Jewish-Muslim Unity: European Jewish, Muslim Organizations Unite For Co-Operation
From Malaysia-based JUST International (The International Movement For a Just World) comes this story of Jewish-Muslim co-operation and dialogue.
A contingent of about seventy Jews and Muslims from throughout Western Europe who are involved or interested in creating interfaith dialogue on a community level met last week at the Conference on Jewish-Muslim Dialogue held in Brussels. The article relates:
What is the role of the Middle East conflict in Jewish-Muslim dialogue? Is the media a positive force for change in inter-religious relations? How can local communities be successfully engaged in dialogue? These were a number of the questions tackled by representatives of Jewish and Muslim organisations at a Conference on Jewish-Muslim Dialogue held in Brussels...Addressed by speakers including Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid (Chairman of the Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony UK), Rabbi Michel Serfaty (Founder & President of Amitié Judéo-Musulmane de France) and European Commission Culture Director Vladimir Sucha, participants were reminded of their shared religious and cultural heritage and were encouraged to join forces rather than working against each other.
A key outcome of the Conference was the establishment of a European Platform for Jewish-Muslim Co-operation to both encourage and to raise the profile of local, national and Europe-wide dialogue and co-operation initiatives.
In providing a forum for the sharing of experiences, ideas and good practices, the Conference also witnessed the initiation of new partnershipsIn providing a forum for the sharing of experiences, ideas and good practices, the Conference also witnessed the initiation of new partnerships between organisations and the development of project ideas in the arts, media coverage of Jewish and Muslim issues, religious diversity training, grassroots involvement, academic co-operation and joint lobbying efforts. Awards for best practice in Jewish-Muslim co-operative initiatives were also proposed....
The conference was organized with guidance from a Jewish-Muslim Steering Group, and included representatives from such organizations as the European Muslim Network, the International Council of Jewish Women (ICJW) and Islamic Relief.
Ken yirbu, and considering the rise in both Muslim and Jewish visibility and community size in places like France and the UK, dialogue like this is only going to prove itself more and more necessary as time goes on.
