This past winter break, an assortment of about thirty individuals set off for a ten-day adventure through Israel. Deemed the “holy congregation of Georgetown” by our local tour guide, we were an eclectic assortment of students, professors, administrators, and friends of the University. We ranged in age from 18 to well over 70 years old and came from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some of us were Jewish, some were Catholic, some were Protestant, some were Muslim, and some grew up in interreligious households. Despite this diversity, however, our group was united by a shared desire to experience the Holy Land through exploring the traditions of the three monotheistic faiths born there, deepening our understanding of how each is connected to the others, and also by learning about the current state of the Arab-Israeli conflict in that small but treasured parcel of land.
The trip grew out of a Georgetown class called “Interreligious Dialogue and Encounter,” which is taught jointly by Georgetown chaplains and professors Rabbi Harold White, Imam Yahya Hendi, and Father Dennis McManus. All three gather in a Healy Hall classroom with students weekly during the semester, teaching about their own Jewish, Catholic, and Islamic religious traditions and engaging each other in dialogue, inviting students to join in. It is a truly unique - and quintessentially Georgetown - experience. Rabbi White and Imam Hendi, however, wanted to bring the skills students learn in their classroom to life on the world stage outside the Hilltop, so, joined by Fr. Pat Rogers, Director of Campus Ministry on the Main Campus, they led a delegation of students on a trip through the Holy Land. We visited sites of religious significance to Jews, Christians, and Muslims; explored historic landmarks both ancient and modern; and met with local politicians, academics, and peace activists to discuss the issues of the conflict and learn about what positive efforts are being made to move forward towards a solution. It was an extraordinary opportunity to experience storied locales with such knowledgeable and distinguished Georgetown professors and to talk with prominent individuals with a wide variety of opinions about the current situation in the Middle East. The trip left those lucky enough to participate touched and inspired, and I am certain that as we transition into a new year and new semester at Georgetown, we will translate our newfound understanding into meaningful action in our classrooms, organizations, and communities.
Meredith McGrath
COL '10
Glenview, IL
