Celebrating 50 Years of Religious Freedom
Judaism and Islam are not on a collision course
Jewish, Muslim, and Christian leaders joined with renowned Israeli diplomat and historian, Dore Gold at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Reunification of Jerusalem, and to celebrate the five decades of freedom of worship for people of all faiths and access to Jerusalem’s holy sites, including the Western Wall, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
L-R: Mohamed Khan, Rabbi Hier, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, SWC Associate Dean, Ambassador Gold, and Bishop Ulmer Photo: Ruth Andal
Speaking at the special commemoration, renowned Israeli diplomat and former UN Ambassador Dore Gold declared, "Judaism and Islam are not on a collision course. These connections need to be developed - we have common ground with Islam and Christianity and only a free and democratic Jerusalem will protect all three faiths."
Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, leading African-American Pastor to thousands at the Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, works closely with Israeli experts on urban trauma, and spoke emotionally about the impact of walking the streets of the holy city of Jerusalem and the effect it's had on him and his parishioners.
Mohamed Akbar Khan, Muslim community activist who heads interfaith relations at the King Fahd Mosque in Los Angeles, reflected on his opportunity to pray, not only at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, but to insert a note for peace into the Western Wall.
Rabbi Marvin Hier, SWC Founder and Dean spoke of a two-thousand year unbreakable bond of the Jewish people with Jerusalem, and explained, "Jerusalem is a bridge for all the faithful - past, present and future and that is why we are building the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem."
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