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Faithful Interplay
Is religion good for peace?
Jerusalem
T
As for which Muslims participate,
and just how much sway they have
over their constituencies, locally or
abroad, Weissman admits that until
now, the Muslims who participated in
ICCI activities and the recent conven-
tion are unsurprisingly moderate in
their views, including sheikhs, imams
and Sufi scholars.
Still, she adds, "Most of the Israeli
population in Israel is what we would
call 'religiously influenced' — haredi,
modern Orthodox, Conservative,
Reform, traditionalists of all kinds,"
she says. "The part that is radically
secular or atheist is really very small
— exactly as it is on the other side, in
the Arab Muslim society. For me it was
clear that the Oslo Accords, for exam-
ple, were agreements made by the
minority Israeli secular sector with the
minority Palestinian secular sector, in
which there was no place made for the
different expression of the faiths we
have on both sides."
he International Council of
Christians and Jews (ICCJ)
will for the first time be
headed by a woman.
Dr. Devorah Weissman, a former
professor of Jewish education at
Hebrew University; has since the 1980s
been a member of
the ICCJ. A modern
Orthodox feminist,
Weissman is a
member of the dov-
ish religious group
Netivot Shalom, and
for years headed the
Dr. Weissman
Kerem Institute for
Teacher Training for
Humanistic-Jewish Education.
Last week, the ICCJ, of which the
Interreligious Coordinating Council in
Israel (ICCI) is a branch, held its first
annual convention in Israel.
Weissman believes her election to
the position is not the most important
issue at stake. Instead, she highlights
Shifting Dialogue
the question of whether religion has a
For years, the ICCI , like the ICCJ, has
largely radicalizing influence or a posi- focused its activities on encounters
tive impact on the relations between
between Jews and Christians. But of
people. In other words,
late, that focus has
is religion good or bad "We place inter-
begun to shift to
for peace?
include dialogues
The main topic of
with Muslims.
faith dialogues
this year's convention,
"It's not that
attended by 160 partic- in the framework
we don't have any
ipants from around the
more issues to
world and Israel, is the of the search for
discuss among
contribution of Jewish-
us [Jews and
Christian-Muslim dia- peace.
Christians]; but
logue to peacemaking
it is clear to us,
in the Middle East.
Jews and Israelis,
"There are many
- Devor ah Weissman that the issue of
groups and organiza-
dialogue with our
tions that deal with the
Arab and Muslim
issue of interfaith dialogue explains
neighbors has become a kind of emer-
Weissman. "But at the ICCI, and that
gency," explains Weissman.
was one of [founder and head of ICCI]
"And just think: In the religious
Rabbi Ron Kronish's ideas, we place
dialogue between Judaism and Islam,
these dialogues in the framework of
there are practically no unforeseen
the search for peace. We're not inter-
obstacles as compared to the theologi-
ested in interfaith dialogue per se, but
cal conflicts we had, and in some way
as a means to develop and advance
still have, with Christianity',' she adds.
peace among people who share some-
"Although we should not and could
thing important in common: religious
not give exclusivity to the religious
faith:'
dialogue when we try to advance the
peace process, we shouldn't ignore it,"
Interactive
she continues. "It has to be an impor-
The ICCI organizes many encounters
and dialogues with Muslims.
Faithful on page A26
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