As a Ronald S. Lauder Fellow, Lika Torikashvhili wanted to combine her passions with the focuses of the WJC to create meaningful programming surrounding interfaith dialogue and combatting antisemitism.
To start a dialogue surrounding interfaith relationships around the world, Lika brought together singers from all different backgrounds and countries to sing with children at a hospice located in Georgia. This experience became an art therapy session for the children where they sang and discussed ideas surrounding interfaith friendships between Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
In another example of Lika’s passion to continue the Interfaith dialogue, Lika worked with Peace for Our Schools in Georgia. She led three-day workshops for children emphasizing the importance of conflict resolution and interfaith relationships. Lika brought in leaders from around the world to speak, including from Indonesia and Malaysia. The goal behind this was to help introduce the students to people from all different backgrounds and religions, and many of the students had never met a Jewish person before. Lika planned these workshops in four different regions across Georgia. The program was also set to work with Afghan children over the summer of 2021, with the intention of introducing the students to Jewish people their age and the concept of antisemitism.
When it came to combatting antisemitism, Lika worked with the United Nations Youth Delegate Alumni Network, an organization she founded. The goal of the organization was to unite all UN Youth Delegates and provide them with a platform to work towards a better future. She moderated a Zoom seminar for students where she hosted Rabbi Michael Cohen, a faculty member at Bennington College and Imam Abdulla Antepli from Duke University Divinity School. Together they discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how to achieve peace.
