Tanenbaum Gala 2024: Celebrating Peace and Religious Understanding
On October 8, 2024, the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding will host its annual gala, titled “Peace Made Possible,” at the IAC Building in New York City. The event will bring together leaders, honorees, and supporters from around the world to celebrate Tanenbaum’s continued efforts in promoting religious tolerance, interfaith dialogue, and peaceful coexistence across diverse communities.
For those unable to attend in person, a virtual event will also take place at 7:30 p.m. EST, allowing for global participation. The Gala promises to be both insightful and inspiring, with a program that highlights the impactful work Tanenbaum has done throughout the years in advancing religious diversity and understanding.
Honoring Advocates for Peace and Religious Dialogue
The 2024 Gala will spotlight four notable honorees who have made significant contributions to bridging divides and fostering peace.
Rainn Wilson, known widely for his acting career, will be honored with the Les Crystal Media Bridge Builder Award for his work in using media to promote greater understanding and unity. Though Wilson will join the event virtually from the West Coast, his participation in a fireside chat promises to offer meaningful insights into the role media can play in challenging stereotypes and fostering tolerance. Rainn Wilson’s work in promoting spiritual awareness through various platforms exemplifies how media can serve as a powerful tool for breaking down barriers of ignorance and hate.
The Corporate Bridge Builder Award will be presented to Accenture, recognizing the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Accenture’s leadership in fostering environments where religious diversity is acknowledged and respected serves as a model for businesses worldwide.
Through inclusive policies and programs, the company has consistently prioritized creating a workplace culture that values all employees, regardless of their religious beliefs. Their approach aligns with Tanenbaum’s mission to make workplaces inclusive for people of all faiths.
Audrey Kitagawa will receive the Rabbi Marc H. Tanenbaum Award for the Advancement of Interreligious Understanding. Kitagawa has been a longstanding advocate for interfaith dialogue and conflict resolution. Her work has brought together individuals from different religious and cultural backgrounds to find common ground, highlighting the importance of understanding across faith lines in achieving lasting peace. Her contributions mirror Tanenbaum’s ethos of using religious diversity as a means of fostering understanding rather than division.
The Adam Solomon Award for Excellence will go to Dr. Aasim Padela, a leading figure in the field of healthcare and religious diversity. Dr. Padela has made significant strides in bridging the gap between medical practices and religious understanding, particularly in relation to Islamic ethics.
His work ensures that healthcare environments are sensitive to the religious needs of patients, promoting inclusivity and cultural competence. This aligns with Tanenbaum’s focus on creating inclusive spaces not just in workplaces but also in healthcare settings.
A Unique Gala Experience
This year’s Gala will break from tradition, offering a more immersive and interactive experience for attendees. Instead of a standard sit-down dinner, there will be a longer reception with stations offering substantial dinner options, allowing guests more time to interact and engage.
The goal is to foster connections among Tanenbaum’s supporters and provide an opportunity to learn more about the programs and initiatives that the organization champions. The relaxed, engaging format will allow guests to mingle with like-minded individuals committed to peace and tolerance while also gaining deeper insight into the critical work Tanenbaum does in diverse sectors, including education, healthcare, and the corporate world.
Mark Fowler, Tanenbaum’s CEO, will take the stage to highlight the organization’s ongoing mission and its continued relevance in today’s fractured global landscape. Fowler is expected to speak to the challenges that religious intolerance still poses in many parts of the world and how Tanenbaum’s work remains central to combating these issues through education, training, and dialogue.
Tanenbaum’s Ongoing Efforts in Promoting Religious Tolerance
The Gala comes at a time when the world is grappling with increased religious tensions and discrimination. In 2024, the rise in anti-Semitic incidents, Islamophobia, and other forms of religious bigotry has highlighted the urgent need for organizations like Tanenbaum that promote religious tolerance and peace. Through its various programs and initiatives, Tanenbaum addresses these challenges head-on, providing practical tools and resources for communities and workplaces to foster inclusion.
Workplace and Corporate Initiatives
Tanenbaum’s corporate work, for example, helps businesses create policies that are inclusive of all religious beliefs. This includes offering training for managers and HR professionals on how to accommodate diverse religious practices and how to address any religious biases that may exist within the organization. These initiatives are designed to promote respectful communication and collaboration in increasingly diverse workplace environments.
A key component of this work involves the formation of faith-based Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), targeted policy reviews, and the creation of spaces such as Quiet Rooms, where employees can observe religious practices in a respectful environment. In partnership with corporations like Accenture, Tanenbaum works to create environments where employees of all faiths and none can feel comfortable and supported.
Education and Healthcare Programs
Beyond the corporate sphere, Tanenbaum’s education programs are geared toward fostering interreligious understanding in schools, healthcare, and communities. By working with educators and healthcare professionals, Tanenbaum provides critical resources and training on religious literacy and cultural competence. For example, in healthcare settings, Tanenbaum’s initiatives help practitioners understand how religious beliefs may influence patient care decisions, ensuring that all patients receive respectful, personalized care.
Tanenbaum’s Peacemakers in Action Network, another signature program, brings together religiously motivated activists working in some of the world’s most conflict-ridden regions. These Peacemakers are on the frontlines of addressing religious conflicts and advocating for peace. Their work, supported by Tanenbaum, serves as a powerful testament to the role of faith in conflict resolution and violence prevention.
The Power of Peace Through Understanding
The theme of the 2024 Tanenbaum Gala—”Peace Made Possible”—underscores the organization’s fundamental belief that peace is achievable when people of different faiths come together to foster mutual understanding and respect. The world is quite divided by religious and cultural differences, and Tanenbaum’s mission is more critical than ever. The honorees at this year’s Gala exemplify the diverse ways in which individuals and organizations can contribute to this mission, whether through media, corporate leadership, interfaith dialogue, or healthcare.
By attending the Gala, either in person or virtually, supporters will not only celebrate the achievements of these honorees but also play a part in furthering Tanenbaum’s vital work. As the world faces ongoing challenges of religious intolerance, organizations like Tanenbaum continue to stand as beacons of hope, showing that peace is indeed possible through education, dialogue, and mutual respect.
