Emile Shoufani
Encyclopedia
Fr. Emile Shoufani, was born 24 May 1947 in Nazareth
, He is an Arab, with Israeli nationality, attached to the Eastern Christian tradition, a Catholic priest of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
. Fr. Emile Shoufani won UNESCO Prize for Peace Education
(2003).
and mother Orthodox
. A few months after Israel's establishing in 1948, he was deported with his family. His grandfather and uncle were killed by the Israeli army during the first Arab-Israeli war. Raised by his grandmother, the latter taught him the value of forgiveness and the rejection of hatred.He became Choirboy at the church Eilaboun
, which was built after 1949, he was soon fascinated by the liturgy and entered the seminary at the age of 13. Sent to France by his superiors at age 17, he studied philosophy and theology at the Seminary of Morsang-sur-Orge
, then the seminary of St. Sulpice of Issy-les-Moulineaux
in 1966.
As a Priest in Nazareth, he taught at St. Joseph Seminary & High School at Nazareth where he became manager in 1976. In the college where half the students are Muslims and one Christian, Fr. Shoufani work every day to encourage the teaching of democratic values and dialogue. For over twenty years, encounters with Jewish schools are held three times a year.
and a strong player in interreligious dialogue, he brings valuable assistance in organizing the French part of the pilgrimage and creates the association "Memory for Peace". This initiative supported by many intellectuals in Israel has attracted over 500 people and earned him the Unesco Prize for Peace Education in the same year.
Whoever is in front of me is someone who has a quality experience and not an identity card to brandish. '
, we will proclaim our brotherhood with the millions of victims ... This act of remembrance will indicate our deep rejection of such inhuman It demonstrates our ability to understand the wounds of others. "
"I appeal to my Jewish brethren to realize that the vast majority of Arab and Muslim world, the conflict tearing us apart is not religious, racial or even less. The Arab
are not the successors of those who once wanted to wipe out the Jews as Jews. Like them heirs of the faith of Abraham
, they are like them carrying light values. "
"This trip to the darkest depths of the memory of mankind can in no way relativize the suffering of other people in other places and at other times. It will on the contrary bring us face our responsibilities now, and our vocation as human beings turned into aliving together.
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
, He is an Arab, with Israeli nationality, attached to the Eastern Christian tradition, a Catholic priest of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church
Melkite Greek Catholic Church
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See as part of the worldwide Catholic Church. The Melkites, Byzantine Rite Catholics of mixed Eastern Mediterranean and Greek origin, trace their history to the early Christians of Antioch, Syria, of...
. Fr. Emile Shoufani won UNESCO Prize for Peace Education
UNESCO Prize for Peace Education
The UNESCO Prize for Peace Education has been awarded annually since 1981.The prize is endowed up to 60 000 US dollars and honours extraordinary activities in the spirit of the UNESCO constitution.-Recipients of the Prize by year:...
(2003).
The Curé of Nazareth
Shoufani is the second of eight children of a father MelkiteMelkite Greek Catholic Church
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See as part of the worldwide Catholic Church. The Melkites, Byzantine Rite Catholics of mixed Eastern Mediterranean and Greek origin, trace their history to the early Christians of Antioch, Syria, of...
and mother Orthodox
Orthodox Christianity
The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to:* the Eastern Orthodox Church and its various geographical subdivisions...
. A few months after Israel's establishing in 1948, he was deported with his family. His grandfather and uncle were killed by the Israeli army during the first Arab-Israeli war. Raised by his grandmother, the latter taught him the value of forgiveness and the rejection of hatred.He became Choirboy at the church Eilaboun
Eilabun
Eilabun is an Israeli-Arab local council in Israel's North District, located in the Beit Netofa Valley. According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, Eilabun had a population of 4,400 inhabitants in 2005. The population is predominantly Christian...
, which was built after 1949, he was soon fascinated by the liturgy and entered the seminary at the age of 13. Sent to France by his superiors at age 17, he studied philosophy and theology at the Seminary of Morsang-sur-Orge
Morsang-sur-Orge
Morsang-sur-Orge is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Inhabitants of Morsang-sur-Orge are known as Morsaintois.-Transport:...
, then the seminary of St. Sulpice of Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux
Issy-les-Moulineaux is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. On 1 January 2003, Issy-les-Moulineaux became part of the Communauté d'agglomération Arc de Seine along with the other communes of Chaville, Meudon, Vanves and Ville-d'Avray...
in 1966.
As a Priest in Nazareth, he taught at St. Joseph Seminary & High School at Nazareth where he became manager in 1976. In the college where half the students are Muslims and one Christian, Fr. Shoufani work every day to encourage the teaching of democratic values and dialogue. For over twenty years, encounters with Jewish schools are held three times a year.
An actor for Jewish-Arab reconciliation
Living in the heart of Israeli-Palestinian clashes, he understands that the best way to take a step towards reconciliation and dialogue is to teach the Holocaust. In late 2002, he organized the first Jewish-Arab travel to Auschwitz-Birkenau in May 2003. Jean Mouttapa, Director of Spirituality of Editions Albin MichelÉditions Albin Michel
Éditions Albin Michel is a French publisher. It was founded in 1911 by Albin Michel.-External links:*...
and a strong player in interreligious dialogue, he brings valuable assistance in organizing the French part of the pilgrimage and creates the association "Memory for Peace". This initiative supported by many intellectuals in Israel has attracted over 500 people and earned him the Unesco Prize for Peace Education in the same year.
Whoever is in front of me is someone who has a quality experience and not an identity card to brandish. '
Draft Emile Shoufani "Memory for Peace"
"I appeal to my Arab brothers to join me together make a strong gesture, audacious and absolutely free. At the place that incarnates the atrocity of genocide, Auschwitz-BirkenauAuschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
, we will proclaim our brotherhood with the millions of victims ... This act of remembrance will indicate our deep rejection of such inhuman It demonstrates our ability to understand the wounds of others. "
"I appeal to my Jewish brethren to realize that the vast majority of Arab and Muslim world, the conflict tearing us apart is not religious, racial or even less. The Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
are not the successors of those who once wanted to wipe out the Jews as Jews. Like them heirs of the faith of Abraham
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
, they are like them carrying light values. "
"This trip to the darkest depths of the memory of mankind can in no way relativize the suffering of other people in other places and at other times. It will on the contrary bring us face our responsibilities now, and our vocation as human beings turned into aliving together.