Ed Kessler

My reflections on Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 and its theme ‘For a Better Future’. @thetablet.bsky.social

@pontifexes.bsky.social highlights the role of interfaith dialogue in building peaceful coexistence between peoples, cutures and religions. This means not defining ourselves by ourselves but defining ourselves in the presence of others.

Frontiers | Beyond Polarization: The Role of Faith-Based Leadership in Times of Poly-Crisis The modern era is witnessing a global poly-crisis that fundamentally challenges traditional conceptions of leadership within the public arena. This crisis co...

We are beginning our year with this call for participation "Beyond Polarization: The role of Faith based Leadership in Times of Poly-Crisis"
www.frontiersin.org/research-top... @edkessler.bsky.social @ellenloudon.bsky.social @jadsonjall.bsky.social @jackpalmerwhite.bsky.social @markswift.bsky.social

The roots and traditions of Nollaig na mBan There are many Irish folk rituals associated with January 6th, the last day of Christmas and the day known as Nollaig na mBan

I've just learned that Jan 6th is not only the last day Christmas, the first day of Orthodox Christmas and the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus, but is known in Ireland as Nollaig na mBan, or Women's Christmas - when traditional gender roles are to be reversed at home.
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...

Fulfillment, Salvation, and Mission: The Neo-Conservative Catholic Theology of Jewish–Christian Relations after Nostra Aetate The neo-conservative Catholic movement, led by prominent figures like Richard John Neuhaus and Michael Novak, played a significant role in shaping Jewish–Christian relations in the United States follo...

This year marks 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, one of the most important documents from #VaticanII. Here's a reflection on neo-conservative Catholic theological views of Jewish-Christian relations including fulfilment, salvation, mission & interfaith dialogue.
www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/15...

Woolf Institute (en-GB) The Woolf Institute provides an academic framework and space in which people could tackle issues of religious difference constructively.

Am enjoying some R&R in the West of Ireland, thinking about #newyearresolution for 2025. #Dialogue over advocacy is my choice. No easy task: genuine dialogue requires taking someone else as seriously as you wish to be taken yourself. Here’s a 5-min reflection:
www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/podcasts/d-f...

And before you ask, they will coincide again in 2035 and then, 2054.

2005, 1959, 1921 and 1910!

Dec. 25 is not only Christmas but also the start of Chanukah, occurring only 4 times since 1900. Both are festivals of light: Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, the light of the world for Christians;Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. Happy Christmas & Chanukah S'meach (a joyful Chanukah)

Pope Francis delivers Christmas greeting to Roman Curia: ‘Speak well of others’ In Francis’ 12th Christmas address to the Roman Curia, he reminded them, “An ecclesial community lives in joyful and fraternal harmony to the extent that its members walk the path of humility.”

@pontifexes.bsky.social delivers Christmas greetings to Roman Curia: ‘Speak well of others’. I can think of many people who could benefit from listening to and acting on this message (not least me).
www.americamagazine.org/faith/2024/1...

Latest issue of Fifteen Eight Four:
Academic perspectives from @cambridgeup.bsky.social
happily focuses on my new book.
cambridgeblog.org/2024/12/a-do...

If you're interested in reading a range of statements and opinion essays from those engaged in Jewish-Christian dialogue since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, focusing on inter-religious relations, this is a valuable resource:
ccjr.us/dialogika-re...

Commission on the Integration of Refugees - Home The Commission on the Integration of Refugees is an independent commission that aims to improve the integration of refugees in the UK.

Today is #InternationalMigrantsDay. As chair of the Commission on the Integration of #Refugees, I am committed to the belief that society thrives when everyone, regardless of their background, can contribute to and benefit from strong, empowered, and connected communities.
refugeeintegrationuk.com

Holy Land patriarchs call for Christmas ceasefire throughout Middle East In their Christmas message this year, the church leaders and patriarchs of Jerusalem voiced gratitude for a recent ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and called for the truce to be expanded througho...

This would be a real Christmas (and Chanukah) gift: cruxnow.com/church-in-th...

Christian-Jewish dialogue: Can we still talk? Amid the brutality of the war between Israel and Hamas, Christian-Jewish dialogue faces strain. Can we address tough questions—genocide accusations, U.S. support for Israel, and interfaith divides—wit...

Catholic nun and Holocaust scholar bravely reflects on the impact of the brutality of the Gaza war on Christian-Jewish dialogue and calls for honest conversations about the tough questions, including genocide accusations.
international.la-croix.com/opinions/chr...

Woolf Institute is marking the end of its 25th anniversary year with the launch of a publication, telling its history from an idea shared between two friends in Cambridge cafe to a global centre of interfaith study and practice.

www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/assets/file-...

Israel-Gaza: How the conflict divided Britain and the US, with Ed Kessler Podcast Episode · Leading · 07/04/2024 · 53m

If you're interested in my view of the impact of October 7th and the war in Gaza on interfaith relations, especially between Jews, Christians and Muslims, have a listen to the interview on Leading with Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

Thoughtful, honest and sometimes searing post-October 7th reflection on Jewish-Christian relations today, by Catholic theologian @peteradmirand.bsky.social. Well worth a read.
ejournals.bc.edu/index.php/sc...

Research on forgiveness in post-conflict societies, led by Woolf Institute Research Fellow, Kitty O'Lone, just published by @undp.org. The team focused on Bosnia, Northern Ireland & South Sudan, using an AI system designed to study religious & ethnic conflict.
hdr.undp.org/content/simu...

Encounters - ORA Joint Research Project

Newly published research (and accompanying podcasts) exploring relations between Muslims and Jews in Germany, France and UK. It considers not only Islamophobia and antisemitism but also more positive cultural and commercial exchange, including in music and the Arts.
www.mmg.mpg.de/640536/encou...

Pleased to be interviewed by @nickferrarilbc.bsky.social @lbc.co.uk this morning discussing the implications of the fall of Assad on Syrian refugees in the UK. Starts at 7.05am.
www.globalplayer.com/catchup/lbc/...

Turkiye urges inclusivity, fair treatment of minorities in post-Assad Syria Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stresses importance of national unity and sovereignty after fall of Bashar al-Assad gov’t.

Since Turkey will play a key role in Syria's future, it's good hear the Foreign Minister call for protection of minorities. Christians, 10% of the pop. (Greek Orthodox c.8% and Armenian c.2%), were dependent on Assad for protection and are understandably nervous.
www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12...

A Palestinian-Israeli group bought bus stop ads. They filled them with images from Gaza ***

Standing Together is a courageous Jewish-Palestinian organisation working to combat polarisation and fear mongering in Israel. Here’s an article describing its newest initiative, aimed at countering the self-censorship by some of the Israel news media www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

Pleased to share news of my new book, 'A Documentary History of Jewish–Christian Relations' published @cambridgeup.bsky.social. It's the first comprehensive single-volume history of Jewish–Christian relations over 2,000 years. Further info, inc. launch discount: www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/research/pro...

Thanks, Richard. Look forward to seeing you in Jerusalem soon. As much to discuss!

Pleased (& relieved) to have joined exodus from Twitter and made the journey to BlueSky. This is my first post and I simply want to share my life's work: fostering better relations between Jews, Christians and Muslims. This photo (from recent Woolf Institute conference) says it all.

#OnlineCourse: The Woolf Institute (Cambridge) is delighted to announce that applications are now being accepted for the online course, Jews, Christians and Muslims in Europe: Modern Challenges. Applications are due August 1.

More information at:

mesana.org/resources-and-…