Peace Covenant Unites Hartford Area Rabbis, Indonesian Dignitaries

A group of Indonesian dignitaries, led by Dr. Nasaruddin Umar, attended an interfaith breakfast at HIU on May 16 with the express purpose of meeting Hartford-area rabbis. The highlight of the event was the signing of "The Hartford Covenant: For the Peace of the World."

Dr. Umar was in Hartford to receive an honorary degree at HIU's graduation on May 15. Dr. Umar is the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Rector of PTIQ University, and the Minister of Religious Affairs for the Republic of Indonesia. He has many ties to HIU through alums, students, Trustees, and others and hopes to create more bonds through programs that will bring more Indonesian students to Hartford.

"I don't feel like a guest here. Whenever I come to this city and to this campus, I feel like I'm going home," Dr. Umar said. The award was covered by a number of media outlets in Indonesia, including at this link.

While in Hartford, Dr. Umar and a number of visiting rectors from universities in Indonesia visited the Berlin mosque and held a gala organized by the Indonesian Association of Connecticut. Also in attendance for the activities was Winanto Adi, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia.

At the interfaith breakfast, Dr. Deena Grant, Vice President of Academic Affairs and HIU's academic dean, introduced the covenant, saying it signaled the start of cooperation among those present. Indonesia, a Muslim-majority country, is the fourth-most populous country in the world.

The Hartford Covenant reads:

In the name of Allah,
In the name of the God of Israel,

We, Jewish and Muslim workshippers of the Lord God, gather today in the spirit of friendship and mutual respect to affirm a covenant of peace in the name of God. We recognize our shared commitment to healing historical divides through education, cooperation, and dialogue. We pledge to reject hatred and intolerance in all forms, uphold the dignity of all peoples, and work together toward a world rooted in justice, compassion, and lasting peace.

The evening gala featured traditional Indonesian dancing and singing and offered an opportunity for Indonesians living in Connecticut to interact with Dr. Umar and the other visitors.