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Children of Abraham Peace Essay Contest, 2005-2006: On November 13, 2005, twenty-six high school students from around the Washington area attended a kick-off event at Georgetown University, and in January submitted essays in which they: described teachings and practices concerning peace in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; recounted an incident from their own lives that illustrated mis-understanding or intolerance; developed a plan for a project that might be carried out in their community to create interfaith understanding. Students submitted their essays in January. (Click here to view agenda and photos from the kick-off event.)
Based on the evaluation of a panel of judges, seven students were named to receive awards: Eliza Adelson, Dana Alsaadi, Zachary Eaton, Avi Edelman, Uneeb Quereshi, and Mindy Zhang. Distinguished journalist Cokie Roberts presented these awards to the students during a candlelight ceremony at the "Peace Out Celebration" held at Georgetown University on March 26, 2006. (Click here to view agenda and photos from the award ceremony.) The contest generated much enthusiasm among the student participants. "The Children of Abraham Peace Essay Contest was a thoroughly enriching experience that taught me so much about other cultures, about peace, and about myself." – Avi Edelman (first prize winner) The 2005-2006 Children of Abraham Peace Essay Contest question read: How might understanding the roots of peace in each of the Abrahamic traditions—Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—help to bring about religious understanding in your community? • Identify the similarities that exist between these three faiths, noting especially the role of peace within each of the Abrahamic tradition. • Cite some examples that illustrate the history of conflict between the Abrahamic religions that has occurred despite the tradition of peace. • Identify any instances of religious misunderstanding that occur in your community (for instance, among friends, in school, or in your neighborhood/national/global community). • Finally, from your own research and from the information you have gathered from the Children of Abraham Peace Essay Kick-Off, design a proposal for a project that you can personally implement in your own community to promote peace and religious understanding. Our Award Winners were: Second place –Mindy Zhang, (Robinson Secondary School) Third place – Zachary Eaton, (Montgomery Blair High School) Honorable Mention – Eliza Adelson, (Holton-Arms School) Honorable Mention – Dana Alsaadi, (Islamic Saudi Academy) Honorable Mention – Uneeb Qureshi, (Thomas S. Wootton High School) Honorable Mention – Heba Tellawi, (Islamic Saudi Academy) Our On-Line Mentors were: Rabbi A. Nathan Abramowitz, Faculty, Theology Department, Georgetown University Nouredine Ale-Ali, PhD, Author and Islamic Scholar John Deken, High School Teacher, Columbia, Missouri David Gage, Ph.D., Founder, BMC Associates Michael Goldman, Jewish Chaplain, Georgetown University Law and Medical Centers Nancy Petschek-Kohn, Director, Juvenile Anti-Bias Education Program Molly Linehan, High School Campus Minister, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School Fr. William McFadden, S.J., Faculty, Theology Department, Georgetown University Zachary McIntyre, High School Teacher, Guymon, Oklahoma Sabree Muhammad, High School Teacher, Bronx, New York June Murray-Crawford, High School Teacher, Hudson, Massachusetts Professor Sulayman S. Nyang, Professor of African Studies, Howard University Muhammad Shafi, Ph.D., CEO, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dar al Islam William (Issa) Shandor, Director, American School of Agadir, Morocco Our Essay Judges were: Karima Diane Alavi, former Director, Dar al Islam Teachers’ Institute Andrew R. Ammerman, CEO, Ammerman Investment Partnership Reverend Raymond B. Kemp, Resident Senior Fellow, Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University Alex Kronemer, Writer, Film Producer and Lecturer on Religious Diversity Rabbi Bruce Lustig, Senior Rabbi, Washington Hebrew Congregation Josetta ("Jo") Owen, Teacher, Volunteer, and Philanthropist
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