Avon Tree of Life Educational Fund Event Coming Up

Information via Avon Congregational Church

AVON, CT — An interfaith Tree of Life Educational Fund (TOLEF) annual speaker series program will take place on Wednesday, October 23rd at the Avon Congregational Church, 6 West Main Street, Avon, 6:00 – 8:30 pm. Tree of Life Educational Fund was established through the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme in 2002 in response to 9/11 and with an aim to provide cross-cultural and transnational travel experiences and educational opportunities to help make this a more just and peaceful world in which to live.

The program is co-sponsored by the Farmington Valley American Muslim Center (FVAMC) and Avon Congregational Church. Speakers include Cindy and Craig Corrie, founders of the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice whose mission is to encourage and support grassroots efforts in pursuit of human rights and social, economic and environmental justice. They are the parents of Rachel Corrie who in 2003 was run over and killed by an Israeli military operated D9 bulldozer as she tried to protect a Palestinian home from demolition in Rafah, Gaza.

The audience will also hear from Palestinian student youth ambassadors who will speak on some of the many challenges of living under military occupation in both the West Bank and Gaza, and what brings them hope.

Music will be provided by Palestinian artists Tamer Al-Sahouri, head of the Arabic Music department at the Edward Said Conservatory of Music, and his wife, singer Nadine Shomali.

Doors will open at 6:00 for a Middle Eastern supper, for viewing of the Promised Land Museum exhibit – a Jewish Museum of the Palestinian Experience, and for an opportunity to purchase Palestinian crafts and olive oil, proceeds of which go to support Palestinian college students.

“Through Tree of Life we aim to be a gate in a place that has known too many walls, and to be a voice for those who suffer. We educate others in the hopes that someday Jewish, Muslim and Christian children will play together in the Holy Land, no longer divided, no longer afraid.” David Good, Founder, Tree of Life Educational Fund.

Admission is free but donations are welcomed! For more information visit tolef.org or contact Kathy Smith at secretary@avon-church.org

Photo captions (your choice) – Cindy and Craig Corrie, Founders of the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice

Musicians from Bethlehem, Palestine - Tamer Al-Sahouri and Nadine Shomali

FOR MORE INFO:

Tree of Life Educational Fund: https://tolef.org/

“Will There Really Be a Morning” https://tolef.org/2019/09/06/fall-speaker-series-october-2019/