By Logan C. Ritchie
Brendan Murphy, an award-winning educator with a distinguished 30-year career at Marist School in Brookhaven, has launched an institute for religious collaboration and dialogue.
The Bearing Witness Institute for Interreligious and Ecumenical Dialogue is a national initiative aimed at fostering mutual understanding among diverse communities, particularly Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. It is being housed at Marist.
As the founder, Murphy is well known for lecturing on the history of the Holocaust, and his dedication to fostering inter-religious dialogue. His “History and the Holocaust” seminar and co-curricular field trips, efforts to combat antisemitism, and promotion of religious understanding have earned him numerous accolades and honors, including the Outstanding Educator Award from the Anne Frank Center and the ADL’s Abe Goldstein Human Relations and Unsung Hero Award.
Murphy’s lectures on antisemitism has evolved through community-wide and nationwide engagements. Murphy’s “Why the Jews?” lectures have been praised for igniting conversations about faith, history, and social justice.
“At Marist School, we believe in the power of education to transform lives and build bridges between communities,” Murphy said. “The launch of the Bearing Witness Institute is a significant step forward in our mission to promote understanding and peace among people of all faiths. Through this work, we aim to build a community of conscience, united by a commitment to justice and compassion.”
The Bearing Witness Institute reflects the school’s commitment to promoting religious solidarity and combating hate and prejudice. Grants from The Marcus Foundation, the Molly Blank Fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Rosenberg Family Foundation, The Roberts Charitable Foundation, and donations from individuals have totaled more than $1 million.
“We commend Marist for its commitment to this institute and the important role it will play in teaching a broad audience the lessons of the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism and other forms of religious intolerance,” said Fay Twersky, president of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
The institute will offer lectures, Holocaust education seminars, and teacher training in partnership with the Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights, the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, and The Breman.
Bearing Witness trips to Munich, Prague, and Krakow are designed to build and expand the community of students and adults who are committed to religious solidarity.
The institute will also expand Peace by Piece, an initiative created with Marist School, The Weber School and Mohammed Schools of Atlanta to unite students from Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities in fostering friendship and understanding. Peace by Piece will be replicated nationwide thanks to a partnership with the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion at the University of Notre Dame.
Marist School President J.D. Childs said the Bearing Witness Institute will offer Marist School “the opportunity to be a more compelling participant in efforts to combat prejudice through education, dialogue, and friendship.”
Logan C. Ritchie writes features and covers Brookhaven for Rough Draft Atlanta.
– Source: roughdraftatlanta.com
