World
THE CENTER
INSTITUTE FOR RETIRED
PROFESSIONALS
presents...
Will the Wall Come
Tumbling Down?
Reaching Out
Jordan's king and queen seek a Jewish dialogue.
The Jewish Stake in the Preservation of the
Separation of Church and State
by
Rabbi David Saperstein
Director of the Religious Action
Center of Reform Judaism
and Co-chair of the
Coalition to Preserve Religious Liberty
Join us at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 6
at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield for this fascinating
look at one of today's hottest topics, by a leader who has discussed
this on every radio and TV talk show.
For additional information, call 248.432.5618
This lecture is underwritten by a generous gift from Shirley Harris.
Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building • Eugene & Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
6600 West Maple Road • West Bloomfield • www.jccdet.org
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RON KAMPEAS
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Washington
ordan's king believes Jews can
play a key role in his campaign to
win back the Muslim street.
"The Amman message," initiated by
Abdullah II, brought together scholars
from the eight main streams of Islam in
July to issue edicts that marginalize ter-
rorists who purport to act in the name _
of Islam — particularly Al Qaida and its
leader, Osama bin Laden.
The next step is to bring the message
to Jews and Christians, according to
Joseph Lumbard, the young American
Muslim hired by the king to coordinate
outreach.
"We want to get beyond the idea of a
clash of civilizations to a dialogue of civi-
lizations," Lumbard said.
Abdullah and his Palestinian-born
queen, Rania, met recently with Pope
Benedict XVI and followed it up with a
policy speech at Catholic University in
Washington last week.
This week, Abdullah is to speak on
"Judaism and Islam: Beyond Tolerance"
to more than 80 rabbis from around the
United States gathered in Washington.
The speech will draw on Koranic verses
and Jewish readings that counsel accom-
modation and respect for other
monotheistic faiths.
Abdullah has attached his fate to the
West. He has opened Jordanian markets
and plans to introduce western demo-
cratic reforms.
Like his father, Abdullah also has fos-
tered the only truly warm Arab-Israeli
peace, and he met with Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon at the United
Nations last week.
Jr
But Abdullah faces opposition among
common Arabs, so he is using Islam to
move forward..
The July assembly in Amman of 180
Islamic scholars from 45 countries con-
cluded with 17 of the most senior schol-
ars issuing religious edicts outlining two
principles: Fatwas issued by Muslims not
formally trained in Islamic law are not
legitimate; and Muslims must refrain
from calling other Muslims apostates.
The two statements were clearly
aimed at Al-Qaida and its leaders.
Lumbard acknowledged that even
those scholars have become remote from
an Arab street succored by the Internet
and satellite television. The next step, he
said, was to compete in those fields with
the radicals.
Abdullah, 43, places much stock in
youth, since half of Jordan's population
is 18 or younger. His first stop in the
United States was a meeting with a
group of high school students from two
Washington public schools, plus the
Hebrew Academy in Rockville, Md.,
and the Islamic Academy in Fairfax, Va.
Significantly, the most skeptical stu-
dents at the gathering appeared to be
Muslims. When one young woman in a
scarf expressed doubts that Abdullah's
moderation reflected the Arab world's
general consensus," Queen Rania strug-
gled for a response.
By contrast, the Jewish students were
clearly impressed. "He's very courageous
for taking such a message," said Moshe
Broder, a senior at the Hebrew
Academy. "He's a pioneer."
Abdullah will have to start at home,
and that could be a problem. Creating
change in Jordan's highly conservative
and tribalized political culture has never
been easy. ❑
"
*MI in conjunction with Hume! Women's Hospital and Wayne State University.
Expect the Best.
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At Commerce & Commerce i n Commerce
Jordan's Queen Rania and King Abdullah
third and fourth from left, meet with Muslim,
Jewish and Christian students in Washington –
on Sept. 13.