Podcast 9 - GAZA AND VISION

As the latest conflict in Gaza fades from the headlines, we focus on the issue of what lies ahead when the guns fall silent and the reporters go home: is there still a real vision for a peace beyond the destruction? In this podcast, our team of Muslim and Jewish presenters are joined by contributors from around the world. They include: - Ben Keene, setting up a Palestinian and Israeli peacebuilding audio recording project, (7m20s in) - CEJI Director Robin Sclafani on European Jewish-Muslim dialogue and their vision for peace (46m30s in). - Len and Elias from the Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogues initiative in the USA, (55m55s in) - Gershon Gan, former Israeli ambassador to Zimbabwe (1h,1m 45s in) The programme also includes a deeply moving discussion between Salaam Shalom presenters and friends Javed and Tal (33m40s in). Presenter Danyel also provides an eyewitness account of the political activism caused by the Gaza conflict, (17m30s in). It closes at 1h14m50s with a special look at Gaza by the "Kickin' It Back" team. We also feature the music of Yusuf Islam, David Broza and Said Murad, Hdag Nagash and other artists promoting the message of peace. DISCLAIMER: Please note that segments of this programme were recorded before the most recent ceasefire. Radio Salaam Shalom provides a forum for discussion and it should be noted that any opinions expressed are the responsibility of the contributors. They should not be taken to represent the views of Salaam Shalom, Trustees, or of any funder or sponsor.

“Gaza: how to keep the vision of peace”. At this time, many of us are mindful of the suffering caused by the region’s past and present violence. That's why the latest in our unique series of Muslim-Jewish podcasts looks at how people around the world are still inspired by a vision of a peaceful, harmonious life for everyone in the Middle East. Podcast 8 "Gaza and Dialogue" features contributions from many of our own team of Bristol-based Muslim and Jewish volunteers. It also hears from two influential women. Robyn Sclafani, Director of Brussels-based CEJI (A Jewish Contribution to an inclusive Europe) and Palestinian Ahlam Akram, National Co-ordinating Committee Member for the Ministry for Peace (a small voluntary sector membership organisation which meets fortnightly in the House of Commons). The programme is hosted by Peter Brill Our next podcast, #9 "Gaza and Vision", will be available shortly from our website.

A very busy 30 days featuring Hanukka, Christmas, New Year and the beginning of the Muslim year 1430 Al-Hijira. With global attention once again on the Middle East, we provide a timely reminder that fighting is not the only thing happening in today's world. People are still talking, still interacting, still learning from each other. Radio Salaam Shalom 's latest Muslim-Jewish programme is now available for download. Recorded in December, it's a bumper edition featuring more stories and some great music collected by our team in Bristol, UK. In these 100 minutes of unique intercultural dialogue, your co-hosts Javed and Tal are joined by: -Ken Masters and Stefan Freedman to discuss how dancing brings people together with 'Dancing Through Walls', - author Michael Morpurgo talks about his new book 'The Mozart Question', - Holocaust survivor and human rights campaigner Hedy Epstein (part 2 of her interview with Peter Brill), - Victoria Feltham's 'Stages' slot features intercultural jazz collective The Berekah Project, - in 'Arabesque', presenter Andy Roberts talks to one of the world's few male belly dancers. There's also music submitted by some of our listeners around the world, plus we feature new sounds from Jewish band Rockiah. Phew! Download and enjoy Podcast 7 at http://radiosalaamshalom.podomatic.com. SALAAM SHALOM!

Eid Mubarak to our Muslim friends! In this drama-centred podcast, Lisa Saffron interviews playwright Sheila Yeger about her newest work. Dove. Dove is a short play with a message of peace. It's set nowhere in particular but relevant everywhere. Available as part of this podcast as a rehearsed reading, it was recorded at Radio Salaam Shalom and was directed by Roger Stennett with the part of Joe played by Vincenzo Pellegrino, Hanne played by Pameli Benham and Meg Whelan as Salma. For more information about Radio Salaam Shalom, visit our website at www.salaamshalom.org.uk.

In this podcast, Radio Salaam Shalom's Peter Brill and Shabana Kausar bring you the latest Muslim and Jewish news. Libby and Len Traubman's 'Living Room Dialogues' share 6 stories of Muslim and Jewish co-operation from all around the world. Radio Salaam Shalom were at the mid-year launch of the UK Friends of the Abraham Foundation Initiatives (TAFI-UK). The local team have an exciting plan to extend the profile of the inspiring work carried out by their Israel-based parent organisation. TAFI-UK Chairman Lawrence Kaye tells us more about what's ahead. In 'Stages', Victoria Feltham talks about comedy musical duo GOOD FOR THE JEWS and gives a preview of a forthcoming tour from the UK's leading Muslim-Jewish-Christian jazz collective, the Berakah Project. 'Crossing Cultures' co-presenters Kalsoom and Naomi share thoughts on the meaning of empathy with Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, a world authority in autism and professor of Psychopathology at Cambridge University. In the first part of an interview with holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein tells Peter Brill about how she was saved from the concentration camps as a young girl and escaped to start a new life away from the horrors of wartime Europe before experiencing the postwar realities for Jews and their new neighbours in the Middle East. Plus, DJ Phoenix and sidekick 'Natural Bliss' are 'Kickin' It Back' with their take on the recent US elections and a look at how it connects with Jewish and Muslim communities in the US and around the world. ============= Radio Salaam Shalom is a registered charity based in Bristol, UK. The work of our volunteer team is made possible only by donations and charitable funding. Find out how to support us at www.salaamshalom.org.uk.

The Woolfe Institute of Abrahamic Faiths opened its Cambridge University-based Centre for Muslim and Jewish Relations at around the same time that Radio Salaam Shalom launched in early 2007. Now the recent Cambridge Festival of Ideas has provided our two organisations with an excellent opportunity to work together for the first time. Presented by Station Manager Kyle Hannan, this feature carries the full debate with the CMJR's Dr Ed Kessler and Sheikh Michael Mumisa as they discuss "Jewish-Muslim Relations - The State of Play", chaired by Salaam Shalom's Madge Dresser. Full details of the debate are available online at http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2008102001.