Ohr Olam Staff after meeting Dalai Lama at his residence, Dharamshala, October 27, 1997 (Azriel on right of Dalai Lama)
Founded and directed by Azriel Cohen after a private meeting with the Dalai Lama in 1997, The Ohr Olam Project was established in Dharamshala, India, one of the most popular stops in the world for spiritual seekers and famous as the exile world center of Tibetan Buddhism and home of H.H. the Dalai Lama of Tibet.
From 1997 to 2001 The Ohr Olam Project (external site), following up after the famous Jew in the Lotus dialogue between Jewish leaders and the Dalai Lama, the Ohr Olam Program ran innovative educational and social Jewish programming for travelers in Dharamsala, northern India, one of the most popular stops in the world for Jewish spiritual seekers, most famous as the exile world center of Tibetan Buddhism and home of H.H. the Dalai Lama of Tibet.
"Of all the many developments since the dialogue between Jews and the Dalai Lama in 1990, the work of Ohr Olam seems to me the most active response to the question that emerged then.
"Namely, how to show the spiritual power and beauty of Judaism to all who are seeking it, whether in India, or North America, or Israel. And in this time of groundless quarrels within the Jewish world, how pleasant to find a Jewish expression grounded in tradition and yet open to all. I am deeply moved and inspired by this project.”
—Rodger Kamenetz, Author of The Jew in the Lotus and Stalking Elijah