Sun, Nov 8th, 2009: Interfaith Meeting Warsaw

On Sunday afternoon from 4-6pm over 30 people from 5 Faiths - Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Baha'i - gathered at the National Baha'i Centre in Warsaw for an evening of prayers, talks about protecting human rights and fellowship.

The spirit permeating the evening gave us an understanding of our oneness, that good people of every Faith can work together, being the best we can be, to arise and protect human rights.

Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak quoted Pastor Martin Niemöller about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets.

"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me."

He also spoke about his personal efforts in defending the rights of Muslims in America after the rise of prejudice against Muslims following the attacks on the World Trade Centre.

Buddhist Thupten Kunga Chashals spoke about the need for each of us to clean our hearts and approach all people with love and compassion each and every day.

I happened to have been the Baha'i speaker and I quoted Baha'u'llah censuring two European governments for their treatments of the Jews and that it will only be the implemented principle of oneness of humanity that will really provide us with a firm foundation of friendship with other religions and nations.

It was a very nice evening with good spirits and interesting conversations.
The Bahá'ís in Warsaw organize Devotional Meetings in their private home on a weekly basis and those meetings are really meant to allow for more spirituality in our daily lives as well as quality communications.

It was very pleasant to attend this meeting and I am looking forward to the next one in December. A wonderful united effort of the Bahá'ís in Warsaw to pull this up and get it started.