Obituaries
Obituaries from page 57
the years, both when he was president
from 1999-2001 and in the years since, in
Jakarta and Australia. The Australia/Israel
and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) was
delighted to host lunches for him with
our leadership and supporters in both
Melbourne and Sydney during his visit to
Australia in 2002.
Before rising to the top of Indonesian
politics, Wahid was an Islamic scholar
of note who led the largest Muslim
organization in the world, the 40-mil-
lion-member Nandlatul Ulama (NU), for
15 years. Using his brilliant intellect and
impeccable Islamic pedigree, he synthe-
sized traditional Islamic scholarship with
his own studies of Western literature and
culture. He went on to employ both these
elements in a life devoted to the struggle
for religious understanding, ethnic toler-
ance and human decency in Indonesia
and internationally. He became a prin-
cipled defender of minority rights, a pow-
erful voice for democracy and a leading
international promoter of an inclusive
and tolerant Islam.
Courageously, he championed diversity
and democracy during the Suharto dicta-
torship, and quickly showed that he was
of the few forces in the country who could
stand up to the regime, before becoming
a key inspiration for the mass movement
that brought the dictatorship to an end.
As the leading scholar of Indonesia,
Greg Barton, has pointed out, Wahid's was
almost an accidental presidency, and he
was not particularly well-suited to the
political deal-making and back-scratch-
ing that the role required. But this does
not in any way detract from his huge
accomplishments as president.
Ties To Israel And Jews
Almost uniquely among Muslim leaders
and the heads of Muslim states, Wahid
was not reticent about his friendship for
Israel and his close ties and desire for
even closer ones with the Jewish people.
He visited Israel a number of times and
served on the board of the Peres Center
for Peace. On becoming president, he
announced a hope to open an Israeli
trade office in Jakarta and hinted that
Indonesia should eventually go further
and seek full political relations with the
Jewish state. But unfortunately, he met
is The Ira Kaufman Chapel considering a net location in the
re?
considerable domestic resistance that
limited but did not prevent growing
Indonesian contacts and links of various
kinds with Israel.
Trade and people-to-people ties
between Israel and Indonesia have steadi-
ly improved since that time, and, despite
the political delicacy, many in Indonesia
are interested in the potential for both
trade and for Indonesia to play a more
active role in the Middle East peace pro-
cess. This is particularly in Israel's inter-
est, given the potential of Indonesia as
an economically viable, moderate, liberal
and democratic Muslim country to help
legitimize and serve as a role model for
any future democratic Palestinian state.
I am proud that AIJAC (together with
the American Jewish Committee) has been
able to facilitate this growing Indonesian
interest in Israel by bringing a number of
delegations of Indonesian journalists and
analysts to Israel in recent years to exam-
ine the situation for themselves.
Meanwhile, even after leaving the
presidency, Wahid continued to speak
out. At a packed meeting in the University
of Melbourne in 2002, I well remember
him rebuking a questioner who criti-
cized Israel by eloquently praising Israeli
democracy. In 2004, he publicly stated
on behalf of Muslims that "Israel has a
reputation as a nation with a high regard
for God and religion — there is then
no reason we have to be against Israel."
On Judaism, I can personally attest that
he was both knowledgeable and highly
interested in all aspects of Jewish tradi-
tion, beliefs, culture and literature. The
Kabbalah especially sparked his curiosity.
His personal engagement with Jewish
thought and society caused him to react
critically to the simplistic and prejudi-
cial notions about Israel and the Jews
that he encountered in Muslim circles.
Consequently, for the past 30 years he
made a point of speaking out against
anti-Semitic thinking and ignorance
about Israel and Judaism. Meanwhile,
interfaith dialogue involving Jews and
all other faiths was both a mission and a
passion, right up until his death.
Absurrhahman Wahid's life was an
inspiration to all who believe in mutual
respect and harmonious coexistence
between diverse peoples.
We planned ahead, considering carefully the central location to
the cemeteries and the population we serve. The location and
building still fit our needs perfectly today. Our extensive parking
area and four points of entry and exit make us easily accessible
from all directions.
My six- and eight-year old children are very close to their
grandfather who's dying and in Hospice care. I want to bring them
to the Chapel, but not the cemetery. Is this the right decision?
I'm often asked this question. Remember. what children see is often
less frightening that what they imagine. 1 find it best to discuss the
entire process from death to burial prior to the funeral. Knowing
what to expect usually allows them to participate throughout.
My mother has organized a pre-arranged funeral with a graveside
service. If our family wants to change that for any reason, such as
the weather, can we alter the arrangements?
Yes, we meet and review all of the arrangements. When a graveside
service has been predetermined, there is an understanding that
severe weather could alter the plans.
THE IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL
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18325 WEST NINE MILE ROAD, SOUTHFIELD, MI
58
January 14 m 2010
Obituaries
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