Internet chatter, heated discussions and all manner of reactions have over the decades painted a debatable picture of the Jewish-Muslim conflict. All these reactions may have suggested a hopeless situation between the two different but historically intertwined religious groups. However, initiatives have been taken up by different groups to explore this explosive subject in the quest for peace. In Caux, participants attending the conference ‘Learning to Live in a Multicultural World’ had a chance to hear from one such approach.

Ruth Friedmann, Keltoum Boumedjane (Moderator) and Mehrezia Labidi (from left to right)On the second day of the Initiatives of Change conference “Learning to Live in a Multicultural World” (9-15 July) in Caux, two panelists, Ruth Friedman, an Education Programmes Manager at CEJI – A Jewish Contribution to an inclusive Europe and Mehrezia Labidi, vice president of the European section of Religions for Peace spoke of their specific approaches in fostering the dialogue between Muslims and Jews in Europe.

Ruth Friedman is engaged in a Jewish-Muslim dialogue an initiative of the European Platform for Jewish Muslim Co-operation which aims at facilitating co-operation, dialogue and partnership between Jewish and Muslim communities at local, national and trans-national levels.The dialogue has been carried out in five European countries; Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and United Kingdom.

Mehrezia Labidi passionately engaged the participants in her experience of teaching interreligious respect in schools and participation in the dialogue in France.

She said that one of the ways of promoting peace is to find spiritual peace; “the peace in your heart, especially in period of crisis. In my group, we opted for prayers to respond to the sufferings provoked by Gaza crisis.”

In the venture, however, there are still gaping challenges in both communities.

“The dialogue involves just a few people in all religious traditions. In addition there is tension since some fellow Muslims think I am less in solidarity with them by choosing to listen to the ‘other’”, Labidi continued to say. “We shouldn’t just speak; we need to listen as well in order to develop our listening capacity to other’s fear and expectations so as to answer adequately”, she added.

“With the Jewish groups”, said Ruth Friedman, “the downside has been the lack of trust when there is need to accept the ‘other’s’ perspective to be just as true and valid. However, hope is being portrayed by a presence of people who are beyond conflict and want to build links.The more I learn about other faiths, the more it piques my interest to learn more about me and my own beliefs. The ‘other’ is an interior shadow of who we are. Introspection and reflection is part of understanding dialogue”.

Further information

• CEJI – A Jewish Contribution to an inclusive Europe
• Religions for Peace
• Further information about the International Caux Conferences 2009