Peace Islands Institute Pennsylvania

12/16/2025

At a panel organized by United Lutheran Seminary focused on interfaith engagement, our Spain Interfaith Trip, which we co-organized, was highlighted as a model for meaningful dialogue and shared learning.

During the panel discussion, Rabbi David Straus, Edward Livingston, and Said Selmanlar shared insights on sustaining interfaith dialogue, the impact of interfaith travel experiences, and how to continue building relationships even in challenging times.

We are grateful to United Lutheran Seminary for hosting this important conversation and thank Dr. Leslie Virnelson for organizing the event. We are truly happy to be part of this ongoing interfaith journey.

12/15/2025

12/11/2025

On Monday, we reunited with our Spain Trip participants as part of our ongoing interfaith learning series. This time, the gathering took place at JTS. Before heading there, the group met at the Grolier Club, where they explored historical manuscripts from different parts of the world.

They then continued to The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) and enjoyed lunch while listening to a talk by Chancellor Dr. Shuly Rubin Schwartz on Varieties of American Judaism, followed by a thoughtful group discussion.

12/10/2025

12/08/2025

Two weeks ago, we had the opportunity to organize our annual Thanksgiving Turkey Assistance program in collaboration with Rep. Gina Curry’s office. This year, we reached almost 100 families with holiday support. The packages included frozen turkeys, Thanksgiving dinner side dishes, sweet potato pies, drinks, and more.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all volunteers and to Rep. Gina Curry’s team for their incredible efforts in packing, carrying, and distributing the packages. Your dedication made this meaningful service possible.

#2025

12/02/2025

Your support today makes it possible for us to continue serving families, building connections, and strengthening our community. Give your coffee, support Peace Islands today.

https://peaceislandspa.org/donate/

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving! Wishing all a warm, joyful, and peaceful holiday.

11/23/2025

We’re so grateful for another year of meaningful partnership with State Rep. Tarik Khan and his wonderful team. With the help of Embrace Relief, Share Food Program, NewCourtland, and our amazing youth volunteers, we were able to put together and deliver Thanksgiving packages to 90 families in our community.

Thank you to everyone who packed, carried, organized, and showed up with so much kindness. Moments like this remind us what community is all about.

Happy holidays!

11/17/2025

We had a wonderful conversation with Neighbors Helping Neighbors about how we can support one another while serving our communities. Many great ideas were shared, and we look forward to continuing this new friendship between NHN and Peace Islands.

For those who wish to help create Thanksgiving boxes, you are welcome to drop off donations on November 24th, anytime between 8 AM and 8 PM.

NHN Address:
104 Holland Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003

We are collecting the following Thanksgiving food items:

Turkey
Stuffing mix
Gravy
Cranberry sauce
Mashed potatoes or instant potatoes
Canned vegetables (corn, green beans, etc.)
Canned yams
Pie filling or boxed dessert mixes
Mac & cheese
Rice or pasta
Beans
Juice boxes (for kids)
Snacks

We are also accepting basic necessities, including:
Soap
Dish soap
Toilet paper
Toothpaste

10/29/2025

We are so grateful to Archbishop Nelson Pérez for his participation and to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for their support in making the Nostra Aetate 60th Anniversary program a success!

10/27/2025

On the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, we had the privilege of hosting a meaningful panel that brought together voices from three different faiths to explore the importance of interfaith dialogue and building peaceful communities.

We were honored to have our distinguished speakers: Rabba Rori Picker Neiss, Prof. Zeki Saritoprak, and Rev. Russell K. McDougall, who shared thoughtful insights from their respective faith traditions and experiences. Their reflections sparked deep conversations and highlighted how understanding and respect can create bridges between communities.

Thanks to our process facilitators, Rabbi Or Rose, Director, and Dr. Homayra Ziad, the discussion felt open and welcoming, giving everyone a chance to share their thoughts, listen deeply, and engage on even the toughest topics.

We are grateful to everyone who joined us from different religions, denominations, and backgrounds for contributing to the rich dialogue and embodying the spirit of Nostra Aetate. Together, we continue to learn, grow, and work toward a more peaceful and connected world.

10/24/2025

On the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate (In Our Time), we organized a meaningful panel where speakers from three different faiths shared their insights on the importance of interfaith dialogue and building peaceful communities. People from various religions and denominations joined the program, engaging in respectful exchanges and roundtable discussions on challenging topics.

A heartfelt thank you to all the participants for making this panel so productive and inspiring. The event was held in collaboration with our partner organizations — Saint Joseph’s University, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia, the City of Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, and the City of Philadelphia Office of Muslim Engagement.

We are also deeply grateful to our sponsors — American Jewish Committee, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Saint Joseph’s University, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Religious Networks, Majlis Ashura, and the National Council of Synagogues — for helping make this event possible.