07 February 2007
Israel's Ashkenazi chief rabbi Yona Metzger has called for the establishment of a "United Nations of religious groups" to bridge gaps between the faiths through communication and dialogue. Rabbi Metzger, speaking at a Hindu-Jewish leadership summit, also called for a greater role for religious leaders in conflict resolution. The World Council of Religious Leaders (WCRL), which organized the summit, said it aimed to promote education, understanding and cooperation between the Hindu and Jewish faiths. Bawa Jain, secretary-general of the WCRL, allayed apprehensions that the meeting aimed to forge an alliance against Islam and Christianity, saying the dialogue would include other religions in the next stage. He said Metzger would also meet behind closed doors with India's Muslim leaders. A declaration issued at the end of the meeting said the two faiths would set up a standing committee on Hindu-Jewish relations. The declaration said since both religious have faced persecution, there was a need to educate succeeding generations about their past.
On the issue of Palestinians, Metzger pointed out that the vast majority of Muslims wanted to live in peace and harmony, but added that the community had been held hostage by extremists. He said a "United Nations of religious groups" where delegations are committed only to faith and values devoid of politics would help the people of the two faiths to tolerate each other. The chief rabbi also sought a role for religious leaders in political conflicts. "Religion represents the political identity of a person, so it is used and abused. Therefore, religious leaders have special duties to end conflicts," he said. The chief rabbis from Spain, Belgium and several other countries took part in the summit. In the resolution the Hindu leaders also commit themselves to monotheism and reject idolatry.
