Jewish-Muslim Organizations

An interesting article here about interfaith groups that join Jews and Muslims.

From the article:

Such encounters between Jews and Muslims in America might have been hard to imagine for many members of both communities during earlier periods of violence in the Middle East. But an unprecedented swell of interfaith activities followed the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, and Muslims and Jews have since discovered common ground as U.S. religious minorities with shared theological and social values.

Agreement on Middle East politics has been far more elusive. This week's events -- Israel's bombing of Lebanon after Hezbollah guerrillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and launched hundreds of missiles -- has challenged those new relations. Both Muslims and Jews are deeply connected to the region through family ties but more often through religious bonds.

The article makes clear how difficult it can be for such groups to form and then persist.

However, their existence is a very positive thing. In fact, it is essential.

We need to look for common ground. We need to move beyond the rhetoric of distrust and even hate. We need to move towards understanding and cooperation.

Groups such as these, which would hopefully grow to include individuals of other religious faiths, can be the beginning of this understanding. And thus the beginning of lasting peace.

GP