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Israeli rabbi invited to Saudi interfaith parley in MadridRosen hopes this 'first step' leads to wider dialogue with IslamBy ICEJ News President of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations, Rabbi Rosen said that this was the Saudis' first initiative to reach out to other religions in this way. He said he fears exploitation in a Saudi effort to improve its image, but is hoping the conference would open up relations with Jews and Israeli officials, reported The Jerusalem Post. Other rabbis representing Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Judaism have also been invited from other parts of the world, along with 200 leaders of other faiths. The Madrid conference is a precursor to a much larger initiative in Saudia Arabia announced by King Abdullah months ago. Sunni and Shi'ite leaders met in Saudi Arabia last month as the precursor toward a summit that would unite Christian, Muslim and Jewish spiritual leaders. "They are building up to the big summit in stages," Rosen said. "Apparently, it would be too big of a step for the Saudis to invite either of the two chief rabbis of Israel. But I hope they will reach that step eventually." The International Jewish Committee for Inter religious Consultations is a broad coalition of organizations and denominations representing world Jewry in relation to other religions. Rosen also leads interfaith relations for the American Jewish Committee, and on numerous occasions has consulted closely with the papacy on sensitive inter-religious issues. |
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