Message from Hendricks Chapel on current conflict in the Middle East

Message from Hendricks Chapel on current conflict in the Middle EastJanuary 12, 2009SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

Joint statement from Imam Ahmed Kobeisy and Lowell Lustig regarding the current conflict in the Middle East

“In the spirit of Hendricks Chapel, the work of our Chaplains Council and Syracuse University’s profound commitment to diversity and interfaith cooperation on our campus, we have come together to issue a joint statement of mutual respect, our commitment to freedom of expression, and our hopes for a better tomorrow for all.

“We acknowledge the right of our respective communities to have an opportunity to respectfully express their views and concerns. We commit to the creation in the days ahead of ongoing forums for sharing, dialogue and understanding with civility and respect. We hope that the activities that will take place on campus among our own communities in the next few days will become an opportunity for open dialogue in our community in the weeks and months ahead in the spirit of free academic inquiry.

“We acknowledge that differing views occur when thoughtful individuals seek meaning and understanding of complex issues.

“On a human level, we acknowledge the pain and suffering in our midst and we pray together that hostilities will cease and that peace, justice and prosperity will spread around the world. Together we can promote these goals by contemplating creative solutions, through mutual respect, and through continuous dialogue that will bring us together in the noblest traditions of Syracuse University.”

Ahmed Kobeisy, Ph.D. Imam and Muslim Chaplain

Lowell H. Lustig Executive Director, Hillel at Syracuse University