CEJI - Dialogue - European Platform for Jewish Muslim Co-operation

Jewish Muslim Dialogue and Co-operation

The offical launch of the European Platform for Jewish Muslim Co-operation took place on 27 November 2007 at the European Parliament in Brussels. Click here for further details about the event.

The European Platform for Jewish Muslim Co-operation:

Facilitates co-operation, dialogue and partnership between Jewish and Muslim communities at local, national and trans-national levels within Europe;
Increases the visibility of and empowers existing Jewish Muslim initiatives;
Initiates and promotes new opportunities for dialogue and co-operation between Jewish and Muslim communities.

Why?

Jewish and Muslim people have a strong common religious and historical base, whilst living in a predominantly Christian society where all share equal rights and status.
Judaism and Islam need not be on a ‘collision course’ and could complement the cultural and spiritual thinking of European societies, instead of confronting each other in the shadow of the Middle East conflict.
Both Jews and Muslims have suffered discrimination in the forms of antisemitism and islamophobia. This shared experience could be used for mutual support of victims and to increase the pressure to prevent it.
Supporting direct contact between communities is an essential step to create enduring good relations between these two cultures in Europe.
Much good work is already going on at local level. These projects need to be celebrated and the good practice shared.

A Brief History

Since 2005 CEJI – A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe has been working to foster and promote dialogue and understanding between Jewish and Muslim communities. Mapping Reports of existing dialogue initiatives have been produced for five European countries demonstrating positive and growing contact between communities despite real challenges on the ground. In April 2007 the European Jewish Muslim Dialogue Conference was attended by seventy Jewish and Muslim delegates who identified the need to move beyond dialogue to co-operation. A major outcome of the Conference was a Declaration of Support for Jewish Muslim Co-operation agreeing to establish the European Platform for Jewish Muslim Co-operation. Planned projects include joint religious diversity training and an annual award for successful initiatives.

Examples of Local Projects

Jewish-Maghreb Music Partnership (Belgium)
A Jewish-Muslim partnership organised a ‘Jewish – Maghreb Ball’ with Maghraïba Moroccan-Belgian and Yiddish Tanz bands providing music. Together, they play at multicultural events and visit schools.

Jewish Muslim Co-operation Platform (Denmark)
This platform is an outcome of the European Jewish Muslim Dialogue Conference. Planned projects include debates on Islam and Judaism, visits to places of worship, co-operation between Jewish and Muslim researchers and a project to address myths and facts behind commonly-held prejudices.

Friendship Tour (France)
Amitié Judéo-Musulmane de France (Jewish-Muslim Friendship France) and Rabbi Serfaty of Ris-Orangis brought together Jews, Muslims, teachers and youth on a ‘Friendship Bus Tour’ of over 40 French cities. The project raised awareness of both cultures and created bridges by emphasising commonalities.

Ha’atelier Academic Co-operation Platform (Germany)
Ha’atelier (Werkstatt für Philosophie und Kunst), an international institution for the renaissance of Jewish and Muslim cosmopolitan traditions in Europe, aims to make a curricular link between Jewish Studies, Islamic Studies and Humanities in Islamic, Middle Eastern and Western countries, thus creating a unique centre for intellectual and cultural exchange.

MAJO (MAroccansJOden) Soccer Project (Netherlands)
Dialogue between Moroccan and Jewish communities in the Baarsjes neighbourhood, Amsterdam, resulted in this soccer project. Jewish and Moroccan youth from problem areas participate in soccer tournaments, and each is followed by a communal kosher/halal meal.

Writers for Peace (UK)
Writers for Peace explore issues and realities in the search for reconciliation in the Middle East, focusing on dialogue through creative writing. Meeting monthly, group members lead creative writing sessions and readings are held of participants’ work.

Platform Steering Group and Co-ordination

The European Platform for Jewish Muslim Co-operation is a network of independent grass-roots organisations working in the field of Jewish Muslim dialogue and co-operation. Open to new members and countries, the Platform is guided by a joint Jewish Muslim Steering Group (see below). It has been launched and is facilitated by CEJI - A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe.

Belgium
Nadine Iarchy, International Council of Jewish Women www.icjw.org

Denmark
Linda Herzberg and Bashy Quraishy, Danish Jewish Muslim Co-operation Platform

France
Prof. Rabbin Michel Serfaty and Dr Djelloul Siddiki, Amitié judéo-musulmane de France www.ajmf.org
Olivia Cattan, Paroles de Femmes www.parolesdefemmes.org
Fadila Mehal, Les Marianne de la Diversité www.lesmariannesdeladiversite.org

Germany
Almut Sh. Bruckstein, Ha’atelier www.ha-atelier.de

Netherlands
Ronny Naftaniel, CIDI www.cidi.nl
Famile Arslan, Islam en Burgerschap www.islamenburgerschap.nl

United Kingdom
Dr Richard Stone, Alif-Aleph UK www.aauk.org
Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid, Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony

Download the leaflet of the European Platform for Jewish Muslim Co-operation (PDF 155kb)
Télécharger le dépliant de la Plate-forme européenne pour la coopération judéo-musulmane (PDF 154kb)

For further details about the European Platform for Jewish Muslim Co-operation contact Co-ordinator Ruth Friedman:
E-mail: ruth.friedman@ceji.org
Telephone: +32 (0) 2 340 96 27 (direct line) / +32 (0) 2 344 34 44 (switchboard)
Address: CEJI - A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe, 319 Avenue Brugmann, B-1180 Brussels - Belgium