Jerusalem Conference on Forgiveness for the Renewal of Individuals, Families, and Communities

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Hosted by the International Forgiveness Institute 

Venue: Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center
Dates: July 12-13, 2017
Ticket Price: $10 (40 NIS)- Your filling out of the registration form is required. Registration Form: VIEW

What is the focus of the conference?

This is a 2-day conference. Day 1 will include speakers from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam discussing what it means to forgive, the importance of forgiveness, and how to better interact with others through forgiveness. Day 2 will help us to learn how to bring forgiveness to our children and adolescents in school and at home. The program includes academic presentations, personal testimonies, and opportunities for everyone to contribute their ideas.

What to expect at the conference?

This is a 2-day conference. Day 1 will include speakers from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam discussing what it means to forgive, the importance of forgiveness, and how to better interact with others through forgiveness. Day 2 will help us to learn how to bring forgiveness to our children and adolescents in school and at home.

Day 1:

  • Objectives: To better understand what forgiveness is from the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
  • International Speakers: We have some of the best in the world: Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (this year’s recipient of the Templeton Prize, will appear by video); Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, and Dr. Adamou Ndam Njoya, politician, lawyer, author, and professor of Law, University of Yaoundé, Cameroon. Local speakers in the Jerusalem and West Bank areas: Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Bishop William Shomali, and the Palestinian Authority Minister of Religious Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash.
  • Languages to be used English, Hebrew, Arabic

Day 2:

  • Objectives: To better understand what forgiveness education is so that we can bring this knowledge to children and adolescents in school and in the family.
  • International Speakers: Educators who have been applying forgiveness from different world venues will instruct us. These include Kathryn Haugh and Andrew Frizzell of Northern Ireland, Theodore Kryder of the United States, and Yasmin Bakri, Izar Taha, and Veronica Tabarani of Galilee.
  • Abuna Elias Chacour, three-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, will give a talk: “On the Beauty of Forgiveness Education.”
  • Languages to be used English, Hebrew, Arabic

Who should attend the conference?

The conference is open to all who wish for a deeper understanding of forgiveness across the three Abrahamic faiths and who have an interest in bringing forgiveness to the home, school, and other community organizations.

What are the benefits of forgiveness?

Research shows that forgiving others has significant benefits.

  1. Physical. More relaxed, more energy, possibly restored health. One study showed improved cardiac functioning in patients.
  2. Emotional. Studies show that learning to forgive can substantially decrease anger, anxiety, and depression.
  3. Mental. Studies show that forgiveness can increase a sense of hope, bolster self-esteem, and help decrease negative attitudes and increase positive attitudes.
  4. Social. Studies show that people who forgive begin to see the inherent (built-in) worth of others and the self. This can lead to more harmonious interactions with others.
  5. Spiritual. People who forgive begin to see a connection between offering forgiveness to others and the depth and beauty of their faith.
  6. Legacy. Those who forgive tend to want to leave more love in this world than discord and division.

Read more about the conference here.