Journey to Jerusalem

Photo Essay by David Sanger
Text by Bishop Bill Swing

Rabbi Yisrael Meyer Lau, Chief Rabbi of Israel, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Western Wall of the Temple of Solomon.

In June 1999, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, along with Bishop Bill Swing and the United Religions Initiative, sponsored a meeting in Jerusalem of thirty religious leaders, including Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims. The intent of these three days of informal conversation was to be inspired and to inspire, to honor the great religions, to help encourage interfaith activities in the immediate area and to learn by listening and interacting. Three years later the Bishop reflects:

“Anytime you go out of your world, God stretches you. We [the people who went] actually did interfaith cooperation there. [But] the greatest impact is among people who heard about it—a conference of Buddhists and Christians and Jews!? with the Dalai Lama!!? in Jerusalem!!!?” The Interreligious Friendship Group at the Holy Sepulchre, the Tomb of Jesus.

This photo essay documents that meeing. All photos are by David Sanger; the accompanying text, unless otherwise noted, is by Bishop Swing.

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