麻豆区

On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Al-Issa, secretary general of the Muslim World League, visited 麻豆区 to participate in 鈥淛ews and Muslims: A Look Toward the Future,鈥� the inaugural conversation in the Presidential Forum series, in which 麻豆区 president Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman engages with the global leaders and voices who are shaping today鈥檚 world. The event was conducted in association with the Rabbi Arthur Schneier Program for International Affairs of 麻豆区, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, and the American Sephardi Federation. After a private lunch between Dr. Al-Issa, Rabbi Berman and some close friends of 麻豆区, Rabbi Berman and Dr. Al-Issa sat down to discuss the growing relationships between Muslim and Jewish communities across the globe to a contingent of faculty, staff and students from , the Graduate Program in Advanced Talmudic Studies for Women, the , and the . Also in attendance were Rabbi Arthur Schneier; Chella Safra; Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; and Jason Guberman, executive director of the American Sephardi Federation. Rabbi Berman began the program by introducing Dr. Al-Issa. 鈥淚n the Torah, Ishmael and Isaac reunite at the funeral of Abraham. Today we have an opportunity to not only come together to bury our past but build our brighter future,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he visit by Sheikh Mohammed al-Issa to the flagship Jewish university, reflects the enormous opportunity today of reconciliation not only between nation states but between peoples.鈥� Malcolm Hoenlein also welcomed Dr. Al-Issa, thanking him for visiting Auschwitz and fighting against Holocaust denial. Dr. Al-Issa is the senior-most Muslim leader to visit the Nazi concentration camp and has publicly spoken out against anti-Semitism and in support of Holocaust education in the Muslim world. Dr. Al-Issa then spoke to the audience through a translator, noting the 鈥渟hared responsibility鈥� between Jews and Muslims in steering a world so focused on science, technology and knowledge back to one based in values. 鈥淯niversities need to teach values so we can apply technologies in the right way and not cause division.鈥� He also spoke about the power of language and how words can be used both to heal and harm. 鈥淲e may have differences, but we must have love for one another and come together,鈥� he said. Following his remarks, Rabbi Berman and Dr. Al-Issa engaged in conversation on Dr. Al-Issa鈥檚 influences, his views on the Middle East and his family life. At the conclusion of the event, Rabbi Berman commented that this event gave Dr. Al-Issa an opportunity to speak directly to the young Jewish leaders of the world of tomorrow. 鈥淔or them to be in dialogue with you and hear your message of reconciliation, so that when they move into their positions of influence and authority in the future鈥攖hey will be informed and inspired to move this conversation forward.鈥�  

Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman speaks with His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Al-Issa, secretary general of the Muslim World League.