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Gala and Reception: A Music and Multimedia Celebration

In honor of:

  • Leonard Swidler’s 80th birthday
  • The inauguration of the Leonard and Arlene Swidler Chair in Interreligious Dialogue at Temple University

More than 200 friends, colleagues, and past and present students gathered on April 26, 2009, to join in the Gala Celebration of Leonard Swidler: the Man and his Works. After sharing food and conversation, the assembled guests witnessed the world premiere of a commissioned dance performance interpreting Swidler's "Seven Stages of Deep Dialogue." The program continued with spoken and musical tributes, including recognition of the 45th Anniversary of the Journal of Ecumenical Studies, founded in 1964 by Len and Arlene Swidler. An interfaith circle of blessing brought the celebration to a close, and guests departed inspired and connected in new ways with one another.


Program from the Gala

Click on pictures below for a larger version...

World Premiere Choreography: "The Seven Stages of Deep Dialogue"
Participants in the Interfaith Circle of Blessing
A sampling of Len Swidlers 80 books
Intercultural Journeys ensemble
A new generation: Len and granddaughter Willi
Temple Univ. Religion graduate students Achmad Munjid and Mytha Candria welcome guests
Len with JES, Inc. Board members Michael Kogan, Lisa Butler (Treasurer), Elizabeth Mellen (Chair) and Harry Halloran (background, right)
Rev. Malcolm Byrd from Mayor Nutter's Office of Faith-based Initiatives presents Len with a Citation from the City of Philadelphia
Carol and (JES Board Secretary) Uli Kortsch
Reunion of old friends
Greeting friends and colleagues
Racelle Weiman (right) of the Dialogue Institute greets Dialogue Forum friends Rabia and Bekir Aksoy
The Women of Tribe 1
Program Participants
President Obama calls the world|to dialogue
Gala Celebration of Leonard Swidler
"Understanding Religion"|Diversity Training at|PriceWaterhouseCoopers
America: Rededicated to|Dialogue and Cooperation