2015

issue 17
on the inside
Weaving Womens Wisdom

National
National Interfaith
Interfaith Week
Week
Commemorating
Commemorating the
the Centenary
Centenary of
of
World
World War
War One
One in
in Kirklees
Kirklees
Thanks to everyone who participated in National
Interfaith Week. We ran a number of faith awareness
events in North and South Kirklees and we had a great
turn out. The Forum wanted to commemorate the
centenary of the First World War and based the weeks
events exploring how people of different faiths
contributed, and the effect of war.
The week was launched at a Clerics Supper gathering at
the Al-Hikmah Centre where Muslim and Christian
Clerics met to discuss national and international issues.
Over four hundred people from North and South
Kirklees joined Kirklees Faiths Forum to learn about
different faiths and the importance of faith in our
communities.
Continued on
page 2

Councillor ONeill shares

his thoughts on KFFs AGM
Your Feedback Matters

National
National Interfaith
Interfaith Week
Week
Commemorating
Commemorating the
the Centenary
Centenary
of
of World
World War
War One
One in
in Kirklees
Kirklees
Continued from page 1
Kirklees Faiths Forums Annual General Meeting was held at
The University of Huddersfield and was a lively affair, especially
the amazing performances given by children from Spring
Grove School who sang acapella to guests and danced to
Pharrell Williams Happy to round the evening off. Kirklees
College Catering student volunteers helped with hospitality,
yet again, a sterling job proving many hands make light
work. Thank you to speakers on the night; the Mayor of
Kirklees - Councillor Ken Smith, Cllr Peter ONeill
-Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure, Carol
Gilchrist - Engagement and Cohesion Manager and
Partnership working, Karen Selley from the Welcome
Centre and Rachael Loftus from Cities of Service.
Winners of KFFs Good Neighbour award received their
medals to acknowledge helping others in their
communities. A big congratulations to all our winners.
Hands-on-Faith workshops included a pop-up exhibition
at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Huddersfield about Sikhs
and World War One, A Travelling Military Museum
came to the Al-Hikmah Centre in Batley. Jahan
Mahmood, a renowned community and military
historian brought his private collection of artefacts
and items belonging to Indian and British soldiers from
the First World War. Local historian Christine Leveridge
and Reverend Kathy Robertson presented a local view
of how the war affected people at the time and how
important a part faith played in Dewsbury, and Kiran
Bali looked at how Mahatma Gandhi contributed to
the recruitment of Indian soldiers and his teachings.
We were also joined by Julia Kay at Batley
Resource Centre who gave a presentation
on Jewish religious attitudes to the
war in the context of The Great War.
All very thought provoking workshops.
Wed like to thank everyone involved
and our small team of three greatly
appreciates your loyalty and
friendship.

Councillor
Councillor ONeill
ONeill shares
shares
his
his thoughts
thoughts on
on KFFs
KFFs AGM
AGM
Kirklees Interfaith Week is something I
always look forward to, as an annual
celebration of the diversity of faiths in our
borough. The diversity itself is enriching and
by exploring each others faiths, we become
spiritually uplifted and gain a better
understanding of ourselves and how we
can flourish as a harmonious society.
The highlight of the week for me is the
Kirklees Faiths Forum (KFF),
AGM/Celebration evening, which this year
was hosted by the University of
Huddersfield, who provided a magnificent
venue for the evening. It was not only a
business meeting; it was a celebration of all,
whose lives are touched by faith in Kirklees.
There were a number of inspiring speakers
who spoke on subjects dear to people of
faith. It was interesting to hear how KFF is
one of the partners who contribute to
community engagement and cohesion.
(This was evident when KFF played a key
role in supporting the We love Batley event
in the wake of the EDL demonstration
there.)
We also heard of the
invaluable work carried
out by the Welcome
Centre, who
provide food
parcels for the
needy. This also
makes us

ponder on the question raised by

Archbishop John Sentamu, that as well as
fishing bodies out of the river, should we
not venture up-stream and explore why
people are falling in, so measures can be
implemented to prevent it?
One speaker highlighted the aim of people
of faith, to love their neighbour, as an
expression of their love for God, a message
that has always been central to the work of
KFF. This was shown clearly in their Good
Neighbours Awards, which was one of the
highlights of the evening. It was an
acknowledgement of the noble activities of
ordinary people who make sacrifices for
their neighbours, day in, day out.
The good neighbours theme also came
across in the Cities of Service presentation.
This project focusses on impact
volunteering and has identified two themes
to begin with. Firstly, Out and About a
project aimed at alleviating loneliness in
Kirklees elderly population, by other older
people supporting them to participate in the
community and be active. Secondly,
MENtors a mentoring programme for
young men to help them find their way
through transitions and set personal goals,
which requires older men to act as good
role models.
Finally, the social aspect of
sharing a meal and thoughts
and ideas with groups of
people who do not often
come together in this
way, was the most
valuable aspect
of this
occasion.
Embracing our
common
humanity is
the real
purpose of
KFF and thats
what it excels
at.

Wisdom
Wisdom is
is aa
common
common thread
thread
within
all
within all faiths.
faiths.

Good Neighbour
Award

The Kirklees Faiths Forum Book Club group have been

working very hard over the past few months to produce
their very own creative weave to support the Weaving
Womens Wisdom Project.

Everybody born comes from the Creator

trailing wisps of glory. Maya Angelou

Kirklees residents were invited

by Kirklees Faiths Forum to
nominate an individual they felt
deserved recognition for their
kindness by helping others and
making a difference to
someones life.
At the KFF Annual General
Meeting and Evening of
Celebration, these individuals
were acknowledged for their
acts of goodness and
community spirit by receiving a
medal presented by the Mayor
of Kirklees, Cllr Ken Smith.
Congratulations to Michelle
Hainsworth, Saima Bi, Abda
Mahmood, Megan Winterburn,
Dr Rajpura, Jeremy Cuss,
Farida Patel, Lucy Lucy and
John Binns for being the good
neighbours we all need and
value.

The aim of the project is for women to meet and share

important stories from tradition and scriptures and to
reflect on the wisdom that they have experienced to
inspire a rug design. Groups have met from across
West Yorkshire to make beautiful weaves which will be
combined to make a travelling exhibition known as
Weaving Womens Wisdom. The project is near to
completion and will culminate in a launch at Bradford
Civic Hall in April. More news to follow from the launch.

New
New faith
faith centre
centre joins
joins
Kirklees
Kirklees Faiths
Faiths Forum
Forum
Kirklees Faiths Forum is pleased to announce and
welcome Markazi Jamia Masjid Riza in Huddersfield as
a new Faith Centre. We look forward to working
together with the hosts at the mosque.
To book a visit to a place of worship in Kirklees visit
www.kirkleesfaithsforum.org.uk or to speak to a
member of KFF team, call 01924 326425

Pledge
Pledge A
A Pound
Pound
and
and Bring
Bring aa Tin
Tin
Thank you to everyone who
donated tins to local food
banks, especially the children
from Spring Grove Primary
School and members of the
Church of God Fellowship in
Sheepridge. Your fantastic
efforts have helped to
support individuals and
families in crisis across
Kirklees.

At Kirklees Faiths
Forum we like to get
feedback about how were
doing. Pupils from
Northowram Primary School
in Halifax and St Josephs
Catholic School in Dewsbury
were the experts to ask! Dont
just take our word for it read
some of theirs.

Kirklees Faith Forum

Interfaith Book Clubs
Meetings take place on the last
Thursday of every month at
12.30 pm.
Venues vary so please contact the
Kirklees Faiths Forum Team for
further information. Everyone
welcome read a new book
every month (supplied by Kirklees
Libraries) and share your
thoughts with others over
a cup of tea.

Festivals Calendar 2015

March 21st

Naw-Ruz (Bahai)
Baha'i New Year
March 25th

Annunciation (Christian)
Marks the angel Gabriel's message to the Virgin Mary that she would
give birth to the incarnation of Christ. It also celebrates the incarnation
itself as the date falls 9 months before Christmas.
March 28th

Rama Navami (Hindu)

At Rama Navami Hindus celebrate the birth of Lord Rama. It falls on
the ninth day of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar (March/April).
Rama Navami is one of the most important Hindu festivals. Lord Rama
is an incarnation of the god Vishnu and the hero of the epic
Ramayana, which is recited in its entirety in the week leading up to
Rama Navama, and on the day itself.
March 29th

Palm Sunday (Christian)

The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.
2 April

Maundy Thursday (Christian)

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter which Christians
remember as the day of the Last Supper. The Last Supper took place
on the evening before Jesus's crucifixion. It's also the night when,
according to Christian tradition, Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the
Garden of Gethsemane.
2 April

Mahavir Jayanti (Jain)

Mahavir Jayanti celebrates the birth of Mahavira, a contemporary of
the Buddha. Mahavira was the last Tirthankara (great sage) and the
most important prophet of the Jain faith. Mahavir Jayanti is marked
with prayer and fasting.
3 April

Good Friday (Christian)

Join Kirklees Faiths Forum Emailing List

Good Friday is the day in the calendar when Christians remember the
crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Updates on events, information and resources

relevant to faith communities and interfaith groups
are sent out by email to colleagues and contacts of
Kirklees Faiths Forum, if you wish to be included on
our emailing list send us an email at:
info@kirkleesfaithsforum.org.uk

3 - 11 April

You can also find us on facebook and follow us on Twitter to

keep up to date with our recent news and events.

Hindus celebrate the birth of the god Hanuman. It falls in the month
of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar (April).

Passover (Pesach) (Jewish)

Passover lasts for eight days. Jewish people celebrate with special
ceremonies, and observe specific customs which remember the
escape from Egypt, as told in the Book of Exodus
4 April

Hanuman Jayanti (Hindu)

5 April

Easter Day (Christian)

Kirklees Faiths Forum

KirkFaithsForum

Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is the

most important festival in the Christian calendar.

contact Kirklees Faiths Forum

14 April

Kirklees Faiths Forum, Batley Town Hall, Market Place

Batley WF17 5DA

At Vaisakhi, Sikhs celebrate the founding of the Khalsa, the collective

body of baptised Sikhs created in 1699.

Tel: 01924 326425

info@kirkleesfaithsforum.org.uk
www.kirkleesfaithsforum.org.uk
Contributions are welcome - contact us with your news and comments.
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Vaisakhi (Sikh)

21 April - 2 May

Festival of Ridvn (Bahai)

During the Festival of Ridvn, Bah's remember the 12 days that their
founder, Bah'u'llh, spent in the Garden of Ridvn.