AUGUST 24 • 2023 | 29
our trip in its own way.
Approaching the evening
prayers for both Jews and
Muslims, our members of all
three faiths engaged in their
own prayers, side by side,
and refreshed ourselves with
the cold water together.
In what was perhaps the
most meaningful and impact-
ful moment of the trip, our
group went atop the Temple
Mount, or Haram Al-Shari.
Jewish tradition claims this
is the very spot where the
world began, and Abraham
was prepared to sacrifice
his son, Isaac. According to
Islamic tradition, the proph-
et Muhammad ascended
to heaven from this spot,
which is known as the Night
Journey.
Undoubtedly the holiest
site for the Jewish people,
and the third holiest site in
Islam, we felt it was critical
to explore the religious and
political complexities of
this site as a group. There is
progress still to be made, but
at least our interfaith group
was able to come together on
the Temple Mount, hoping
for a future of tolerance and
acceptance of religious dif-
ferences.
This momentous trip
was engaging, purposeful,
challenging and beautiful.
Christians, Muslims and Jews
were able to experience this
incredible Holy Land, its
blend of ancient and modern,
and its rich diversity.
By experiencing firsthand
the sacred wonders of Israel
as well as religious and polit-
ical tensions and realities in
the Holy Land, we renewed
our mutual motivation to
model coexistence and exhib-
it the highest and best values
of our three ancient faith
traditions and truly thrive
together.
This trip is the first of
what will become an annual
mission, bringing different
communities together and
bringing Detroit’s interfaith
leaders to Israel.
Rabbi Asher Lopatin is executive
director of JCRC/AJC, Dr. Mahmoud
Al-Hadidi is founder of World Peace
Outreach, Bob Brutell is vice-chair-
man of the InterFaith Leadership
Council of Metropolitan Detroit, and
Daniel Bucksbaum is young adult/
interfaith associate of JCRC/AJC.
At the Davidson Center and Jerusalem
Archaeological Park endowed by William Davidson
The Maple Theater
4135 W. Maple Road • Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
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