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AEI-Open Windows News
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AEI Holds an
Interreligious Retreat Parents’ Group Meeting
April 2008 |
Parents' group of the Arab Educational
Institute, held an Interfaith Retreat about
fasting and Land's day.
Mr. Fuad Giacaman,
General Director, welcomed the families for
their commitment, and sense of belonging to the
AEI – Open windows, in addition to their
Christian and Moslem, interfaith participation
and respect. Mr. Giacaman provoked the
participants by a question: why go on retreat?
First, to strengthen and deepen our
common faith especially in hardships. Secondly,
to ask: does God love us? Thirdly, to understand
more ourselves and to share with one another.
Finally, to have a better communication and
special time with him.
Mr. Mathias, German
volunteer, presented fasting in a wonderfully
and touchy way that impressed all participants.
He pointed out in his speech, to these important
points:
1-
Fasting as a discovering religious tradition.
2-
Fasting as a spiritual renewing
3-
Fasting a benefit through abandonment
4-
Fasting as a passionate time of being in the
fellow up of Jesus Christ
5-
Fasting more than health
6-
Thinking and changing life
7-
Fasting as a concentration on God's word
8-
Fasting as taste of the kingdom of God
9-
Fasting as a solidarity with the poor
10- Fasting
as an ongoing prayer
One amazing quote by him is "giving the
fire from one generation to another, not pray to
the ashes"
Mr. Fuad Giacaman, gave
a presentation about Gandhi and fasting as a
nonviolent method in his peaceful resistance
against injustice, discrimination, and
demonational fights to reach better
understanding, tranquility and inner peace
through differences.
One perfect quote by Mahatma Gandhi is
"my religion
teaches me that when difficulties increased the more difficult we
disposed of it, we have to exercise prayer and
fasting"
These interreligious gathering
(that included Christian and Moslem families)
ended by sharing vegetarian / lent food prepared
by the AEI women's group.
The parents' group members
commemorated the Land's Day of 30th
March 1976.Mrs. Maysarah Al Mathbuh, women's
group member gave a presentation on the Land's
Day anniversary. It was part of AEI highlighting
some historical milestones in the Palestinian
history and for raising awareness on national
education.
Mr. Adnan Al Mathbuh, a
parents' group members, recited some poetic
reflections on Christian and Moslem Living
Together.
Mr. and Mrs. Atallah Danoun
gave short interventions on the meaning of
fasting in Islam through quoting some verses
from Quran.
The evening ended by sharing
vegetarian food prepared by the women's members.
The meal was delicious, the social gathering and
the special talks among members, created better
understanding and more friendly relations. 
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