Israel Hosted Interfaith Conference for Eastern, Jewish Spiritual Leaders
By Julio
Severo
For
the first time in the history of Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, in partnership with the American Jewish Committee and the World
Council of Religious Leaders, held “Ancient Traditions Contemporary Realities –
A Meeting of Israel-Asia Faith Leaders,” a conference to create a partnership
between major eastern faith traditions and Judaism.
The groundbreaking
conference, which took place between 11-15 September, was attended by 20 senior
spiritual personalities of the major East Asian faiths (Hindu, Buddhist,
Taoism, Sikh, Jain, Shinto, Zoroastrianism). The Israeli participants included
rabbis from all the streams of Judaism.
The
conference, which was held at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters
and at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, addressed issues of shared concern
to the spiritual leadership of Israel and the Eastern faiths: The purpose of
religion in modern society, safeguarding the planet, the rights of the
individual and a just society and the place of religious leadership in
advancing peace and the global welfare.
The Eastern
religious leaders met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The
Jewish people have become well-known for their attraction to Eastern
spirituality, leading to the coinage of the term “Bhu-Jews” in reference to
Jews who practice Buddhism. The interfaith conference held in Jerusalem,
officially sponsored by the Israeli government, opened formally Israel to the Eastern
spirituality.
The
other two major sponsors of “Ancient Traditions Contemporary Realities – A
Meeting of Israel-Asia Faith Leaders” are:
·
The
World Council of Religious Leaders, which describes itself as “a resource to
the United Nations and its agencies around the world, nation states and other
international organizations, offering the collective wisdom and resources
of the faith traditions toward the resolution of critical global problems.”
·
The
American Jewish Committee, which describes itself as “the leading global Jewish
advocacy organization.”
The
term “Bhu-Jews” shows that Jews are spiritually hungry. After experimenting Buddhism
and other Eastern religions, has been their hunger satiated?
The
greatest Spiritual Feeder was born in Israel. Do Jews know Him?
Can a
union of Judaism with Eastern religions bring right spiritual answers to the
world and its problems and suffering?
Jesus
Christ, the greatest Jew in history, came first to Israel to bless the Jews.
And He came also to bless the whole world. He is the only answer to the world.
The
deceptive Eastern religions, including Hindu, Buddhist, Taoism, Sikh, Jain,
Shinto, Zoroastrianism, are not enough to satisfy spiritual needs and save
souls. They cannot save anyone.
But
Jesus Christ can save everybody, Jew or not.
Only He
is the perfect answer to everybody and every nation.
With
information from Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, American
Jewish Committee and Jewish Political News & Updates.
Portuguese
version of this article: Israel
realizou conferência inter-religiosa de líderes espirituais orientais e judeus
Source: Last Days Watchman
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