Shem Center for Interfaith Spirituality
Joseph Kilikevice, Founding Director Emeritus
Reflections From Shem Center
Greetings and blessings from Shem Center For Interfaith Spirituality
Here is the most recent addition to our continuing series of thoughtful considerations, observations, and invitations — about our world, our times, our future . . . and you.
We hope to invite you into a few quiet moments of thought and possibly growth with "Reflections From Shem Center."
If you would like to share a reaction with us please contact us here.
Each entry will remain on the website should you wish to send to someone you know. We will periodically share new items, which we will announce with a similar brief message.
And recognizing that wisdom exists throughout all of Creation, we invite you to write us if you have something you wish to share in this series. Please offer your suggestions here. While you're on the website, we encourage you to review the other resources, programs, and events listed.
Shem Center for Interfaith Spirituality offers the sojourners of all spiritual paths and faith traditions, as well as those who claim none, a sacred space where all are respectfully welcomed to encounter the wisdom found in the sacred traditions of the peoples of the world.
Shem is an Aramaic word expressing the Divine radiance and splendor in all of Creation.
We welcome your comments and involvement.
With respect,
Peter Toomey
Trustee — Communications
Shem Center for Interfaith Spirituality
We will never share or sell your contact information. And, frankly, haven't been very good at sending messages — which we're working to improve. But if you do need to limit messages, please reply indicating the programs you would like to hear about?
Reflections From Shem Center
Unveiling the Aramaic Jesus Within
Shem Center friends,
Neil Douglas-Klotz, a friend and colleague of mine for many years offers us an opportunity to experience his research and wisdom regarding the words of Jesus in his own Aarmaic language. His words found in ancient texts offer us new understanding of his teachings familiar to us from Greek and Latin scriptural texts. Please join us by registering for the dates it is offered. This free opportunity is his gift to us, the followers of the teachings of Jesus.
— Joseph Kilikevice, OP, Shem Center Founding Director
A Free Video Event With Teacher and Scholar Neil Douglas-Klotz, PhD
Christmas Message — Br. Joseph Kilikevice, OP
Christmas is a time of wonder and delight for our children, unless you are those we see in bombed war zones we see on the news. We search for a place to ignore the heaviness of heart that invades our adult lives as we juxtapose the scene onto the relative safety of our own lives. How do we celebrate the holidays this year when viewing heartbreaking scenes of two children holding hands sitting in the rubble of their bombed out neighborhood. It strikes me that they were doing what any of us must do to live in a world of violence and destruction. Do what children do, simply hold onto each other.
Civil Disobedience — a loving response to human rights
Author: Kevin Kuhn
On November 14, 2025, myself and 20 other non-violent civil disobedience protesters were arrested outside the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Broadview, IL. Our 6 hours in a local Cook County Jail cell were minor compared to the trauma of our Chicagoland neighbors inside the ICE facility. Our neighbors and friends have had their lives disrupted forever after being abducted by ICE officers off our US streets.
What Pope Leo said in his first Christmas message
Pope Leo XIV, in his Christmas message, called for an end to global wars, highlighted humanitarian crises, and pleaded for sympathy for immigrants worldwide.
Why it matters: The Christmas Day message was a call for peace and the first for the U.S.-born Pope, who was elected in May.
He cited suffering in Gaza, Ukraine, Yemen, Africa, Haiti, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and more.
Shem Center for Interfaith Spirituality
708 North Harvey Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 848-1095
shemcenter1993@gmail.com
Photo Credits: Emory Mead, Stephen B. Starr, Joseph Kilikevice
The Shem Center for Interfaith Spirituality website is awarded a 2022 American Digital Design Award for excellence in design and user experience.
