PARIS — Bernard Koch, a Jew, will be striving to bridge gaps between Jewish and Muslims in France from his office in the Islamic center in Drancy, a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris. "I will do my best to serve both minorities and bring them closer," a moved Koch told IslamOnline.net. Koch has been appointed by the Islamic Cultural Society in Drancy as foreign relations officer. He will have his office in the second floor of the two-story building that also houses the society's mosque. "I will have an office affiliated to the mosque from where I will manage Muslim-Jewish relations," said in excited Koch. "My goal is to project the true image of Islam as opposed to the misconceptions propagated in the media." Drancy, a commune located nearly 10 kilometers from the center of Paris, has 12,000-Muslim and 2,000-Jewish communities. It has a total population of 64,000. Koch recognizes that the appointment could upset some people. "I'm sure there will be obstacles along the way not just from Muslims but Jews as well. But I plan to keep an open mind." France is home to the biggest Muslim minority in Europe, estimated at 5-6 million. It also has 600,000 Jews, Western Europe's biggest Jewish community. Gesture The appointment of Koch to such a post was warmly welcomed by all parties. A special ceremony held on April 15 was attended by Drancy municipal chief Jean-Christophe Lagarde, the head of the Jewish community Jacques Aboucaya and Islamic Cultural Society chairman Hassan Chalghoumi. "We see no problem in appointing Koch for the post," Chalghoumi, also the mosque imam, told IOL. "He is a man of high caliber and is known for his devotion to work and ability to work with others." He indicated that Koch will have his office, just like the Society's other administration officials, in the second floor of the meeting. "The first floor is kept for the mosque." Chalghoumi recognizes that the unprecedented step coincides with increasing tension in the Middle East and mounting Israeli attacks against Palestinians. "Our aim is to improve the image of the Muslim minority and highlight Islam's openness to followers of other faiths." A galaxy of prominent Muslim scholars and interfaith experts issued in February an open letter for the world's Jewish community calling for a dialogue to improve relations between Jews and Muslims who have common ground of shared beliefs. "Drancy has a symbolic importance in the history of French Jews," notes Imam Chalghoumi. The area is home to an infamous prison camp that was used to hold Jews before being deported to the extermination camps under Nazi Germany. Imam Chalghoumi said Muslims and Jews in Drancy enjoy good, friendly relations. "A Jewish delegation visited our mosque a week ago," he recalled. "I had earlier paid a visit to Drancy synagogue and delivered a speech on tolerance and coexistence in Islam."
Nowadays... lots and lots of Jews are friendly towards Muslims, supporting the independence of Palestine and prefer to remember Nakba instead of celebrating 60 yrs of Israel.
I think it's important to remember that these are all members of the same family tree. They have taken different routes in their journey so they do not share the same history ~ but they do share the same faith. Judaism is an older branch and generation. Islam is a younger blossom but the grand-father should not fight with his grandson. What we have here is a very minor generation gap and it's long past the time they should each show each other more respect... namely because the world is watching.
Sonce 9/11 here have been many stories of Jews and Christain clerics visiting mosques in the name of inter faith harmony.
There have been NO stories of Muslim clerics visiting Jewish temples or Christian churches.
There can be no interfaith faith harmony till they do!
k
theres a muslim gathering at our local cathedral this month...
Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one calling to Faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed.
Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and expiate from us our evil deeds, and make us die (in the state of righteousness) along with Al-Abrar
I think it's important to remember that these are all members of the same family tree. They have taken different routes in their journey so they do not share the same history ~ but they do share the same faith. Judaism is an older branch and generation. Islam is a younger blossom but the grand-father should not fight with his grandson. What we have here is a very minor generation gap and it's long past the time they should each show each other more respect... namely because the world is watching.
The Ninth Scribe
Strangely you left out the other people of the Book.
Strangely you left out the other people of the Book.
How can I leave them out? They're in-between the pages. What's important to remember is who's family this is, and what is expected from them. They're meant to shine as a light upon the world. It's a serious responsiblilty and as such, these disputes and challenges (which are normal) should be dealt with in private, to offer more dignity to the family as a whole. I am not happy to see dirty laundry being shrewn about the land in public, like some sleazy tabloid scandal. I expect the scholars to behave like scholars and do what they must to resolve their misunderstandings because that's all they are. A little less taunting and a little more dialogue will prove that point. No one will turn to ash by entering a house of God. I don't care if the curtains on the windows are blue or pink. I don't care what the measurement of the altar is or whether or not you kneel or you stand. It only matters that you come and honor the head of the house and who ever it is who keeps it, regardless of which generation of the family they come from.
The Ninth Scribe
Last edited by Ninth_Scribe; 05-12-2008 at 06:40 PM.
How can I leave them out? They're in-between the pages. What's important to remember is who's family this is, and what is expected from them. They're meant to shine as a light upon the world. It's a serious responsiblilty and as such, these disputes and challenges (which are normal) should be dealt with in private, to offer more dignity to the family as a whole. I am not happy to see dirty laundry being shrewn about the land in public, like some sleazy tabloid scandal. I expect the scholars to behave like scholars and do what they must to resolve their misunderstandings because that's all they are. A little less taunting and a little more dialogue will prove that point. No one will turn to ash by entering a house of God. I don't care if the curtains on the windows are blue or pink. I don't care what the measurement of the altar is or whether or not you kneel or you stand. It only matters that you come and honor the head of the house and who ever it is who keeps it, regardless of which generation of the family they come from.
The Ninth Scribe
But who's "Head" of the house is a big point of contention is it not? Namely the Messiah. Where Christians believe that Isa is a part of God, muslims believe this is idol worship and polytheism. We have a poster here who makes it a point of throwing this in christians face every third post. How can dialogue continue when some muslims only care about scoring silly "gotcha" point
Is this not an Islamic site? When a Jew comes here and belittle christians for worshiping this silly Man/God then we can have a discussion on Judaic tolerence.
Your still generalizing. One poster doesnt mean all! And we always get trolls in here preaching and belittling us. And yes we do have active ignorant posters, who also aren't Muslim. So please, save it.
P.S. stick to the topic.
*Without Allah, without Islam, life would be meaningless. If I've ever learned patience, it's because of this. Alhamdulillah...*
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PARIS — Bernard Koch, a Jew, will be striving to bridge gaps between Jewish and Muslims in France from his office in the Islamic center in Drancy, a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris. "I will do my best to serve both minorities and bring them closer," a moved Koch told IslamOnline.net.
^^ Lol haha.
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