Abraham, of the Old Testament, was the founding patriarch of a new, monotheistic faith, which included Jews and later Christians and Muslims.  One of his two sons is historically tied to the founding of Judaism, the other to the founding of Islam.

The broadcast visits, The Children of Abraham Project, which is an effort by individuals and interfaith organizations in the Detroit Metro area, to educate Jews, Christians and Muslims as to their common ancestry, and encourages them to work together for tolerance, peace and civic betterment.  The process involves watching a play in which teenage actors, some who helped write the play, act out scenes from the Biblical story.  This is interspersed with contemporary accounts of religious and ethnic prejudice based on personal recollections.  The play brings audiences to tears especially if they have never felt free to be frank about their fears and prejudices or willing to walk in another''s shoes.  Weeks later, adult and teen audience groups gather for follow up role-playing, and discussion and they eventually decide on an interfaith project to perform.

We meet the founder of the Project, former department story executive Brenda Rosenberg of Bloomfield Hills Mi.  In addition, we visit with her co-creator, Imam Abdullah al Amin of The Muslim Center in Detroit, and executive director of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan.  Others in the broadcast include Rick Sperling, founder of Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit, which helped create and produce the play; Rev. Dan Krichbaum, executive director of the National Conference for Community and Justice in Detroit; Rev. Dan Appleyard, rector of Christ Church Dearborn; Victor Begg, vice chair of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan; and many of the teenage actors, writers and audience members who have made the Project successful.

The Project is a powerful experience that gives hope to the idea of these three religions being able to find their common heritage as a reason for mutual religious respect and spiritual healing in the future.

John P. Blessington is the executive producer and director of the special; Ted Holmes is the producer.  It is being produced with the cooperation of the National Council of Churches, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, The Jewish Theological Seminary and the Southern Baptist Broadcast Communication Group.

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Press Contact:            Jeremy Murphy        212/975-4577                 mailto:kjuan@cbs.com