The Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths
The Woolf Institute is a research institute based in Cambridge, UK, for teaching, research and dialogue in the encounter between Jews, Christians and Muslims.
It is an umbrella organisation for the Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations (CJCR) founded in 1998 and the The Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations (CMJR), established in 2006. The Woolf Institute is named in honour of Lord Harry Woolf, former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales [1].
Teaching
The Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations (CJCR) offers a University of Cambridge Master of Studies degree in Jewish-Christian Relations, in conjunction with the University's Faculty of Divinity and, since 1998, a Master of Arts in Jewish-Chrsitian Relations validated by Anglia Ruskin University.
The Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations (CMJR) offers a certificate in Muslim-Jewish Relations.
Research
Completed and current research projects at the Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths include:
- A Dictionary of Jewish–Christian Relations [2], Edited by E. Kessler and N. Wenborn. This 3-year project (2001–2004) was funded by the British Academy and based in CARTS (Centre for Advanced Religious and Theological Studies at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge). The Dictionary, published by Cambridge University Press in 2005, is an A to Z companion of approximately 700 entries covering the 2,000 years of encounter between Judaism and Christianity.
- The Exegetical Encounter between Jews and Christians in Late Antiquity. This 3-year project (2005–08) is funded by The Leverhulme Trust and The Newton Trust and is based in CARTS. The team has examined the relationship between rabbinic and patristic biblical commentators in their interpretation of the Book of Genesis. The results are being presented in a single-volume book, published by Brill.
Dialogue
Under the 'Dialogue' arm of its work, the Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths delivers public outreach programmes. These have included:
- Children of Zion: Jewish and Christian Perspectives on the Holy Land. This project is an exploration into the language used for and around the 'Holy Land' by Daniel Langton.[1]
- A Call to Dialogue was a letter facilitated by the Muslim scholars of the CMJR in February 2008 addressed to the Jewish Community intended as a gesture of goodwill. Its aim was to build upon existing relations in order to improve mutual understanding and to further the positive work in building bridges between Muslims and Jews. The letter was received with both criticism and praise.
- Home Office funded programmes. Short courses designed to build interfaith skills for people working in and with faith communities delivered in 2008 (London, East of England and Nottingham) and 2009 (Cambridge and London).
References
External Links