PROFESSOR SUHEIL BUSHRUI RECEIVES JULIET HOLLISTER AWARD

[The following is the text of a letter received by fax on 20 August 2003]

THE TEMPLE OF UNDERSTANDING
A GLOBAL INTERFAITH ASSOCIATION NGO in Consultative Status with UN Economic & Social Council
720 Fifth Avenue, 16th floor New York, NY 10019 USA
August 20, 2003

Mr. Suheil Badi Bushrui
The Center for International Development & Conflict Management
0145 Tydings Hall
College Park, MD 20742

Dear Mr. Bushrui:
We are writing to let you know that you have been selected as a recipient of the 2003 Juliet Hollister Awards for your exceptional service to interfaith understanding. We would be delighted if you would accept this honor.

Since 1997 the Juliet Hollister Award has been presented to outstanding individuals who have promoted greater understanding of religious diversity and spiritual values. To date the awardees have included Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan; The Very Reverend James Parks Morton; His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidananda; Maestro Ravi Shankar; Henry Luce III; Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; and His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama. In 1999 the Award was presented to President Nelson Mandela at the Parliament of the World’s Religions gathering in Cape Town, South Africa. The 2001 recipient was Dr. Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, and the 2002 recipient was Dr. Thomas Berry, eco-theologian. Both were honored at a joint award ceremony and memorial service for Juliet Hollister, who passed away in November 2000. This year’s award ceremonies will be held in New York in the fall. We will be in touch with you with further details. We can also send you a packet of information regarding the Juliet Hollister Awards if you feel it could help you with you decision. You can also contact me or Diane Williams at 212 246-2746 if you have any questions.

The Center for International Development and Conflict Management at the University of Maryland has inspired many young people to explore interfaith studies in an environment of mutual respect and understanding. One of your students recently declared: "Professor Bushrui is able to convey spiritual values in an academic context and in a way that embraces all religions and cultures." We also want to especially acknowledge your efforts to promote the work of one of the greatest artists every known Kahlil Gibran and his belief in the "unity of being". As Mr. Gibran said on prayer in his masterpiece The Prophet: "When you pray you rise to meet in the air those who are praying at that very hour, and whom save in prayer you may not meet. Therefore let your visit to that temple invisible be for naught but ecstasy and sweet communion." Your contribution to interfaith understanding through creating this sweet communion has enriched the lives of so many. We would be deeply honored if you would accept the 2003 Juliet Hollister Award.

Sincerely,
Alison Van Dyk
Executive Director

Bahá'í World News Service Story