-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel [mailto:daniel@...]
Sent: May 1, 2009 1:35 PM
Subject: Singapore - Chabad Rabbis Host Tolerance Meeting



Contact: Daniel ferszt

Phone: (310) 424-8290

Email: daniel@...



CHABAD RABBIS IN SINGAPORE HOST INTER-RACIAL

AND RELIGIOUS CONFIDENCE CIRCLE



Friday, May 01, 2009 (lubavitch.com) - At least 100 community
representatives from districts and faiths across Singapore participated in a
government sponsored seminar on the fundamentals of Judaism and Jewish
practice presented by the local Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries and rabbinical
students.



While years of large waves of immigration have made it a diverse,
multi-religious country, Singapore enjoys a reputation for unity. It is a
feat many credit to the government's strong promotion of tolerance via
programs like the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle (IRCC) which
provides platforms for races, religions and regions to interact in order to
build confidence, friendship, and trust. The IRCC was first formed in 2002
in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in America, and the
December 2001 arrest of 15 local terrorists planning to bomb diplomatic
missions and attack foreign nationals based in Singapore. According to the
agency's charter, then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong launched the program,
"to grow the common space and deepen inter-racial understanding."



Typically found touring and dialoging in temples and mosques, this group of
IRCC participants found themselves in Singapore's only Jewish synagogue,
face-to-face with 20-year-old rabbinical student, Yosi Gurevich, and full of
questions.



-More-





"As the only Jewish center in the country, we get a lot of non-Jewish
visitors, but not like this group," Gurevich told Lubavitch.com. "We toured
the facilities and I took them through a power point presentation on the
basics of Judaism. The question and answer session was intense. They were a
very educated group and deeply interested in understanding Judaism."



Gurevich, in Singapore for the year with three other American rabbinical
students to help the country's full time Chabad representative, Rabbi
Mordechai Abergel, said the exchange was "very warm and respectful",
touching on a wide range of subjects, from the nature of the soul and the
purpose of creation, to the Jewish perspective on other religions.

One participant, Albert Lee is a practicing Buddhist, which is also the
country's most widely followed tradition. A sales manager from the Central
Singapore District, he told Lubavitch.com that the visit was both "unique"
and an "eye opener".



"I knew very little about Jews, except what's in the media. It was a very
informative glimpse into the culture and beliefs, and gave me a better
understanding. I was surprised to even discover some similarities and I hope
to learn more."



Chabad emissary and spiritual leader of the Jewish community, Rabbi Abergel
has been reaching out to Singapore's 1000 Jews and meeting similar groups
since he arrived in 1994. Tolerance and inter-communal dialogue is part of
the culture, he said. "Singapore is so open when comes to religions. There
is no racism or anti-Semitism, and people are very interested in all other
religions. As a rabbi, I'm especially happy because it creates a very
supportive environment for Judaism to thrive."



For More Information Contact: Daniel ferszt Phone: (310) 424-8290 Email:
daniel@... <mailto:daniel@...>

or visit www.Lubavitch.com <http://www.Lubavitch.com>








-----------------------------------------------------------------------

This message was sent to Boruch. If you no longer wish to receive email from
us, please follow the link below or copy and paste the entire link into your
browser.
http://www.xmr3.com/rm/1517512-75430920-2-63-AV1-1253/ed@beismoshiach.org/HC
S6DA8