Coexist Foundation - Three Faiths

The 'Coexist Foundation' since 2006 is a charity which works to promote understanding and respect between Jews, Christians and Muslims and between these communities, through education, dialogue and research.

Coexist is an operational foundation which not only funds projects, but also forges and facilitates new partnerships and programmes, which help people to understand better what it means to be Jewish, Christian or Muslim today.

We do this by bringing together an influential network – including government, business, charities, academics and faith leaders - working towards the same objectives as ourselves.

We hope this website will give some flavour of how Coexist is working today, and how you might be able to help us in our mission.

Philosophy
What is it that makes Coexist distinctive among others working to promote better understanding between faiths?

Firstly, while we recognize and celebrate the many connections between the Abrahamic faiths, we also acknowledge their differences and distinctiveness. We believe we learn more about ourselves and our own traditions by looking respectfully at others’. So Coexist is not just about good relations: it is also about exploring our own convictions and beliefs.

Secondly, Coexist is focused on action, not words. The programmes we support aim to make a difference – not just to immediate issues and relationships, but for the long-term.

Finally, all our work is done in partnership. We believe in finding the best organizations and people to deliver our objectives around the world. Our global network increases the impact of initiatives which we hope will transform cultural and religious understanding around the world.

"Gd has given us many faiths but only one world in which to co-exist. May your work help all of us to cherish our commonalities and feel enlarged by our differences."
Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations

Understanding Faiths
We joined with innovative on-line education specialists Microbooks and a team of scholars to develop the series. www.understandingfaiths.net/

Projects
We have links with a number of organizations; Coexist Projects

Contact
You can contact click Coexist Foundation

Pesach - The Celebration Of Freedom

The Pesach (The Jewish Passover) has different meaning of Easter Christian.

The eight-day festival of Pesach (Passover) will commence either just after sunset or just after nightfall on Monday, April 18th, 2011, concluding either at sunset or at nightfall on Monday, April 25th, 2011 (From 15th to the 22nd of Nissan, 5771 in the Jewish calendar).

It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. And, by following the rituals of Passover, we have the ability to relive and experience the true freedom that our ancestors gained.

After many decades of slavery to the Egyptian Pharaohs, during which time the Israelites were subjected to back-breaking labor and unbearable horrors, Gd saw the people's distress and sent Moses to Pharaoh with a message: "Send forth My people, so that they may serve Me." But despite numerous warnings, Pharaoh refused to heed Gd's command. Gd then sent upon Egypt ten devastating plagues, afflicting them and destroying everything from their livestock to their crops.

At the stroke of midnight of Nissan 15 of the year 2448 from creation (1313 BCE), Gd visited the last of the ten plagues on the Egyptians. While doing so, Gd spared the Children of Israel passing over their homes - hence the name of the holiday.

The Pharaoh's resistance was broken, and gave up chasing his ex-slaves. The Israelites left Egypt in such a hurry that the dough prepared for the journey did not go up, that is not fermented, so it is traditional eat Matza Lechem Oni (bread of poverty), bread without fermentation. That day began the journey to Mount Sinai and birth as the Chosen People of Gd.

The Seder (The Holiday Meal)
- The seder table should already be set before nightfall, with the seder plate, matzot, cups etc.
- The seder plate should contain - starting from top going clockwise - an egg lightly roasted, a piece of meat, charoset (usually made of grated apple, ground walnuts, cinnamon, red wine and dates), chazeret (a vegetable), karpas (potato, parsley etc.) and in the middle maror (the bitter herb - horseradish or romaine lettuce). A bowl of salt water should be placed on the table but not on the plate.

- Three whole matzot shmura should be placed under or in front of the plate. They should be covered and separated from each other by a napkin or cloth. Matzot shmura are matzot that were made for the sake of the mitzvah and from wheat that was protected from moisture from the time of its harvest. They are the matzot that one should use for the commandments of the seder.

- Everyone should have a cup that holds at least 86 cc. And there should be enough wine to fill four cups for each person at the seder. Red wine is preferable but white wine may also be used. Children and pregnant women or people who for health reasons cannot drink wine, may fulfill the obligation with grape juice (preferably, with a little wine mixed in). The cups should be filled to the brim for each of the four cups of wine.

Seder is concluded with the singing of the traditional songs (Echad Mi Yodea, Chad Gadya, Adir Hu, etc.)

To learn more, click.

AMA - Associação de Amigos do Autista (Brasil)

Click na imagem para ver animação

Note: AMA website is also available in English, click here and look down the right to find this option.

A Missão:
- Proporcionar à pessoa com autismo uma vida digna: trabalho, saúde, lazer e integração à sociedade.
- Oferecer à família da pessoa com autismo instrumentos para a convivência no lar e em sociedade.
- Promover e incentivar pesquisas sobre o autismo, difundindo o conhecimento acumulado.

A AMA atende em duas unidades, ambas na cidade de São Paulo: no Sítio Nova Esperança, que fica no bairro de Parelheiros, e no Centro de Reabilitação Infantil, que fica no bairro do Cambuci.

Toda pessoa autista deve receber educação especial diária, oferecida por profissionais preparados que conheçam bem o autismo.

O que é Autismo
O Autismo é um distúrbio do desenvolvimento humano que vem sendo estudado pela ciência há seis décadas, mas sobre o qual ainda permanecem dentro do próprio âmbito da ciência divergências e grandes questões por responder.
Atualmente, embora o Autismo seja bem mais conhecido, tendo inclusive sido tema de vários filmes de sucesso, ele ainda surpreende pela diversidade de características que pode apresentar e pelo fato de na maioria das vezes a criança autista ter uma aparência totalmente normal.
O Autismo é uma síndrome definida por alterações presentes desde idades muito precoces, tipicamente antes dos três anos de idade, e que se caracteriza sempre por desvios qualitativos na comunicação, na interação social e no usa da imaginalção.
É comum pais relatarem que a criança passou por um período de normalidade anteriormente à manifestação dos sintomas.
Quando as crianças com autismo crescem, desenvolvem suas habilidades sociais em extensão variada.

AMA - Associação de Amigos do Autista
Doações: http://www.ama.org.br/public/doacoes.php 

Conheça melhor o trabalho da AMA clicando aqui.