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The question often arises as to whether VeAhavta is an organization that espouses or supports a particular faith or religious tradition. For example, we are frequently asked if VeAhavta is "a Jewish organization" or "a Christian organization." On occasion, we are even asked if "proselytizing" (that is, trying to convert others to a particular religious faith) is part of our purpose or perhaps an undisclosed aspect of our agenda.

We would like to make our position on this issue clear.
VeAhavta is a corporation governed by a Board of Directors; it is a legal entity created in accordance with California law, not a human being. Accordingly, the entity VeAhavta has no religion. VeAhavta is an interfaith or ecumenical organization. Our Board of Directors is presently comprised of Jews, Christians and Muslims and we work extensively with people of all faiths in the United States and in Sri Lanka.

One of our charitable purposes is to "promote peace, understanding and mutual respect among people of different religions through education." Consistent with this purpose, we do not advocate or espouse any particular religion, nor are we attempting to form a new "conglomerate religion" of some sort. Moreover, we have no "statement of faith" and no faith requirement or religious test that must be passed in order for anyone to sit on our Board of Directors or function as an officer or volunteer.

Finally, VeAhavta has no objective to convert people to any particular religion. In other words, we do not "proselytize," nor will we work with those who do. Our goal is to "promote peace, understanding and mutual respect among people of different religions," not to convert others to any particular faith. However, just as it would be contrary to our charitable purposes to proselytize, it would be equally contrary for us to attempt to prohibit anyone from embodying their own particular faith. The difference in the concepts encompassed within these two terms – "proselytize" and "embody" – and in how we use them here is important to understand.

To "embody" a faith tradition means to be true to that faith, both in word and in deed. For example, a person who embodies his or her faith may pray in a particular manner, may wear certain clothing or ornamentation, or may say certain things after or before eating meals. VeAhavta does not make any attempt whatsoever to stifle or prohibit any of its directors, officers or volunteers from embodying, as just defined, their own particular religion; to the contrary, we encourage people to embody their own faith traditions. We would never, for example, ask anyone to refrain from stating, in a respectful manner, what he or she believes to be the truth, if asked; or to conceal their religious differences from anyone; or to "water-down" their religious beliefs in any way. Hindus should be free to be Hindus, Buddhists to be Buddhists, Jews to be Jews, etc., etc.

To"proselytize," however, is to make an active attempt to convert another person to a particular religious faith. Usually, this entails more than just embodying one’s faith; it may include the use of coercive or other unethical methods that are designed to compel a person to change his or her religious views. These methods may include offering unsolicited religious opinions to others, forcing others to listen to another person’s opinions regarding religion or taking advantage of a "captive audience" to do the same. It may include offering humanitarian assistance "with a string attached" (e.g., on condition that the person receiving assistance listen to the giver's religious opinions and/or adopt those opinions as his or her own), speaking out in a negative or even hateful manner against the religious beliefs of others, or denigrating or ridiculing the adherents of a particular religion. VeAhavta does not "proselytize," as so defined.

The directors and officers of VeAhavta – and, of course, our overseas representatives – are acutely aware of the religious diversity that exists in Sri Lanka, in Trincomalee and, more importantly, at the Grace Care Center; and we are all determined not to allow religious differences to devolve into religious bigotry. We have no fear of religious differences; to the contrary, we see them as opportunities to learn about each other and to grow in our understanding of the truth.