Christians, Muslims and Jews join together for peace (Michigan)

BREAKING BARRIERS: Christians, Muslims and Jews Join Together to Present a New Kind of Peace Initiative

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Feb. 24 -- For more than two months Muslim, Jewish and Christian teens from metro Detroit came together to discuss their lives, their fears, and the possibility of peace between their three religions. Results of those powerful conversations are now "Reuniting the Children of Abraham," an engaging multi-media "ToolKit 4 Peace" presentation, followed by interactive dialogue and additional workshops.

"Reuniting the Children of Abraham" is a creative response to show how it is possible to break through the long standing barriers of fear, prejudice and hate.Brenda Naomi Rosenberg, founder of Pathways to Peace Foundation, is the creator of "The Children of Abraham Project," author and co-executive producer of the documentary "Reuniting the Children of Abraham" and the multi-media "ToolKit 4 Peace" with Julie Fisher Cummings, in collaboration with NCCJ Interfaith Partners and the University of Michigan Arts of Citizenship Program. The play was inspired by Imam Abdullah El Amin and Rosenberg, directed for the stage by Rick Sperling, written by Rachel Felbin Urist and youth writers from Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit: Sofia Begg, Yusef Begg, Gal Ben Josef, Jon Black, Andrea Davis, Adriana Faycurry, Julie Gershenson, Harold Adam Harris, Miriam Leibman, Ariella Lis, Mohamed Qazwini, Blake Rowley, Sammy Satar, Irene Sorser, Jasmine Way, with assistance from Darnishia Slade, Jasmine Rivera, Brenda Naomi Rosenberg and Rick Sperling.

The performance is sponsored by St. Hugo of the Hills, Muslim Unity Center, Kirk in the Hills, Temple Beth El, NCCJ Interfaith Partners and Pathways to Peace Foundation. Tickets are free, but reservations are required.

Supporters include: Fetzer Foundation, Andrus Foundation, University of Michigan, Michigan Humanities Council, ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services), Jewish Community Council, Interfaith Partners of NCCJ (The National Conference for Community and Justice), The Metropolitan Christian Council Detroit-Windsor, B'nai B'rith, ADL Anti Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, JET Theatre, American Middle East Christian Congress, Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan, Cities of Peace Project, World Sabbath of Religious Reconciliation, Metro Detroit Center for Attitudinal Healing, The Michigan Institute for Nonviolence Education, ACC (Arab American and Chaldean Council), Greater Detroit Chapter Hadassah, NAACP, Pathways to Peace, Wings 4 Peace, Nonprofit Enterprise at Work, and Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Interfaith Partners is a program of NCCJ. Its mission is to create a deeper understanding among the Abrahamic faiths and to improve social welfare through education, dialogue and cooperative service projects. The primary takeholders of Interfaith Partners are the Jewish Community Council, the Metropolitan Christian Council Detroit-Windsor and the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan. Other partners include local Jewish, Christian and Muslim congregations and organizations such as Pathways to Peace.

"REUNITING THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM" Recipient of the 2004 National Conference for Community and Justice Community Service Award 2005 Vanguard Award from Women in Communications Featured as a CBS network special on religious reconciliation in America Saturday, March 4, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. Kirk in the Hills, 1340 Long Lake Road Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48302 Tickets are free, but reservations are required. For information contact Rev. Sharon Buttry at 586-943-7259.Source: National Conference for Community and Justice

CONTACT: Brenda Naomi Rosenberg, Executive Producer of "Reuniting theChildren of Abraham," +1-248-790-1544,

or email: pathways2peace@comcast.net