ABRAHAM PATH INITIATIVE
A Brief Description




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The purpose of the Abraham Path Initiative is to open up a route in the Middle East retracing the footsteps of the prophet Abraham (Avraham / Ibrahim), revered for his faith, patience, selflessness, and commitment in responding to the call of God. The spiritual significance of the common patriarch to Judaism, Christianity and Islam is described in the sacred scriptures of each – the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Qur’an. In an age where faith and action begin to discover convergent paths, Abraham once again holds a key to healing the human heart; by believers in all three religious cultures, Abraham is greatly beloved. Such a pilgrimage route, roughly analogous to the Camino de Compostela in Spain, the journey from Mecca to Medina in Saudi Arabia, or the Lewis and Clark Trail in the United States, is intended to draw travelers from all parts of the world.  As the father of monotheism and the spiritual forefather of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, Abraham is the unifying point for over three billion people who consider themselves part of the family of Abraham. It has long been a dream for many – including Martin Luther King Jr. and the late Pope John Paul II-- to walk in the footsteps of Abraham.

The Abraham Path is a call to our collective moral imagination. It is also a call to action. Against a backdrop of conflict in the Middle East that has become a global symbol of intractable strife and despair, the path -- with televised images of imams, priests, and rabbis walking together -- will introduce millions around the planet to new possibilities for mutual respect.

One of the most significant and exciting objectives of The Abraham Walk will be a comprehensive educational and awareness campaign centered on understanding of and respect for the different faiths. ‘Abraham Walks’ will be designed in local communities throughout the world with people walking from churches to mosques to synagogues and other places of worship with “omni-local” grassroots teams from many faiths and cultures taking the lead. Resources will be offered for purposes of self-study and community. Shared religious services, celebrations, and educational dialogues will attract people based on what they hold in common.

The Abraham Path will start from the ancient arch in the center of Harran, in the ruins of the old Mesopotamian city located in present-day southeastern Turkey, where Judaism, Christianity, and Islam concur that Abraham heard the call of God to go forth.  The route will proceed through Syria (passing the Euphrates, Aleppo, Damascus), and through Jordan, Israel, and Palestine.  It will pass through Jerusalem and end at the Tomb of Abraham in al- Khalil/Hebron, a total of 1100 kilometers.  As with other well-known trails, travelers will choose to travel part or all of the route, and will do on foot, by camel, by car, by bus, or a combination.  Other parts of the Abraham Path will be opened in the future from Ur in southern Iraq to Harran, from Egypt to al-Khalil, and from al-Khalil to Mecca.

Beyond the personal significance of traveling the Abraham Path for the travelers and those whose lives they touch, the Abraham Path will have many concrete benefits for the peoples of the Middle East, indeed of the entire world:

• Economic: creating thousands of jobs by building infrastructure such as trails, hotels, restaurants, and providing guide services. Political: building confidence between states, for example, by opening up a path across the Golan Heights   between Syria and Israel.
• Religious/cultural: restoring dozens of sacred sites along the route.
• Educational: promoting religious and cultural understanding through the media, the arts, and personal meetings
• Environmental: environmental preservation along the route, such as cleaning up the Euphrates corridor.
• Youth: providing a focal point for the idealism, energy, and adventurous spirit of young people from around the world.

A study of the Abraham Path has been conducted for the past eighteen months at Harvard University. A consultation process intended to elicit the views and support of religious, political, and community leaders in the region and around the world is underway. This website is intended to inform and connect interested individuals and organizations. A guidebook to the Abraham Path is in the process of being written and the second journey from Harran to al-Khalil/Hebron, to be undertaken by a consultative delegation, is being planned for October-November 2007. Our aim is to have the Abraham Path open for interested pilgrims and tourists within two years or less. Initial co-conveners for the Abraham Walk project include Harvard University’s Global negotiation Project, and the Association for Global New Thought in the U.S. Support and funding have come from foundations and individuals in Brazil, Italy, Syria, Turkey, Israel, Palestine, Pakistan, and the United States. Affirmations of interest in the Project have come from, among others, Nobel Peace Prize winners Jimmy Carter and the Dalai Lama.

If you would like to become involved in the Abraham Path Initiative, please contact us at barbara@agnt.org

AWARENESS CAMPAIGN: THE EDUCATION COMPONENT & THE ROLE OF LOCAL TASK FORCES

There are many other possibilities for participation in your community. An array of ideas for religious and secular activities, along with organizing guides and educational materials will be provided when you contact barbara@agnt.org to send us your information.

• Organizers of the Omni-local initiative will distribute Abraham Path materials to existing task forces and new inquiries.
• The primary role of the local organizing task force is to identify organizations and individuals that are already engaged in work promoting awareness of this issue in their community.
• We suggest that communities of people who have a stake in the Abrahamic traditions and whose efforts are motivated toward forgiveness, nonviolence, and reconciliation be invited to focus their ongoing work around the Abraham Path in 2007-08.
• These organizations and individuals will be asked to select (or organize) and describe a specific project, program, or initiative that promote awareness and demonstrate nonviolent solutions.
• Beginning now, and over time, the local walks will become preparatory opportunities for Abraham’s children in our own communities to visit holy sites in the Middle East region, thus expanding and enhancing peace building efforts in their home communities.