Sarah Oliver Announcements

INVITATION: Africa Summit – Cape Town, Honouring the Legacy of President Nelson Mandela

The Africa Summit takes place from Nov 22nd – 24th, 2018. If you are interested in attending the African Summit at the Cape Town International Convention Centre this week, there are still some places available for members of faith based communities. Please download the registration form (Click Here for Registration Form) and submit it to berrybehr@gmail.com.

You can also download the Press release Africa Summit CT 2018 for more information.

The Africa Summit is located in the context of the Nelson Mandela Centennial Celebration Year (1918-2018) and was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on International Mandela Day in Mvezo on the 18th July 2018.

The event is dedicated to Honouring the Legacy of President Nelson Mandela and is subtitled “Peace and Human Development in Africa: Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity and Universal Values”. The Africa Summit is sponsored by the Universal Peace Federation and the Royal House of Mandela. 

Sarah Oliver Announcements, Religious holidays

Diwali – the celebration of the light of wisdom in our lives

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From the entire Cape Town Interfaith Initiative we send special greetings to the Hindu community at this time of celebrating Diwali. 

What is Diwali? 

Diwali is a Hindu festival symbolizing the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali is celebrated this year on 6 November and known as the festival of lights. The symbolism is that once the light of knowledge dawns from within, then there is light everywhere in the world around us. To convey the unique importance of this spiritual knowledge in our life, Diwali is celebrated all around the world.

There is a strong relationship of the festival of Diwali with ancient Hindu epics and scriptures. Many events in these, the Mahabharata and the Puranas are related to the festival of Diwali. The most loved, is when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after completing 14 years of exile – everyone in the city celebrated His return by lighting clay lamps everywhere.

There are four major aspects of Diwali:

Lighting of lamps in one’s home – Symbolic of igniting the light within and spreading knowledge. Lighting lamps also symbolises dispelling the darkness, meaning the darkness of ignorance and negativity.

Gift exchange and distribution of sweets – Sweets dispel any bitterness and is symbolic of a renewed friendship

Feeling of abundance and gratitude -It is a day to feel grateful for all that we have

When true wisdom dawns, it gives rise to celebration. Celebration is the nature of the spirit. The ancient sages brought sacredness in every celebration, so that people do not lose the focus. Observing rituals and religious practices is simply a show of one’s gratitude to the Divine and brings depth to the colourful celebration.

 – written by Kirtanya Lutchminarayan, CTII Executive Board Member

Sarah Oliver Announcements

Welcome to the new CTII Advisory Council

It is with great pride that we announce the new Advisory Council for the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to bring together a diverse group of individuals who can support the organisation with their knowledge, skills and time.

There was an amazing energy in the room as the group came with open hearts and minds ready to contribute to the growth of the CTII vision and mission. We are deeply grateful to these wonderful individuals for “showing up” the way they did, and committing to serving the interfaith community of Cape Town.

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From Left to Right (top row): Mark Bind (CTII Executive Board Treasurer), Sr Nita (Brahma Kumaris), Nadia van der Schyff, Aydin Inal (Turquoise Harmony Institute), James Ellman (Faith, Love and Hope Communities), Ayanda Nabe (CTII Executive Board Member), Rachael Bootcov, Colin Leo (Brahma Kumaris), Dr. Leonard Suransky.

Bottom Row: Gwynne Robins (South African Jewish Board of Deputies), Marlene Silbert, Berry Behr (CTII Executive Board Chair), Mary Frost, Gordon Oliver.

Missing from Photo: Karen Barensche (United Religions Initiative Southern Africa), Princess Chantal Revell (Khoi San), Mohammed Kagee, Rev. Stefan Hipler, Bishop Templeton Mbekwa, Rev. Dave Clements, Sarah Oliver (CTII Executive Board Member), Kirtanya Lutch (CTII Executive Board Member)

Sarah Oliver Announcements, Peace, Statements

Support the No Place for Hate Campaign

Cape Town Interfaith Initiative has pledged its support of the No Place for Hate Campaign, and we invite you to do the same! 

We pledge to do everything in our power to promote peace and understanding between people of diverse faiths and belief systems. We will live our truth, choosing always the path of love, compassion and respect.

Make your pledge: http://stage.jeremydixon.co.za/pledge-wall/

This message is simple – there can be no space for hatred in South Africa.

We live in a country with constitutional ideals which echo our commitments to shared humanity, dignity, freedom and life.

Through “No Place for Hate”, we will fight hatred directed against anyone to combat a culture of racism, antisemitism and prejudice in our country.

Show your support for the campaign in either a personal or professional capacity. It’s totally free and you get to use the campaign logo to publicly show you are actively supporting No Place for Hate in South Africa.

Join the Campaign TodayNPFH+Final+Logo_print (1)

Sarah Oliver Announcements, Statements

Statement on Malmesbury Mosque killings 14.06.2018

Cape Town Interfaith Initiative (CTII) is deeply saddened at the tragic events at the Malmesbury Masjied in the early hours of yesterday morning, which unfolded against the backdrop of two fatal attacks in Mozambique in the past two months as well as the May 10 murders at the Verulam Mosque near Durban.

We send our heartfelt condolences to all concerned; we cannot begin to imagine the devastation experienced by the families of those who lost their lives, and of the Muslim community.

CTII calls on all parties to maintain calm in their mourning, and to work together to investigate ways of combatting the pervasive sickness of violence that appears to be based in the radicalisation of youth. We call on all humanity to stand against hate crimes, and to work together with compassion to re-educate our children to acknowledge the sacredness of all life. If nothing else, let us at least respect life, even when there are those around us who don’t.

Let there be peace, and let it begin with me.

Berry Behr
Chairperson