10 languages, including Arabic. His early education in Morocco and Egypt was enlightening to all who attended, as he was able to speak first hand to the similarities of the two religions. One surprising comment was that the Muslims in fact follow Talmudic Law. He gave several examples of this, including the Muslim method of bowing during prayer which is biblical, and was the original form of worship in the Jewish temple. The use of a prayer rug, when prayer is instituted outside the temple, is actually Talmudic in origin, which prohibits bowing during prayer on bare stone outside the temple. In addition, the Mosque is devoid of all images and furniture, which is also Talmudic (in its origins) and followed strictly by Muslims.
If your Mosque, Church or Synagogue is interested in a lecture, please contact Pave the Way Foundation at office@ptwf.org.
These lectures are free of charge as a part of the ongoing mission of Pave the Way Foundation.
The Sufi Circle at Fordham University Lincoln Center, 113 W. 60th Street New York, NY 10023
Below are some of the photos from the lecture held at the Islamic Center of Long Island in Westbury New York on February 11, 2007 and the Sufi Circle lecture at Fordham University, Lincoln Center, New York on April 21, 2007
by Pave The Way Foundation | Apr 25, 2008 | Charity & Commemoration
In the spirit and mission of PTWF, we encourage and actively participate in disseminating stories of good will, which demonstrate the love of one human to another.
Such is the story of the Philippine government’s actions, during World War II to save the lives of the Jewish people from the death camps of Europe. On November 29, 2007, a monument, commemorating the efforts of the Philippine government to save the of the victims of the inhumanities of the Nazi regime, will be dedicated in Rishon LeZion, Israel. The Philippine government issued over 30,000 passports to European jews in an attempt to bring them out from the flames of hatred and persecution. Sadly, only 1,000 people were able to get out using these passports, but the message of the spirit of human caring must be broadcast around the world as an example of action rather than apathy.
Open doors is the monument, which is being erected in Rishon Israel and PTWF is proud to participate in this effort to educate and commemorate. The primary funds for this magnificent monument came from the Philippine business community and from the individual fundraising efforts of the staff of the Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv.
PTWF is accepting donations for the final expenses of this project and the scholarship fund. 100% of the funds collected will go to this most importance recognition.
Pave the Way Foundation Director in Israel, Fr. Angelo Ison helps Gary and Meredith Krupp deliver the PTWF contribution check to Ambassador Itzhak Oren, Project Chairman and the Philippine’s Ambassador to Israel, Gilberto Asuque.
