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

(248) 855-9091

www.themapletheater.com

It's a Mitzvah
Mitzvah 
to see GOLDA... 

It's Beshert to see GOLDA 
at The Maple 
at The Maple 

Theater!
Theater!

Get tickets at the box office or 
online at www.themapletheater.com
or download our APP. 

