February 10, 2005 Source: University of Toronto:
http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/060210-2044.asp Pilgrimage theme of multi-faith panel discussion Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Christian and Native speakers take part
Feb 10/06
by Michah Rynor (about) (email) Regardless of our religious and faith beliefs it appears that the need for spiritual pilgrimages is very much a shared human experience, said panelists speaking on Pilgrimage: A Unique Journey at New College Tuesday, Feb. 7, part of the Spirituality and the Student Experience lecture series. This series of lectures and panels is focused on exploring spiritual and cultural commonality, "and that can only happen when people come in with an open mind," said Nouman Ashraf, director of the anti-racism and cultural diversity office at U of T. "I don’t think there is going to be an agreement on everything but there is an agreement going on here to actually work within the parameters of civility, civil discourse and forging commonality and that is what has driven this event." The Feb. 7 panel featured participants from the Muslim, Jewish, Native and Hindu communities. Carla Wittes of the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, told a harrowing account of pilgrimage to the death camps of Poland where Jews of all ages still flock to pray, remember and pay homage to those who died during the Holocaust. Grafton Antone, elder-in-residence at First Nations House at U of T, focused on a pilgrimage to Mother Earth and the bounty she provides for us all. Pandit Roopnauth Sharma of the Ram Mandir Hindu Temple in Mississauga, who also sat on the panel along with Shmoel Bowman of U of T’s Hillel, Ayman al-Taher, a Muslim chaplain, and Father Patrick Odea from U of T’s Newman Centre, said there are many great benefits to having different faiths come together at such an event. "In the world that we live in today with all the conflicts of different faiths, this is a great idea even if it is just to share a meal with each other," Sharma said. The feedback on this series has been "terrific" and the students deserve credit, Ashraf said. "The students have been so involved from the very beginning in planning and executing everything from the speakers to the food and that really demonstrates buy in on a level that is critical to the success of this program. It also demonstrates a thirst and a curiosity for knowledge and above all a respect for others they don’t often have an opportunity to interact with and with whom they are eager to engage. I have been really impressed with the students’ need to understand and the willingness to understand that I have witnessed." Ashraf is hoping that this program, funded by his office, the office of the vice-president (human resources and equity) and the office of the vice-president and provost, will become an annual event. Odea said such events "allow people of all different levels whether they are students, staff or faculty that we all, to some degree, have a sense of spirituality and how they express their faith can be different than you or I." Visit www.antiracism.utoronto.ca for updates on upcoming events sponsored by the Anti-Racism office.
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