5th Annual Peace Essay Contest Topic

“Compassion in Action as exemplified
by the leaders of the three Abrahamic faiths”

Assignment:

Part I:  What do the Abrahamic traditions — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam teach us about compassion?  How did their founders — Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad — serve as exemplars of compassion?

Part II: Propose a practical teen-based project that embodies the principles of compassion.  Show how the teachings you described in part I inspired the project.  (A project could be advocacy, education, or material or moral support to those in need of society’s help.  Make clear whether the focus is on individuals or whole populations, and how these would be identified or selected).

Our On-Line Mentors were:

Rabbi A. Nathan Abramowitz, Faculty, Theology Department, Georgetown University

Laith Al-Qasem, Chief Executive Officer of Arabian Business Consultants for Development

Susan Bilek, Philosophy Teacher, Washington DC

Diana L. Chambers, The Chambers Group, LLC

Kenneth E. McNeil, Partner, Susman Godfrey LLP

June Murray-Crawford, High School Teacher, Hudson, Massachusetts

Professor Sulayman S. Nyang, Professor of African Studies, Howard University

Our Essay Judges were:

Karima Diane Alavi, former Director, Dar al Islam Teachers’ Institute

Andrew R. Ammerman, Board of Regents, Georgetown University

Susan Bilek, Philosophy Teacher, Washington DC

David Cannon, Scientist with Science Applications International Corporation

Pastor Mark Greiner, Georgetown University

Alex Kronemer, Writer, Film Producer and Lecturer on Religious Diversity

Stacy Ricotta, Educational Advisor, Houston, Texas