The devastating Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th, including the taking of hostages, and the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis that has killed over 40,000 Gazans, have caused profound grief, anger, and anguish. In this context, it has been challenging to even envision a path to dialogue. Yet, for the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies (ICJS), fostering dialogue in these trying times remains crucial, and we remain committed to it.
Our mission is to dismantle religious bias and build interreligious communities. In our initial October 2023 response, we urged a three-part response by all of us: first, grieve and mourn; second, reach out to those you know who are hurting and stay in dialogue, despite the difficulty; and third, stand against religious bigotry.
One year on, ICJS reaffirms that threefold call to action. We continue to say that our path forward begins with these simple, yet challenging actions:
Just as we have urged our community to do this work, ICJS has been doing it, too. Collectively, more than 500 people in the Baltimore region have engaged in ICJS workshops on interreligious understanding and dialogue, as well as in our facilitated dialogue sessions on Israel and Gaza.
In the coming months we will continue this work, working with groups and organizations who view us as trusted conveners and who seek help in continued dialogue in these troubled times.
In this spirit, we offer this collection of reflections and resources to address the ongoing conflict.
We grieve the loss of life and weep with those who suffer. We condemn the violence, especially against civilians—and particularly children and the elderly, the most vulnerable members of our human family. We offer these expressions of grief and mourning from the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish traditions in the spirit of interreligious empathy and understanding.
Over the past year, ICJS has brought workshop and dialogue opportunities to a number of schools, professional organizations, and community groups in the Baltimore region. From workshops that teach the basic concepts and techniques of interreligious dialogue to more intimate facilitated listening sessions, ICJS can help your organization and staff talk more openly about deeply-held views.
One powerful tool at your disposal is your voice. You might wonder how your words can make a difference, but every voice matters. Silence in the face of prejudice is harmful. Recognize the power of your voice in combating antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias. Your words are powerful—they create worlds.
By Heather Miller Rubens | September 2024
When I’ve told people about the work we have been doing this past year at ICJS, they have a lot of questions: How are you actually able to do dialogue right now? Has the violence in Israel and Gaza frayed interreligious relationships beyond repair? What are commonly held expectations and fears about interreligious dialogue, particularly around Israel and Gaza? What has ICJS learned as an organization?