It’s easy to love our neighbors — people with whom we share similar backgrounds, circumstances and worldviews. Loving those who are different, however, can be a challenge. In this Festival of Faiths session, we explore the faith-based concepts of “love of neighbor” and "loving the stranger" in the context of our current realities, particularly post-2020, when all aspects of human interaction were dramatically altered. Hear the wisdom that can transform relationships and communities from ones based on fear and distrust to ones based on deep understanding and compassion.

Speakers include:

Lyla June, Indigenous musician, scholar and community organizer of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) and European lineages; she earned a doctoral degree with a focus on Indigenous food systems revitalization, and she blends studies in human ecology, Indigenous pedagogy and the traditional worldview from her upbringing

Ben Freed, rabbi at Keneseth Israel in Louisville, was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York where he also earned an M.A. in Jewish Thought; he completed extensive training in pastoral care, and earned degrees in journalism and Middle Eastern studies

Rhonda Magee, a law professor and director of the Center for Contemplative Law and Ethics at the University of San Francisco School of Law; mindfulness teacher and prolific author who has spent more than 20 years exploring the intersections of anti-racist education, social justice and contemplative practices

Tim Ryan (moderator), former congressman representing Northeast Ohio, where he is largely credited with leading an economic transformation after years of disinvestment and neglect; author of books including “Healing America,” “A Mindful Nation” and “The Real Food Revolution”

About the Festival of Faiths: 

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, the Festival of Faiths is a nationally acclaimed, multi-day festival that hosts spiritual practitioners, thought leaders and movement makers.

The 2023 Festival of Faiths, Sacred Hearts, Sacred Minds: Embodying Love, celebrated the power of love to cultivate meaningful connections, strengthen communities and transform lives. Festival sessions explored contemporary concerns through the lens of faith and tapped into our unique capacity for love and compassion in order to envision a more loving future.

Connect with the Festival of Faiths — and join us on this journey of conversation, understanding and spiritual nourishment: 

Website: https://festivaloffaiths.org/ 
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