Merrick Jewish Centre hosts Jewish-Muslim talk

The Principal’s Office took a field trip on Nov. 23 to the Merrick Jewish Centre for a Jewish-Muslim dialogue between Rabbi Charles Klein and Imam Shamsi Ali of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York.

I must admit that covering the event for the Herald was a challenge. Teaching journalism at Hofstra, I talk about the danger of selective editing and the importance of accurate reporting. To illustrate, I stage a “mugging” and then ask students to write about what they observed. After several students read their reports, the class inevitably wonders whether they had witnessed the same event.

Now I’m in that same position. I, too, have decisions to make. I cannot report every exchange that took place during this talk. The imam’s credentials alone would use up my 800 words!

Klein began by sharing the imam’s impressive record of improving Jewish-Muslim relations. He has been accorded numerous honors by interfaith organizations for promoting brotherhood.

The program was intended to increase understanding between the two faiths -- “an opportunity for the two clergymen to talk…with a chance for the congregants to listen in.”

Klein’s first question was on the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. “Since then we have heard that Islam is a religion of peace. We have heard that over and over again. How are we to accept that explanation when Islamic terrorists point to the Koran as justifying their acts of violence?” Klein asked.

Ali explained that Islam is a religion of peace, not violence. He discussed the “command” for Muslims to get to know those of other religions. He said that, as he understands and teaches Islam, it encourages understanding and cooperation. “In fact,” he said, “when an anti-Semitic incident occurs, I stand up and defend the Jewish community. We want you to do the same for us.”

Discussion then turned to relations between Jews and Muslims. Klein questioned the Islamic teaching that prohibits Muslims from having Jews and Christians as friends. Ali said certain acts are justified by taking the Koran out of context. “For example,” he said, “in the issue you just raised, if people are considered your ‘opponents,’ the Koran teaches they cannot be your friends. This is not right.”