Peace Synagogue • მშვიდობის სინაგოგა • בית כנסת השלום

05/04/2026

05/04/2026

Our friends Progressive Judaism Center Dor L'Dor•დორ ლედორ პროგრესული იუდაიზმის ცენტრი organized a wonderful 5th night Seder tonight, including members of the Jewish, Christian, Yazidi, Muslim, Iranian/Persian and Bahai communities.

חג פסח שמח!

18/03/2026

The Peace Synagogue extends our sincere condolences on the passing of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II. Serving for almost 50 years as the leader of the Georgian Orthodox Church, he played a major role in this country’s history. The origins of Christianity in Georgia in the 4th Century CE were closely tied to its Jewish community, who had already lived in the country for hundreds of years by that time. As often happened in the spread of early Christianity, indigenous Jews were among the first converts. Some are major figures in the Georgian Christian origin story, such as St Nino the Illuminator’s disciple and friend, Sidonia, and the rabbi Abiathar, both of whom are saints in the Orthodox Church. But more remarkable than this, and what sets Georgia apart from many other Christian states, was the tolerance extended to the Jews who refused to convert. When Abiathar requested that the non-converts be expelled from Kartli, King Mirian, newly converted to Christianity himself, refused. The Jews, having been the first messengers of the biblical G-d in ancient Georgia and loyal subjects of the kingdom, were welcomed to remain, live in peace, and free to practice their own faith. That Jewish community survives in Georgia today, as well as in emigrant communities in Israel, the USA and elsewhere. We are proud to be a part of its story.

It can reasonably be said that the historic tolerance of Georgian Christianity towards the Jews is rooted in these ancient events. We hope and pray that this historic tolerance and friendship will continue as the Georgian Orthodox Church moves forward under new leadership.

Rest in peace, Patriarch Ilia. We are honored to share the further condolences of our friends and partners in the multi-faith Peace Project, the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/176Fweb83v/?mibextid=wwXIfr

საქართველოს ევანგელურ-ბაპტისტური ეკლესია და მშვიდობის საკათედრო ტაძარი ღრმა მწუხარებას გამოხატავენ საქართველოს მართლმადიდებელი ეკლესიის მწყემსმთავრის, სრულიად საქართველოს კათოლიკოს-პატრიარქის, უწმინდესისა და უნეტარესის, ილია II-ის გარდაცვალების გამო.

მისი აღსასრულით დასრულდა ნახევარსაუკუნოვანი, რთული და გამოწვევებით სავსე პერიოდი ჩვენი ქვეყნის ისტორიაში.

ვუსამძიმრებთ საქართველოს მართლმადიდებელ ეკლესიას, მის სამღვდელოებასა და მრევლს, აგრეთვე ყველა იმ ადამიანს, ვისთვისაც მძიმეა ეს დანაკლისი.

უფალმა დაუმკვიდროს სასუფეველი.

18 მარტი, 2026

13/03/2026

We express our solidarity with Temple Israel of West Bloomfield, Michigan, which was attacked by a terrorist yesterday when the building was full of pre-school students. Thank G-d none of them or the public were injured or worse, and the security personnel suffered relatively light injuries. The terrorist was killed by security personnel inside the building. Temple Israel, a Reform synagogue, is the largest Jewish congregation in the United States.

27/01/2026

Tonight, the Progressive Judaism Center Dor L'Dor•დორ ლედორ პროგრესული იუდაიზმის ცენტრი created a beautiful and moving program for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, at the Peace Synagogue. Members of the congregation prepared presentations and lit candles for individuals and themes of the Holocaust: Jewish children who were diarists and artists; ancestors of the members of our community, righteous gentiles, outstanding figures who were murdered, like Rabbi Regina Jonas, and who survived, like Viktor Frankl, and the many others killed and persecuted in the Shoah along with the Jews, particularly the Romany people, as well as so many others who by belief, activity, nationality or sexual orientation were an obstacle to the N**i scheme of total control. Let us remember the sacrifice of the victims and the evil of the perpetrators, and act on the mandate handed down to us by the lost and the survivors: Never Again.

15/12/2025

We would like to share at this moment the words of a great friend of the Jewish community, Bishop Malkhaz Songhuashvili, founder of the Peace Project:

Happy Hanukkah

This year, the light of Hanukkah rises beneath a heavy sky. The celebration, meant to shine with joy, has been shadowed by unspeakable violence—a shooting at Bondi Beach on Sunday, as the first Hanukkah candle was lit across the world. Fifteen precious lives were taken, including a ten-year-old child. As the flames of hope flickered to life, darkness descended.

There are moments when words feel too fragile, too inadequate. How can I convey the depth of my grief and sorrow for a hatred so cruel that it seeks to harm innocent people simply because they are Jewish? Such violence doesn’t only shatter the lives of its direct victims; it wounds the very heart of our shared humanity.

Right now, my thoughts are especially with my Jewish friends—those in Georgia, USA, Israel, France, The Netherlands, the UK, Germany, South Africa, Argentina, Uruguay, Ukraine, Belarus, Switzerland. In my mind’s eye, I see their faces, their eyes filled with the same sorrow that weighs heavy in my heart. I long to hold each of them, offering a silent embrace, for words feel too weak to carry the weight of what I am feeling.

My deepest sympathy goes to the families who have lost their beloved ones—whose worlds will never be the same. And I carry in my heart the Jewish communities everywhere who now feel less safe, less secure, and more vulnerable in a world that should have been their refuge.

Today, I renew my commitment—without hesitation—to devote my life, or whatever remains of it, to the struggle against antisemitism and every form of hatred that spreads like a cancer through our world. In the proud tradition of the Peace Cathedral, we choose to confront the darkness of hate with the light of love, to meet exclusion with acceptance, and to push back against fear by celebrating the rich, sacred diversity of humanity.

May the lights of Hanukkah continue to shine—defiant, gentle, and enduring—reminding us that even the smallest flame can stand against the deepest darkness.

Malkhaz Songulashvili
The Peace Cathedral

08/12/2025

The Peace Synagogue is a Jewish worship space fully compliant with Jewish law, that is part of a larger Peace Project, where the synagogue, a mosque and a Christian Church all stand in close proximity. The project has allowed these 3 Abrahamic faiths to practice their respective religions while also visiting each other’s services, building friendship, fellowship and peace across traditional boundaries. Members of the Peace Synagogue attended a beautiful Norwegian Christmas service in the Peace Cathedral - the central worship space of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia, led by both Rev. Leif Magne Helgeson of the Norwegian Church abroad and our dear friend, Peace Project founder, Bishop Malkhaz Songhuashvili. Reverend Helgeson visits conflict zones across Europe, Africa and Asia, supporting those who struggle against aggression and seeking peace. He gave a very moving sermon about the search for peace and justice everywhere and in all conflict zones, and the joint liturgy with Bishop Malkhaz was most inspiring. Merry Christmas to our Christian brothers and sisters.

07/10/2025

Two years on: we remember the victims of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel - 1,200 killed, 3,400 wounded, 250 taken hostage. The violence that has unfolded since then began on that day. We pray for the return of the remaining hostages now.

03/10/2025

May the innocent victims killed in this terrorist attack be remembered in the House of Israel, and everywhere else. Solidarity with the Heaton Park Synagogue: