Join mailing list| Peter Wolfers: Pilgrimage on Wheels II - from Cairo to Jerusalem by bike |
London, 12 September 2008Peter Wolfers, FirstVentures Partner & FirstCapital CFO is taking part in the Pilgrimage on Wheels II, a journey by bike from Cairo to Jerusalem by from 3rd to 16th November. He is aiming is to raise £7,500 in aid of The Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths at Cambridge University, which encompasses the Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations (CJCR) and the Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations (CMJR).CJCR was founded ten years ago in Cambridge to provide an academic environment for teaching, research and dialogue. It has developed an extensive network of academics and other individuals and institutions to advance its objectives. By the end of its first decade, approximately two hundred students will have graduated with a postgraduate qualification in the study of Jewish-Christian relations, of whom thirty percent have gone on to further studies. Postgraduate students have originated from Australia, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Greece, Israel, Macedonia, New Zealand, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine and the United States as well as the UK. Nearly a thousand other students have participated in short courses, summer schools and other educational programmes. Plans to launch a Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish relations were first discussed by the Trustees of CJCR at a meeting with Prince Hassan of Jordan in July 2003. The Prince offered his personal support and the backing of the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies in Amman. Following a fundraising appeal, which generated nearly £1m, CMJR was officially launched in May 2006 as a sister organisation to CJCR. Both CMJR and CJCR are members of the independent educational charity the Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths and are based here in Cambridge. Lord Woolf, the previous Lord Chief Justice, has been Patron of CJCR since its inception and has taken an active interest in the development of CMJR. Under the auspices of the Woolf Institute, the overall aim is to overcome prejudice and intolerance between and against Jews, Christians and Muslims, and to establish a positive basis for inter-religious relations. Since its inception the staff of CMJR have begun the process of developing an academic curriculum. The Centre has also organised a seminar at Westminster Abbey with Prince Hassan of Jordan (attended by both Saudi and Israeli representatives); a seminar with Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth; and the event titled Muslim-Jewish Dialogue: the Way Forward with Professor Akbar Ahmed from the American University in Washington. All the money raised for this trip will go towards bursaries to enable students to attend the premier institute in Europe for the study of interfaith relations. The institute is extremely well thought of, as can be seen from the following quotations: Lord Woolf, who lends his name to the Woolf institute, stated: "Some of the greatest challenges facing the world today can be traced to a lack of tolerance, understanding and discourse between the members of different faiths. The Woolf Institute will tackle these challenges, and this is why I am convinced it deserves our support." HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan stated: "I am delighted to endorse the Woolf Institute, with its new Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations. It will serve as a forum for some of the most important dialogues of our age. We entirely welcome such an initiative" The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown stated: "I am delighted to congratulate the Centre of Jewish-Christian Relations on celebrating 10 years of pioneering research, teaching and dialogue between Christians and Jews ... I firmly believe that with current events in the Middle East, and around the world, there has never been a greater need for interfaith dialogue that the CJCR and the Institute promote." The Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks stated: "There is no more important challenge I think for us in the 21st century than to bring to a closure some of the historical and long-lasting estrangements between the children of Abraham. And it's tremendously important and so I wish the centre every success." Peter Wolfers said: "In these times of religious polarization, there has never been a time of greater need for the work that the institutes perform on inter-religious tolerance and on interfaith dialogue. I hope you will consider helping me achieve my goal of raising £7,500 for this cause. I believe that the Woolf Institute will contribute to a more peaceful future for all our offspring. So please give generously.  To give to my campaign by credit card, please follow the link to everyclick: http://fundraisers.everyclick.com/info.xq?id=1154534&fundraiser-name=Peter-Wolfers or send a cheque made out the Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths to me at: Hill Farm, 128 Green End, Comberton, Cambridge, CB23 7DY, and I will pass it on to the institute." Details of the trip itinerary can be found at: htp://fundraisers.everyclick.com/info.xq?id=1154534&fundraiser-name=Peter-Wolfers |
