
Report from Golan: Late last month I had the privilege of attending the IJC Neighbours Coalition's workshop on Jewish-Muslim allyship. As an Israeli, this event held special significance for me. In a time when tensions are high, keeping the door open to dialogue is tough but crucial.
The workshop, titled "Jewish-Muslim Allyship – a Question Mark for a Larger Society," provided space for sharing perspectives that are often overlooked. I was intrigued by unexpected voices from the Muslim world. The coordinators, Nabila Abdel Aziz and Leyla Jagiella, shed light on how historical narratives are often modified to fit political interests. It seems to me that a long history of friendly Jewish-Muslim relations might have been overshadowed by the magnification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into a liberation fantasy for millions who are not directly involved.
The intimate setting of the workshop allowed for an intimate and engaging atmosphere. The coordinators shared best practices for maintaining dialogue, emphasizing the importance of speaking as Jews and Muslims in our shared language and perspective, rather than one imposed by the mainstream majority. They also acknowledged that dialogue can be interrupted by world events, as many fell silent after October 7th, but stressed the need to persist in these efforts.
I am deeply grateful to the wonderful coordinators and to Rabbi Brian for his unwavering commitment to promoting meaningful events and dialogue. I hope the insights gained from this workshop resonate within our community and beyond.
Comments