Report on the Jewish-Muslim Religious Teaching and Dialogue Series, Winter/Spring, 2005
From February to April of 2005, Vancouver's Masjid ul-Haqq mosque and Ahavat Olam synagogue jointly offered a three-part series of religious teachings and dialogue called, "Hearing the Word of God", led by Imam Fode Drome and Rabbi David Mivasair. Each session included an hour of teaching and focused discussion from both traditions, followed by an hour for refreshments and relaxed informal conversation. All sessions were free of charge and open to the public.
In an informal, participatory setting, Imam Fode and Rabbi Mivasair explored how both the Jewish and the Muslim traditions derive from revelation to prophets, and how they both teach about the process of revelation, transmission and interpretation of the word of God. They also discussed how each person can attune themselves to receiving, understanding and living the message of God, and how to incorporate it into one's own life mission.
BACKGROUND For over a year, Ahavat Olam Synagogue and Masjid ul-Haqq have been developing a thoughtful, warm and respectful relationship. Members of each community have met to socialize, worship and learn together. "We share an understanding of the need to come together as Jews and as Muslims, to learn about each other, to bridge the gap between us and to live out the promise of an overarching unity within the great and beautiful diversity of God's Creation," said Rabbi Mivasair. In each gathering, Jews and Muslims have been joined as well by Christians and others who share the goal of reconciliation between religious groups. Several community rabbis have participated as well.
"The rabbis of old taught that 'seek peace and pursue it' is a mitzvah (good deed) for which we must 'arise from our place' and actively initiate opportunities, not simply wait for opportunities to come our way," added Mivasair on the religious motivation of the gathering.
Imam Fode and Rabbi Mivasair are also founding members of the InterSpiritual Centre of Vancouver Society, an organization working to create a single house of worship, house of learning and house of action to be shared by a variety of religious and spiritual communities in Vancouver's Southeast False Creek neighborhood.
For more information call (604) 875-0240, email Rabbi Mivasair at Rabbi@ahavat-olam.ca or Rabia Kurd at rabs_80@hotmail.com.