Essay contest on Christian-Jewish ties offers $100,000 in prizes

Published: 2004-05-04

BOSTON (CNS) -- A 25-year-old Boston philanthropist is offering $100,000 in total prize money to students 16 to 22 years old for religious-themed essays that illuminate the common origins and spiritual bonds of Christianity and Judaism. The Reaching Common Ground national essay competition is being administered by the Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies in Baltimore and is funded by Elizabeth Goldhirsh, who holds a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University. She is studying for a second master's degree in theological studies at Harvard. Goldhirsh got the idea for the essay contest after watching the debate among religious leaders over the Mel Gibson film, "The Passion of the Christ," according to a press release. Contestants must write an original essay, not more than 2,500 words, in response to one of three theological questions posed on the competition's Web site at: www.reachingcommonground.com. Submissions are due by July 30 and winners will be announced Nov. 15.

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