Take heart! Numbers of middle school students interested in learning more about other faiths, keeps growing. Take the latest Peace Camp organized by the Children of Abraham. They drew their biggest group in three years.
#peacecamp3 is underway. 66 Jewish, Muslim & Christian campers & leaders dive into making friends and teaching each other about their faiths. Games, speeches and artwork keep us going! pic.twitter.com/2aQdrKkZlb
— Children of Abraham (@COACPeace) February 16, 2020
Fr. Corey Brost, CSV, who founded the Children of Abraham Coalition in 2010, and Br. Peter Lamick, CSV, accompanied the young people during the camp, but it was the young board members who organized the event.
“They were eager to show these middle school students how to change the world,” Fr. Brost said. “Salaam, shalom, peace.”
Students visited a synagogue, mosque and a church in Chicago’s North and Northwest suburbs.
The Qur’an recited. Beautiful and melodic. A gift to #peacecamp3. pic.twitter.com/SisH98OQno
— Children of Abraham (@COACPeace) February 17, 2020
At each stop, they received a tour as well as a presentation about each faith tradition and important artifacts from their religion. For example, at Temple Chai, they learned about the Torah and heard a portion chanted, while at the mosque they observed the Qur’an being recited.
The Torah chanted for #peacecamp3. A real gift at @TempChai pic.twitter.com/cba0bJT33Q
— Children of Abraham (@COACPeace) February 16, 2020
“Studies show that anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and hate groups are on the rise,” Fr. Brost added. “People just don’t become like this. They are raised in fear and prejudice from an early age.”
#peacecamp3 ends with everyone raising hands to show their commitment to stand up, not stand by, when they see faith-based fear or hate. pic.twitter.com/yOiDnMPvIo
— Children of Abraham (@COACPeace) February 17, 2020