The Salem anniversary was celebrated as a festivity week from September 7th until September 16th 2007 in Salem Stadtsteinach.
We thank all our visitors who made the festival an unforgettable event.
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Salem's 50th anniversary: 1957 - 2007!
Festivity Week from September 7th until 16th, 2007 in Salem Stadtsteinach
The future of Salem
Speech held by Samuel Müller on the occasion of the 50th Salem anniversary on 9 September 2007
People keep asking me how I imagine the future of SALEM. This is a legitimate question. I have thought about it very much in the years when I have been working as general manager of SALEM.
Under which star shall the work of SALEM stand? I would like to give as an example the musical ANATEVKA and here particularly the scene of Tevje with Hodel where it is said in their conversation, "Only God knows when we will meet again ... So let us lay our fate in God's hands". The same goes for Salem. This is one thing. The other thing is that, as generally known, you can move God's hands, for example by a prayer, because fate is nothing other than the act of divine providence.
But it is possible to influence God's hands by responsibility as well. For it is necessary that prayers are followed by deeds. It is said that if you say a prayer you send it away by saying "AMEN". I would like to add: If you do this in a practical way and if you feel responsible for Creation it is like knocking at heaven's door. 'Responsibility" is a word which I like very much as the word 'response' is included. They are looking for people showing responsibility. I would like to be a part of it. How about you?
Great changes are yet to come to our planet earth and we must never forget that God did not only put us to his earth. Next to us there are fellow human beings and fellow animals breathing the same air as we do. Isn't that basis enough to treat each other in a peaceful way? Salem recognises the importance of responsibility towards life and thus devoting ourselves to the service of God's Creation.
Believe me, the burden that we at SALEM are carrying is often excessively big. But God is sending help to any difficulty. In almost every case there are friends, co-workers of many years' standing and helpers supporting us whenever we need them. We are deeply grateful to all the people who make their contribution in this way.
How can I express my love towards the Salem work? By saying thank you to you when you are reading this and also to divine providence. In all those years you have never let us down.
And finally I would like to end with a word that my father, today in his 94th year of life, said to me in this year's January:
"Everything is so simple - if you just do it."
Under which star shall the work of SALEM stand? I would like to give as an example the musical ANATEVKA and here particularly the scene of Tevje with Hodel where it is said in their conversation, "Only God knows when we will meet again ... So let us lay our fate in God's hands". The same goes for Salem. This is one thing. The other thing is that, as generally known, you can move God's hands, for example by a prayer, because fate is nothing other than the act of divine providence.
But it is possible to influence God's hands by responsibility as well. For it is necessary that prayers are followed by deeds. It is said that if you say a prayer you send it away by saying "AMEN". I would like to add: If you do this in a practical way and if you feel responsible for Creation it is like knocking at heaven's door. 'Responsibility" is a word which I like very much as the word 'response' is included. They are looking for people showing responsibility. I would like to be a part of it. How about you?
Great changes are yet to come to our planet earth and we must never forget that God did not only put us to his earth. Next to us there are fellow human beings and fellow animals breathing the same air as we do. Isn't that basis enough to treat each other in a peaceful way? Salem recognises the importance of responsibility towards life and thus devoting ourselves to the service of God's Creation.
Believe me, the burden that we at SALEM are carrying is often excessively big. But God is sending help to any difficulty. In almost every case there are friends, co-workers of many years' standing and helpers supporting us whenever we need them. We are deeply grateful to all the people who make their contribution in this way.
How can I express my love towards the Salem work? By saying thank you to you when you are reading this and also to divine providence. In all those years you have never let us down.
And finally I would like to end with a word that my father, today in his 94th year of life, said to me in this year's January:
"Everything is so simple - if you just do it."
