The Jewish-Muslim Connection

It's an important bond, but one that must not go unscrutinized.

T

he time has come for Americans
to learn how far removed Islam
is from the perverse distortions
of the terrorists who often dominant
the media, subverting Islam's image by
professing to speak in its name," declared
the leader of the largest Jewish religious
movement in America in an unprecedent-
ed address before the Islamic Society of
North America (ISNA).
"The time has come to listen to our
Muslim neighbors speak, from their heart
and in their own words, about the spiri-
tual power of Islam and their love for their
religion:' said Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president
of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ),
which represents 900 congregations and
1.5 million Jews, on Aug. 31 in Chicago.
The URJ and ISNA want to create a joint
dialogue and education program between
their synagogues and mosques.
I agree with Yoffie that there's a pro-
found ignorance about Islam in America.

10 September 13 • 2007

But when he hammered on trying to
separate mainstream Islam from the
fundamentalists who have hijacked the
religion, I think he went too far. Obviously,
not every Muslim is a fanatic or intolerant.
Not every Muslim finds deep Koranic sup-
port for suicide bombings. There are many
good Muslim Americans who want peace,
just like good-hearted Jews and Christians.
But what goes on behind closed doors in
some mosques, and even in the public eye
in Dearborn marches, makes you wonder
just how clean that separation is.
I'm a big believer in interfaith rela-
tions and bringing people of faith closer
together. But I'm leery of Muslim leaders
who blast terror in a general sense but still
equate Israeli military defensive strikes
with Palestinian Arab terror. The ISNA
itself has questionable ties within the
Muslim world that have not been satisfac-
torily disspelled.
Yoffie's call for undressing American

ignorance about Islam should be heeded.
But he's shortsighted in saying, "The time
has come to put aside what the media
says is wrong with Islam and to hear from
Muslims themselves what is right with
Islam." To hear Muslims speak about the
spiritual power of Islam certainly has merit,
but to dismiss news reports as somehow
propagandist eliminates a vital filter.
I like Yoffie's courage of conviction. He's
a dynamic leader. His message evoked rich
kernels: that religious pluralism is a pil-
lar of America, that religious stereotyping
is wrong, that people of different faiths
have much to learn from one another,
that religious extremism of any sort must
be confronted. Certainly, Yoffie's call for
Muslims to join Jews in condemning the
anti-Semitism pervading some Islamic
societies must be heard.
Yoffie is right: "It is therefore our col-
lective task to strengthen and inspire one
another as we fight the fanatics and work

to promote the values of justice and love
that are common to both our faiths."
I just don't want his good intentions to
become muddled in naivete. For Jews to let
down their collective guard is to open the
door for possible religious infiltration or
indoctrination that could destroy us.
Count me in when it comes to building
stronger ecumenical ties. But this Rosh
Hashanah, as we embrace introspection,
evaluation and recalibration, let's not lose
our capacity to doubt. It's one of our best
defenses.
L'shanah tovah tikateivu v'techataymu.
May you and yours be inscribed and
sealed in the book of life this High Holiday
season.
Shabbat shalom as well!

Robert A. Sklar, editor

