Open Letter - March 2006

The Center for Jewish-Muslim Relations hopes to build positive relationships between Jews and Muslims based on the common values shared by both faiths.  We hope to move Jewish-Muslim relations beyond political conflicts and prejudice. We believe that dialogue – not public defamation – is the appropriate sphere for raising and addressing concerns.

As Jews and Muslims attempting to forge relationships among our respective communities, we are deeply concerned by the atmosphere of mistrust and contentiousness that has emerged amongst some members of the Jewish and Muslim communities in Boston.

We condemn all forms of anti-Semitism, particularly any attempt to deny the Holocaust.

We condemn all forms of Islamophobia, particularly any attempt to equate the religion of Islam with terrorism.

We condemn the use of violence against innocent civilians regardless of whether it is perpetrated by a state authority, a group, or an individual.

We affirm that both Jews and Muslims have been and are the victims of prejudice and discrimination, and we have empathy for one another in this shared experience.

We believe that each of our communities is enhanced by mutual cooperation on issues that affect us as Jews and Muslims and as human beings.

We hope that the majority of Jews and Muslims will continue to work together to build bridges and condemn extremists that threaten our relationship and the wellbeing of our two communities, the Greater Boston community, and beyond.

David Dolev and Salma Kazmi
Co-Directors
The Center for Jewish Muslim Relations