On Monday, 12 December 2011, the Soetendorp Institute organized an interreligious solidarity march that connected different houses of worship. Oranizing partners were the Islam and Dialogue Foundation and Stek (the Foundation for City and Church).

The march started at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, then stopped at the Protestant Kloosterkerk (Cloister Church) and ended with a meal at the Al Aqsa Mosque, which belongs to the Islamic Foundation of the Netherlands. 

The theme of this walk was "finding each other" - In this time of crisis and rising tensions there is a need for acts of solidarity between the different faiths. In each house of worship, the participants were introduced to the history of the building and the background of the religious community that is using it. 

The march created space for meeting people of other faith traditions, listening to their stories and experiences and creating relationships beyond religious and cultural boundaries. 

After the walk, Rabbi Soetendporp explained: "With the march, we gave the term "interreligious movement" a whole new, literal sense. Indeed, we were praying with our feet, expressing our solidarity with one another, receiving hospitality at the different houses of worship and had a chance to interact with people of other traditions we did not know before. I hope this model and gesture of interreligious solidarity will spread to other cities in the Netherlands and around the world."

(Picture from Yorgos Manousakis)