The World Jewish Congress took part on 13-17 October in the G20 Interfaith Forum, an annual conference that enables religiously linked institutions and initiatives to recommend solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing the global community: hunger, poverty, global health crisis, inequalities and climate change.
The seventh annual G20 Interfaith Forum was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference was organized by the International Dialogue Center (KAICIID), the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the G20 Interfaith Forum Association, and Saudi Arabia’s National Dialogue Committee.
WJC Commissioner for Interfaith Relations Claudio Epelman, who is also the executive director of the Latin American Jewish Congress, represented the WJC at the forum, together with WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps Steering Committee member Ruth Ouazana.
In his remarks to the forum, Epelman expressed optimism that the Latin American Jewish Congress’ series of virtual interfaith events with the Muslim and Christian community in the region could “serve as an example and inspiration in other parts of the world...The only way to keep the coexistence is caring about the other.”
Reflecting on her experience attending the G20 Interfaith Forum, Ouazana, said, “I was very happy to attend the G20 Interfaith Forum along with dozens of great and inspirational speakers from all over the world...I hope I’m able to attend an in-person G20 Interfaith Forum at the appropriate time as it is truly the physical encounters that create magic.”
Also, in attendance was Chief Rabbi of Moscow Pinchas Goldschmidt, who spoke about his experience targeting discrimination and hate speech with his involvement in the International Dialogue Center supported Muslim-Jewish Leadership Council.
“We’re working together with all faiths, Christians, Muslims, Jews and people of no faith to maintain human rights and freedom of religion in Europe, because without that there is no future for the European project,” he said.