PROGRAM SUMMARY – IMAMS AND RABBIS FOR PEACE January 3 to 6, 2005 First Day : Monday 3 January, 18h00 Opening ceremony under the High Patronage of His Majesty King King Albert II and His Majesty King Mohammed VI Presentation of the Congress by Alain Michel, Founder of the Foundation Hommes de Parole and Chief Rabbi René-Samuel Sirat Speeches : Chief Rabbi Baksi Doron Sheikh Fawzi Al Zafzaf Mr André Azoulay, Counsellor of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI President Abdurrahman Wahid Pr. Adolphe Steg, President of the World Israelite Alliance, Representative of the Rothschild Foundation His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Al Twaijri, Director General of the ISESCO His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Welcome : Mr Albert Dupont Belgian Minister of social intégration Representative of the « Alliance of Women » movement Representative of the « Generation of Peace » movement 20:00 Cocktail Dinner 21:30 Concert, Arabic-andalusian music with the group “the Voices of Fes” 3rd Day: Wednesday 5 January 2nd Day: Tuesday 4 January 7:15 - 9:30: Prayers and Breakfast Muslim prayers 7.18 Jewish Prayer: 8:00 9:30 – 11:15: First plenary session. 11:15-11:45: Coffee break 11:45-13:30: Second plenary session. 13.30 lunch Prayer time - Break 16.00 – 18.00: Workshops Prayer time - Break 18.45 – 20.00: Report on the workshops 20.00: Dinner 21.30: concert 7:15 - 9:30 : Prayers and Breakfast Muslim prayers 7.18 Jewish Prayer : 8:00 9.30 – 11.15: third plenary session. 11.15-11.45: Coffee break 11.45-13.30: Workshops 13.30: lunch Prayer time - Break 16.00 – 18.00: Workshops Prayer time - Break 18.45 – 20.15: reports on workshops 20.00 Dinner 21.30: Discussion of the work on the Final Declaration (optional) 4th Day: Thursday 6 January 7:15 - 9:30: Prayers and Breakfast Muslim prayers 7.18 Jewish Prayer : 8:00 10:00 – 13:00: Closing Ceremony Report on concrete actions as decided during the Congress Reading of the common final declaration Conclusion of Alain Michel Press conference 13:00 Lunch 15h00: Joint Visit of the Grand Mosque of Brussels and of the Grand Synagogue. 17h00: Informal meeting with the governmental and diplomatic authorities of Belgium 20h00: Dinner - Concert DETAILED PROGRAM IMAMS AND RABBIS FOR PEACE January 3 to 6, 2005 CONDUCT OF THE DIALOGUE : The first congress of Imams and Rabbis has as its ultimate goal the advancement of global peace and the furthering of good relations between Jewish and Muslim communities worldwide. It seeks to achieve these goals by bringing together the highest leadership of both religions, thereby creating an environment of encounter and dialogue, hopefully leading to mutual collaboration in a variety of post-congress initiatives. The discussions of the congress are aimed at increasing mutual knowledge, furthering mutual recognition and developing a common platform A major goal of the conference is the development of networks of personal relations and friendships as the basis for continuing amelioration of relations between the two communities. The ultimate success of the conference is in the practical initiatives to which it will give birth. The conference program has been developed with the intention of striking a balance between the above needs. Broad conceptual issues will be discussed in plenary panels, highlighting commonalities, stressing core differences and seeking to discover the moral and existential common ground between the religions. Personal relations will be developed through a small group settings. Practical initiatives will grow out of large and small group discussion through a series of workshops that will follow upon theoretical discussions. 1. PLENARY SESSIONS Facilitated by Elijah Interfaith Institute in light of its preparatory document (Tentative speakers list, each speech is limited to five minutes) SESSION 1 – The Judeo-Muslim heritage Tuesday January 4, 9:30 – 11:45 a.m. Moderators: Dr Alon Goshen-Gottstein / Pr Paul Ballanfat Testimony of a rabbi born in a Muslim country regarding common culture with Islam Rabbi Claude Sultan Testimony of Israeli imam regarding common culture with Judaism. Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bukhari Immigrant experience Paris regarding recognition of commonalities. Imam Abduljalil Sajid and Rabbi René-Samuel Sirat Mysticism as common ground and inspiration Pr Avi Elqayam, Pr Dr Mahmud Erol Kilic What aspects of study of the other traditon has allowed you to come to better self recognition? Chief Rabbi Yacov Ariel, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Abad Invitation to all participants to share testimonies. SESSION 2 – Mutual knowledge, acceptance and recognition: historical foundations and universal aspirations Tuesday January 4, 11.45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Moderators: Chief Rabbi Michael Melchior / Professor Abdelwahab Hechiche What are the main commonalities between the two religions? Dr Ahmed Taoufiq, Chief Rabbi Bakshi Doron How is it possible for each of the tradition to recognize the specificity of the other? Rabbi Dr. Naftali Brawer, Sheikh Tarek Oubrou How can the universal message of both traditions decrease identity tensions and their related violence worldwide? Chief Rabbi Marc-Raphaël Guedj, Dr Ali El Samman What is the uniqueness of the relationship between Islam and Judaism, compared to other religions? Chief Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen, Dr Abdurrahman Wahid What is the value for each tradition of developing a positive appreciation of each other’s scripture? Pr Paul Fenton, Dr Mahmoud Azab Questions of the participants SESSION 3 – The Dignity of the Human person: a common ground value Wednesday January 5, 9:30 – 11:45 a.m. Moderators: Chief Rabbi David Rosen / Dr Adamou Ndam Njoya Why is the dignity of the human person a central concept in your religion? - Theoretical underpinnings Chief Rabbi Albert Guigui, Mufti Ravil Gaynutdinov How does the centrality of the human person manifest in practical ways and what are its moral consequences? Chief Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich, Pr Mohammed Esslimani How does the value of the human person shape your attitude to the other? Rabbi Menachem Froman, Sheikh Yahya Sergio Yahe Pallavicini How to apply the value of human dignity under situations of conflict? Sheikh Talal Sedir, Rabbi Naftali Rothenberg How do scriptural examples from your tradition serve as educational role models for human dignity? Rabbi Abraham Sherman, Sheikh Yussuf Murigu Questions of the participants 2. WORKSHOPS FIRST SESSION, Tuesday January 4, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Texts, Truth and Violence (part 1 – reading and comments on the texts) 1. Moderators: Elie Khan, Ahmad Natour 2. Moderators: Pr Albert de Pury, Sheikh Tarek Oubrou, Rabbi Harry Smadja Presentation of an ongoing research project Focusing on reinterpretation of key Jewish and Muslim texts that reinforce negative attitudes to the other. Brain storming and propositions on education of Imams and Rabbis Moderators: Chief Rabbi René Samuel Sirat, Dr Adamou Njoya Brain storming on the creation of educational structures to improve and complement the education of Imams and Rabbis. Topics will include frameworks, places, contents and participants. Workshop « Abraham‘s Vision » Moderators: Ed Miller, Xavier Guerrand-Hermès Extracts of the book “Vision of Abraham,” that narrates the historical, religious and cultural links between Islam and Judaism in a simple way, will be discussed in order to reach consensus upon an ultimate common text. The book has already been endorsed by some twenty Muslim and Jewish scholars and activists. Analysing the text during this workshop will prompt both communities to undertake a focussed and strenuous work towards the development of a common narrative of their history in a form both attractive and easily understandable by the general public. The workshop will allow a great number of Jewish and Muslim personalities to further develop and thoroughly complete this work to which many have already contributed. Brain storming on sharing and transmitting without proselytizing 1. Moderators: Marc-Raphael Guedj, Patrice Brodeur, 2. Moderators: Sheikh Abdelwahid Pallavicini, Rabbin Reuven Firestone What kind of structures could be set within Judaism and Islam to promote a universal message while avoiding the identity tensions? How such universal message exempt of proselytism can be transmitted? SECOND SESSION, Wednesday 5 January, 11:45 to 13:30 p.m. Generation of Peace Moderators: Pr Marc-Alain Ouaknin, Rachid Benzine A group of young people will attend the Congress, brought by the association “Penseurs dans la Cité” and animated by Françoise Anne Ménager and Marc Alain Ouaknin. Prior to the congress these young people have done preparatory work, during which they established a bibliography of popular works aimed at the youth as well as a comparative timeline. The young people will share their research with religious leaders. The purpose is to set the base for a common development of referential educational tools for the religious authorities and a National Education System. Friendship and Hospitality 1. Moderators: Rabbi Daniel Brenner, Bashy Quraishy 2. Moderators: Father Christian Delorme, Chief Rabbi Abba Samoun How can friendship and hospitality be developed between the two communities? What concrete actions would enable both communities to become better acquainted with each other and to discover and communicate their cultures, their worship and their texts? Social responsibility and charity practice 1. Moderators: Doudou Diène, Daniel Kropf 2.Moderators : David Zilbershlag, Ghassan Manasra How to translate the responsibility inherent in our faith into common actions for the others? Common actions to be carried out in the field of charity and social work. Contemporary theology of the religious other Moderators: Dr Alon Goshen-Gottstein, Pr Paul Ballanfat Part of the challenge facing Judaism and Islam is to rethink, in light of contemporary political and global realities, their attitude to other religions. This involves the study and the assessment of core theological notions as part of developing inside each religion a teaching of peace and acceptance. Creating a Religious Dimension in Middle East Peacemaking Moderators: Rabbi Shmuel Jakobovits, Sheikh Talal Sedir Can there be a formula for peace to which the most zealous religionists will be willing partners ? THIRD SESSION, Wednesday 5 January, 4.00 to 6.00 pm Workshop on the project of an international Jewish-Muslim observatory Moderators : Alain Michel, Daniel Shek, Sheikh Khalifa Niasse During the encounter, an observatory could be created in order to assess the world situation and the involvement of the religious Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities. It could include a crisis unit able to react in case of serious events, issue common releases that de-legitimize violence and send Imams, Rabbis and Bishops to demonstrate their union in places of tension. Workshop Texts, Truth and Violence – (Part 2- historical involvement) 1. Moderators: Elie Kahn, 2. Moderators: Pr Albert de Pury, Sheikh Tarek Oubrou, Rabbi Harry Smadja The texts that are interpreted as pure truth often are those that lead to violence. How can one change this conflict reality into a fruitful matter for the spirit? How can words for life can be prevented from becoming words for death? Brain-storming for the creation of permanent structures for a Jewish-Muslim dialogue . 1. Moderators: Chief Rabbi Eisenberg, Sheikh Abduljalil Sajid 2. Moderators: CEJI (Pascale Charhon-Robin Sclafani-Bashy Quraishy) et IRFAM (Spyros Amoranitis et Altay Manco) This interactive workshop aims to enhance the creation of permanent dialogue structures between Jews and Muslims. What are the qualities needed of these structures? What potential obstacles can be anticipated? What kinds of initiatives exist that we can learn from? What can we propose as actions in the short and long-term future? Open Workshop 1. Moderators: Avner Haramati, Nafez Assailey 2. Moderators: Therese Andrevon, No special topic is set for this workshop but it can possibly include : a) Open meeting space b) Interrupted plenary discussion can be carried on there c) Questions unanswered during the plenary will be answered