ENGLISH CORNER, CON LINDA JIMÉNEZ – This week’s trivia question: In what iconic venue in Madrid will the next Concert of Three Cultures be held on March 21?
The first week in February was declared World Interfaith Harmony Week by the United Nations in 2010 and first celebrated in 2011. Arco Forum is an organization whose mission is to promote peace and understanding among different cultures, ethnicities, religions and races. Since 2014 they have organized a series of concerts and events, with the participation of nearly a dozen other organizations, including Centro Sefarad-Israel, the Bet-El Masorti Jewish community, the Jewish Community of Madrid, several Catholic parishes, Foro Abraham and UNESCO in Getafe, Madrid. The concerts include performances by groups representing Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures, and have been held in a number of cities throughout Spain.
The theme of World Interfaith Harmony Week this year was “Sustainable Development through Interfaith Harmony”. The concert that was held in Madrid included music of Sephardic, Christian and Muslim origin, played by five musicians on traditional instruments, accompanied by a singer. After the concert Temir Naziri, the President of Arco Forum, told us about some of the activities that they have organized in different cities in Spain. Then we spoke with members of two of the organizations that have supported these activities: Pablo Delgado, a member of the Buen Suceso Catholic parish, and Eli Stofenmacher, of the Bet-El Masorti Jewish Community. Finally, Diego López, one of the musicians who participated, told us about his own musical experience and the other members of the group.
