European Jews and Muslims: Embracing a Common Destiny

Yesterday, Samia Hathroubi, the Paris-based European Coordinator for the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, joined us for an inspiring discussion about her work bringing Jews and Muslims together in France and Europe.

Speaking to an audience filled with community members of Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and other faith backgrounds, she addressed the difficulties of building bridges between the two communities while pointing to positive advances, like the Muslim-Jewish delegation she led at the Paris Unity March and joint efforts to fight against circumcision and ritual slaughter bans in Europe.

Following her remarks, Rabbi Lustig moderated a panel discussion featuring Ms. Hathroubi; Imam Mohamed Magid, Executive Imam of the ADAMS Center; Rabbi Batya Steinlauf, Director of Social Justice and Inter-Group Relations at the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington; and Dr. Sayyid Syeed, National Director of the Islamic Society of North America’s Office of Interfaith and Community Alliances.

In a conversation that took a frank and unflinching look at the issues dividing Jews and Muslims in the United States and Europe, the panel challenged the audience to speak up against political and religious extremism.

For an inside look, read this piece on the event from Washington Jewish Week.

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