What is Behind Our Decision?
Peace
Walk Postponed While We Continue to Deepen
and Strenghthen Our Relationships
March 19, 2004
Salaam/shalom! We have decided to postpone the Muslim-Jewish Peace Walk originally planned for June 6. We and many others are very grateful for the growing relationship between our communities. At this time of new beginnings, it will be a great blessing to continue to deepen and strengthen our relationship. When we have reached a greater depth and understanding, the time will be right for a Peace Walk together. With God's help, this will be not too far in the future—but not quite yet.
Instead of a Peace Walk, Imam Fode Drome invites
everyone to come to the Masjid ul-Haqq on Sunday, June 6, 2-5 pm, for
a special teaching on "One God, Univeral Message".
Light refreshments will be served. Both men and women are requested to
dress modestly. The Masjid is located at 4162 Welwyn Street, just north
of Kingsway near Victoria. For more information, phone the Masjid at (604)
873-1787. Please share this invitation with anyone you believe is sincerely
interested.
W ith blessings for peace,
Imam Fode Drome |
Rabbi David Mivasair |
Masjid ul-Haqq |
Ahavat Olam Synagogue |
March 19, 2004
As-salaam aleikum / shalom aleichem!
Many of us have been eager to learn about our plans for June 6, originally
expected to be a very exciting and inspiring Muslim-Jewish Peace Walk
in Vancouver. I apologize for the delay in getting out an update and
ask for your understanding of the process which was necessary in order
to have good, clear communication and understanding among us planners.
I myself am learning (I hope!) lessons in the virtue of patience and
of listening well to my partners in this project. I'm writing now to
share what is behind our decision. I'm writing it separately from the
announcement of the plans so that you can easily forward that announcement
to others who you think will be interested and not forward this explanation
along with it.
After last Monday, May 10, when so many of us came together and felt
such inspiration about being together, it also became clear to Imam
Fode, Hila Russ-Woodland, Karamud Din and myself -- and especially so
to Abdul Rauf and Reb Lynn -- that we will have a deeper and stronger
process for a Muslim-Jewish Peace Walk if we devote more time, energy,
thought and prayer to building the real relationships among us before
simply going ahead with a large, public event. Our hearts are all in
the right place. We know that God is moving us. It is clear to all of
us that we are being guided toward stronger, deeper understanding and
appreciation for each other and each other's traditions and community.
However, we have met each other only a very few times. It is clear that
if we simply go ahead with the plan for a Peace Walk on June 6, it will
not be as well supported as it will be in the not-too-distant future
if we first build the real relationships of which the Walk is to be
an expression.
Consequently, we all readily agreed that it is wise to postpone the
"event" of the Peace Walk and instead to devote ourselves
first to engaging in a different kind of walk of peace together. Our
next step is Imam Fode's invitation to us all—Jews, Muslims and
all our friends and supporters—to come to the Masjid ul-Haqq mosque
on June 6 and to learn together a Muslim perspective on "One God,
Universal Message". I believe that this is a very important step
in our walk of peace together. In fact, I believe this is a walk with
great integrity and depth. I very much look forward to learning from
Imam Fode on June 6 and hope that you will join us at the Masjid that
afternoon.
Please continue to share your own thoughts and reflections on our process,
on our goals and how we can best more toward them. Please, as you do
this, do so prayerfully, with a sense of reaching to bring more holiness
into this world with each other through our own words and deeds.
B'Shalom—ma'isallam,
David