In an attempt to alleviate tension between different religious groups, an interfaith dialogue will take place at noon today at the United Campus Ministries/Wesley Foundation, 633 Locust St.

Featured in the dialogue, “The Brown-Bag Lunch: Talking Between Faiths,” will be Yehuda Stolov, a peace activist from Israel and director of the Jerusalem, Israel-based Interfaith Encounter Alliance.

“To advance the peace process, he believes religion can be as much as a solution,” said John Kador, a freelance writer in Geneva who also is involved in the dialogue. “Breaking down stereotypes and using dialogue between religions is the best way.”

Stolov facilitates interfaith dialogue throughout the Middle East.

“He has had a first-hand account of the [situations] of the Middle East,” Kador said. “You’ll get to hear what one person is doing about it.”

Interfaith dialogue first was established in Israel in the late 1950s by a group of individuals who recognized that religious faith and commitment without dialogue threatened the stability of society.

Stolov became interested in interfaith dialogue because there is an urgent need to supplement existing interfaith efforts.

Kador met Stolov on a trip to Israel. Stolov is in the U.S. on a speaking tour and has visited other cities such as San Francisco and Boston.

“I just took the opportunity to have him speak here,” Kador said.

Kador encourages everyone to attend the dialogue.

“I think at this time, after Sept. 11 when religion seems to be the cause of many difficulties in the world, we can and should be aware of solutions for the conflicts,” Kador said.

Dialogue is not easy, Kador said. It requires seeking to understand, before seeking to be understood.

The interfaith dialogue is open to all and Stolov will be available to answer questions.

Participants also are encouraged to bring a brown-bag lunch.