A Muslim And Jewish Call For Shalom, Salaam, Peace In Jerusalem, Israel, And Palestine
A Muslim And Jewish Call For Shalom, Salaam, Peace In Jerusalem, Israel, And Palestine
May 13, 2021; 2 Sivan, 5781; 1 Shawwal, 1442
On the occasion of the Islamic Holy Day of Eid and as we approach the Jewish Holy Day of Shavuot, the Muslim and Jewish communities must both deplore the violence between Israel and Palestine and note the disproportionate response of the state of Israel, beginning with the attack on the Al Aqsa mosque on Laylat al Qadr, one of the holiest nights of the year.
Some Israeli extremists continue to advocate for Israeli seizure and destruction of this holy site. Though their numbers are small, it is as if small numbers of people were known to be planning for destruction on Easter Sunday of St. Peter’s in Vatican City, or on Yom Kippur of the Western Wall so sacred to Jews, or on July 4 of the US Capitol together with the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, even if no one were to be killed – most unlikely in all four cases.
Given the intense devotion to this place, one of the most important sites in the Muslim world, and given the constant anxiety caused by the known threats to it, the actual attack was extremely provocative. We must question the motivation, the timing, and the necessity.
And we mourn the loss of lives, all sacred. We plead with our co-religionists in Israel and Palestine, and world-wide, to return to the shared vision of Jerusalem as a Holy City, one that reflects vision, light, hope, compassion and peace, and reflects the profound dignity and value of all humans as Images of the Holy One.
We ask both governmental leaders and private citizens, those with power and those in the street, to do everything in their power to de-escalate the conflict and further calm, to protect life and limb, restore the safety of all, and prevent any damage to the sacred sites of all.
Injustices and inequalities feed this conflict. Though we deplore the rockets from Gaza as we deplore the Israeli bombing, the most immediate crisis in Jerusalem has its roots in the continuing military occupation and siege of lands that comprise the necessary aspirations of the Palestinian people — East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza – and the constant forcible pressure to replace Palestinian residents of these lands with settlers who often act oppressively, with military and police protection.There may be several different ways to end this unjust occupation and to protect the safety of all who live in the region. So long as it continues, crisis after crisis, bloodshed after bloodshed, will be its consequences.
For there can be no true security without justice. Nor will there be peace without justice, only pacification based on force. Though many feel that the US has not maintained its neutrality as an honest broker in this ongoing conflict, President Biden should far more energetically promote a peace process both in Israel and Palestine, meanwhile responding to the concerns of the international community. The US Government has so far seemed unable or unwilling to confront the settlement movement that has played such a destabilizing role in Israel as well as Palestine.
Our own spiritual and religious communities throughout the world are deeply affected by what our communities in Israel and Palestine do. The vision of the ancient Hebrew Prophets and of the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon them all, of a world of peace and justice – and the shape of a Jewish People and Islam struggling to carry out those visions today – will be deeply compromised by injustice and violence committed in their names.
Blessed be the peacemakers. On this occasion, we affirm that our shared religious and moral values require an embrace of peace and justice, especially when our views and perspectives differ. The other alternative is oppression and conflict without end.
Signed
Initiators:
Rabbi Simkha Weintraub; Co Founder, T’Ruah, The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights; Adem Carroll, Flushing Interfaith Council, Faith Coalition Against Genocide; Daisy Khan, Executive Director, Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE); Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Ph.D., Executive Director, The Shalom Center
Early Signers:
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, Founder, Cordoba House
Imam Shamsi Ali, Director, Jamaica Muslim Center, NY, and President, Nusantara Foundation USA
Sheikh Fadel Al Sahlani, Al Khoei Foundation
Emad Al Turk, Chairman/Co-founder, International Museum of Muslim Cultures
Dr. Basheer Ahmed, Chair, Muslim Community Center, Dallas
Syed Ali, president, Indian American Muslim Council
Rabbi Phyllis Berman, Mashpia in the ALEPH Hashpa’ah Program
Adem Carroll, Flushing Interfaith Council, Faith Coalition Against Genocide
Imam Plemon T. El-Amin, Imam Emeritus, Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam
Rabbi Amy Eilberg, Author, From Enemy to Friend
Rabbi Barat Ellman, PhD, Brooklyn, NY
Rabbi Michael Feinberg, Executive Directorl Greater New York Labor- Religion Coalition
Dr. Mike Mohamed Ghouse, president, Center for Pluralism
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer, Founding Director, Multifaith Studies and Initiatives,
Sahar Hussain, Interfaith Institute of Long Island
Sheikha Maryam Kabeer, Sheikha in the Mouridiyyah and Moustadawiyyah Tariqats & Author
Chaplain Issa Kabeer, Chaplain at HUP, Penn Medicine, Teacher at Tech Friere
Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana Ph.D., School of International Service, American University
Daisy Khan, Executive Director, Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality
Imam Faizul Khan, Islamic Society of Greater Washington Area
Amin Khwaja, President, Islamic Center of Long Island
Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Congregation Beth Simchat Torah
Khalid S. Lateef, Author, Member of the Long Island Multi-Faith Forum.
Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor, Tikkun
Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, President Emeritus, The Shalom Center
Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, Founder, Soundvision, Muslim Network TV and Justice for All
Ibrahim Negm, Senior advisor to the Grand Mufti of Egypt and Secretary General, Fatwa Authorities Worldwide
Rabbi Jeffrey Roth, Executive Director, The Awakened Heart Project for Contemplative Judaism
Hafiz Rehman, Trustee Masjid Darul Quran, Bayshore. LI
Okolo Rashid, President/Co-founder, International Museum of Muslim Cultures
Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, Imam and Religious Director, The Islamic Society of Orange County, Garden Grove, California
Dr. Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, Ph.D. National Council of Elders
Rabbi David Teutsch, Professor Emeritus, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Ph.D., Executive Director, The Shalom Center
Rabbi Elyse Wechterman, Executive Director, Reconstructionist Rabbbinical Assn
Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg
Rabbi Simkha Weintraub, LCSW, Co-Founder, Truah: Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Congregation Mishkan Shalom
Ani Zonneveld, Muslims for Progressive Values
Muslim-Jewish Joint Call Signers
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Dr. Mirza Baig
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Dr. Mohammad, Bajwa Physician
Sal Banday
Kohenet Ellie Barbarash
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Ruth Barham
Naveh Barlowe, Program Coordinator The Shalom Center
Rabbi Benjamin Barnett
Yael Bat-Shimon
Mrs.Noa Baum, Author and storyteller
Meryl Becker
Ms. Maureen Beezhold, Beit Am Jewish Community
Rabbi Dr. Philip Bentley, Honorary President
Dr. Philip L Bereano, Professor Emeritus, University of Washington
Neil Beresin
Rabbi Dr. Leila GalBerner, Dean of Students
Ellen Bernstein, Co-Chair
Rabbi Arthur Bielfeld, Rabbi Emeritus (Canada Medal)
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Rabbi Stephen Booth-Nadav, Wisdom House Denver
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Joanie Calem, Musician
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Warren Chamberlain
Mr. Bob Chodos, Temple Shalom, Waterloo
Fr. Carl Chudy, Interfaith Outreach Coordinator
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Spiritual Director Elizabeth Cohen, Mashpi’ah Ruhanit/ Spiritual Companion
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Rabbi Howard Cohen, Congregation Shirat Hayam
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Alan Feldman, Educator
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Rabbi Gordon Gladstone, Rabbi Emeritus
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Rabbi Naomi Goldman, Rabbi
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Peter Goldsmith
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Rabbi Debra E Goldstein
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Ms. Julie Greenfield, Eden Area Interfaith Council
Dr. Carol Greenspan
Kohenet D’vorah Grenn, Educator, Emerging Mashpi’ah
Mr. David Grinstein, Adjunct Faculty, Mathematics
Ms. Susan Griss, Mid-Hudson Jews for Racial Justice
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Norman Honig
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Adab Ibrahim
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Adnan Ilyas
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Kareema Ismail, Software developer
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Humayun Kabeer, former President n BOD Member
Friend Nora Kancelbaum, Jewish Secular Community of Cleveland
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Friend Judy Kaye, J Street, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom
Hazan Jack Kessler, Director of Cantorial Program
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Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman , Associate Chaplain for Jewish Life
Helene Klodawsky, Writer/Director
Ms. Rivko Knox, A Jew who is committed to justice with love.
Mr. Frank Kohn, Lay Cantor & Service Leader
Rabbi Riqi Kosovske
Ms. Linda Kram
Ms. Rozann Kraus, spiritual leader
Rabbi Suri Krieger, Spiritual leader, B’nai Or Boston
Rabbi Judith Kummer
Dr. Gayle Lacks
Chaplain Mary Lahaj, Community chaplain
Sara Lamnin, City Council Member
Rabbi Dr. Ann Landowne
Rabbi Karen Landy
Adina Langer
Lance Laver, Mishkan Shalom
Eliya Lavine
Ms. Margery Lazar
Dr.Ronnie Joy Leah, University Instructor
Leslie Schwartz Leff, Clinical Social Worker/Educator
Ms. Chaia Lehrer, Woodstock Jewish Congregation
Rabbi Darby Leigh
Sr. Judith Lelchook-Lohman, Social work supervisor
Ms. Margaret Lenzi, Mishkan Shalom
Amy Leos-Urbel, Tikkun Olam Committee co-chair
Rabbi Joshua Lesser, Senior Rabbi at Congregation Bet Haverim
Jessica Levenson
Karen Levine
Rabbi Chai Levy
Ms. Diana Levy, Congregation Tikkun v’Or
Phyllis Levy, Seminary Student
Friend Laura Liben, music teacher
Lynn Lidz
Ms. Bernice Lieberman, Sinai Temple Champaign IL
Richard Lindo
Alberta Lipson, Social Action Committee member
Dr. Donald Lively
Rev. Dr.J Anthony Lloyd, Pastor
Mr. Paul Loeb
Friend Roni Love
Cantor Abbe Lyons, Gilat Rina
Mr. Joseph Magid
Br. Basim Mahmood, Lecturer
Lora Mallen
Professor Ben Manski , Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Rabbi Anna Maranta haKohenet, Hebrew Priestess
Joshua Markel
Rabbi Jeffrey Marker, chaplain
Javaria Masroor
Steve Masters, President, JustLaws
Friend Stacey Meadows, Writer
Rabbi Abby Michaleski, Co-founder/Director
Dr. Susan Miller
Rabbi Diana Miller, Kehilat HaNahar
Rev. Christine Morgan, retired hospice chaplain
Rev. Gregory Morisse, Senior Pastor
Ghuncha Mubashir
Benjamin Newman
Ms. Carol Tova Newman
Dr. Steve Newman, Associate Professor
Rabbi Dev Noily, Senior Rabbi, Kehilla Community Synagogue, Oakland, CA / Huchiun
Rabbi Mark Novak
Bruce Nygren
Rev. Tom O’Brien, Pastor
Rev. David O’Leary, Pastor
Evelyn Ophir
Eric Orlin
Professor Alicia Ostriker, poet
Dr. Mark Overmyer-Velazquez
Rabbi Laura Owen
Rabbi Malka Packer-Monroe, director
Bruce Phillips
Rabbi Robin Podolsky
Ms. Letty Cottin Pogrebin, writer & activist
Mr.David Posmontier, Musician
James Poznak
Allyssa Pulley
Mrs. Louise Quigley
Abrar Qureshi
Jill Rabideau
Rev. Walter Ramsey, Deacon
Dr.Syed Razvi, Former Director Religious Affairs
Dr. John Reiman
Friend Carol Reiman
Rabbi Victor Reinstein, Nehar Shalom Community Synagogue, Rabbi
Dr. Dana Reisboard, Associate Professor
Laurie Reisman, LCSW
Rabbinic Pastor Tivona Reith, Director of Studies
Rachamana Rivqa,m’shamshaneetha of circle to study yeshua’s jewishness via aramaic P’shitta
Renee Robbins, Pianist
Ms. Joan Robins
Ms. Susan Robyn, Temple B’rith Shalom
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Ms. Deborah Roher, Tifereth Israel Congregation, New Bedford MA
Natalie Rosen, political opinion writer
Ms. Lynn Rosen, HaMakom, Santa Fe NM
Rabbi Aaron Rosenberg, Rabbi Emeritus
Kohenet Devorah Ross, Chaplain
Br. Pietro Rossini
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Friend Julie Sawaya
Rabbi Shalom Schachter, Retired founding Vice President
Ms. Lynna Schaefer, Spiritual Director, Albany, NY
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Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Schein, Senior consultant for Jewish education
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Spiritual Director Audrey Seidman, Outreach Chaplain, Jewish Federation NENY
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Sadia Shah, Co-leader, SOSS
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Stanley Shapiro
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Megan Sims, Dance Wellness Facilitator and Joyologist
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Friend A Slater
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Professor Lisa Sokolov, Professor
Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez
Professor Bruce Solomon, Emeritus
Professor Ori Z Soltes, Teaching Professor
Mr. Howard Spodek, Professor of History
Rabbi Margot Stein, MFT
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Dr.Helen Tevlin, retired psychologist
Rabbi Shifrah Tobacman, Kehilla Synagogue
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Mr. Wayez Ahmad
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Dr. Ann Marie Bahr, Professor Emerita, South Dakota State University
Marilyn Berzan-Montblanch
Mrs. Dorothy Brockway
Dr. Kathy Burke
Mr.Steve & Christine Clemens, Community of St. Martin, Minneapolis
Yvonne Collinson
Mr. Robin Cook, Kol Ami The Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Congregation
Patricia Coyne , Planner
Ms. Penny Cragun
Dr. Areta Crowell, PCUSA
Ms. Mary Danhauer
Ms. Carla De Sola Eaton
Rev. Dr. John, Elder United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Terry Ellen, IMAC, CCAN, & UU
John Falchi, Coordinator, Plan of Action in a Changing Era
Rev. Dr. John Fife, Moderator, 204th General Assembly,Presbyterian Church,(USA)
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