Interfaith expert Rabbi David Rosen is visiting New Zealand next week, to give public lectures on interfaith and religion.

Rosen is the international co-president of the World Council of Religions for Peace, former president of the International Council of Christians and Jews, former Chief Rabbi of Ireland, and serves as a member of the Advisory Committee of the World Congress of Imams and Rabbis.

The first of Rosen's public lectures, in Auckland on 24 November, addresses the topic "Can interfaith lead to peace in the Middle East: A report from Israel".

The public lecture is a collaboration between the University of Auckland Business School, the Human Rights Commission and the Auckland City Council. It is supported by the NZ Council of Christians and Jews, Auckland Council of Christians and Muslims, and the Auckland Interfaith Council.

Rabbi Rosen's second lecture, in Wellington, will be "Is religion the problem or the solution: Christians, Muslims and Jews in the Middle East".

Since 2001, Rabbi Rosen has been the Director of the American Jewish Committee's Department for Interreligious Affairs and its Heilbrunn Institute for Interreligious Understanding, in Jerusalem.

For the past four years Rabbi Rosen has served as the Chairman of the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations, a broad-based coalition of Jewish organisations representing World Jewry to other religions.

During his visit to New Zealand Rabbi Rosen will receive an official welcome at Orakei Marae and meet with MPs and representatives from the Human Rights Commission. He will also be guest of honour at a ministerial dinner in Wellington.

Public lectures

7.30pm, Tuesday 24 November

"Can interfaith lead to peace in the Middle East: A report from Israel"

Room 073, Level 10, Owen Glenn Building, University of Auckland Business School, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland.

8pm, Wednesday 25 November

"Christians Muslims and Jews in the Middle East: Is religion the problem or the solution?"

Council Chamber, Hunter Building, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Parade, Wellington.