24 people (representing the four continents) attended the face-to-face Scriptural Reasoning on the theme ‘Weaving heart-to-heart links with our neighbours’, at the Espace Hirondelles in Orsay.
Over 30 people from 16 different countries took part in a simultaneous video conference.
Ms Tirzi MARTIN, a graduate of the Theological Seminary in New York and author of ‘Communications avec le Ciel’, began by shedding light on Judaism's view of our relationships with our neighbours. She also spoke of her long experience (ten years) of the Fête des Voisins in Brétigny-sur-Orge.
Next, Mr Régis MARION, an animated film director and songwriter who lives in Orsay, sang one of his beautiful recent compositions: ‘La prière d'Elodie’ (Elodie's prayer).
Finally, we heard the Islamic viewpoint about neighbours. Cheikh Amadou BA, President of the Conseil National des Imams de France, was unable to be with us, so we played a video of an interview he gave us recently.
After his speech, Dr. Laurent LADOUCE, researcher for the Universal Peace Federation and director of the www.culture-et-paix.org website, led the interactive part of the programme. The Zoom viewers were able to ask questions, as were several people in the audience. But above all, the subject elicited many spontaneous testimonials:
- A caretaker spoke about his role in lowering tensions by listening to people, understanding their hearts, and going beyond the first impression they may give us.
- A brilliant Franco-Egyptian lawyer showed how neighbours had helped her so much to integrate into Parisian life when she was studying, and so on.
NACRO, a singer from the Ivory Coast, sang La Maladie d'Amour by Michel SARDOU, followed by an Ivory Coast melody.
Afterwards, the participants had a snack and continued to exchange ideas. Everyone also helped to tidy up the place.