Chicago Muslims and Jews Speak with One Voice on Peace and Justice

Chicago, Illinois - February 4, 2009 - The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (the Council), working very closely with the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA), has brought together a diverse group of Muslim and Jewish institutions and individuals in a very important act of solidarity based upon shared convictions through a joint statement.

"Our commitments to interfaith dialogue and to justice are the driving force behind our collaboration with JCUA" noted Junaid M. Afeef, Executive Director of the Council.

The joint statement "Chicago Muslims & Jews Speak with One Voice on Peace & Justice" is signed by the Council on behalf of its 50 member mosques and Muslim institutions throughout Northern Illinois.  The Innercity Muslim Action Network (IMAN), which is also a member of the Council, played a vital role bringing JCUA and the Council together through its partnership with both organizations.

"The Council is a leader in interfaith relations in this community and as leaders we will continue to take bold steps in the direction of peace and justice" said Dr. Zaher Sahloul, Chairman of the Council.  "We look forward to strengthening our relationships with those who have signed this statement with us and we especially look forward to reaching out to our Jewish neighbors who have not yet signed on with us as well."

The full text of the statement:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 04, 2009

Chicago Muslims & Jews Speak with One Voice on Peace & Justice

We are representatives of Chicago's Jewish and Muslim communities who have come together with shared values grounded in our respective faith traditions, in light of the recent events in the Middle East and the tragic loss of innocent life, to reaffirm our friendship and our mutual commitment to the preciousness of human life.    

The Jewish and Muslim communities have lived peacefully side by side in Chicago for many years. Our respective communities have worked together in partnership to fight injustice, racism, poverty, and indifference

From this position of solidarity and renewed friendship:

• We condemn anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
• We affirm the preciousness of human life and the safety and security of the people in Gaza and Israel. The life of a Palestinian child and the life of an Israeli child are equally precious.
• We condemn wanton violence, human suffering, and targeting of innocent civilians.
• We pray for a Middle East where Israelis and Palestinians are safe from all forms of violence.
• We pray for continued friendship, and the growth and development in our understanding of one another.
• We pray for an end to the conditions that produce hopelessness.
• We commit to communicating and listening to each other throughout these difficult times.
• We commit to respecting each other even when we disagree.
• We commit to our ongoing relationship, not contingent upon agreement.
• We commit to supporting each other and protecting each other from hate and aggression.
• We embrace the message of hope, peace, and justice for all our communities.

We urge that as our respective communities gather for demonstrations, that the language and symbolism in our signs and chants, while protected by our precious right of freedom speech, do not cross lines and demonize the "other" or incorporate elements of anti-Semitism or Islamophobia.

We believe that these times must serve as a reminder for all of us, individually and institutionally, to redouble our efforts to build bridges with people of all faiths, races, and classes. Only then, will we stand-in all our diversity of opinions-as a united front against hatred, injustice and brutality, locally and abroad. Finally, we pray that our respective communities will be inspired to exemplify the Prophetic values of justice, compassion and courage in working together to bring a lasting peace to our community here and to our sacred region of the world.

Signatories

Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative, Co-Chairs, Rabbi Asher

Lopatin and Rabbi Andrea London

Jewish Council on Urban Affairs

Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago

Inner-City Muslim Action Network
Jewish Labor Committee, Stuart Appelbaum, President, Mike Perry, Chicago Chair
Muslim Bar Association

Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs

Aliza Becker, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom
Imam Senad Agic, Islamic Cultural Center, Northbrook
Rabbi Lisa Bellow, Congregation Beth Am, Buffalo Grove
Rabbi Simcha Bob, Aitz Chaim, Lombard
Rabbi Herbert Bronstein, Rabbi Emeritus North Shore Congregation
Rabbi Paul Cohen, Temple Jeremiah, Northfield
Rabbi Shoshanah Conover, Temple Sholom of Chicago
Rabbi Darryl Crystal, KAM Isaiah Israel, Chicago
Rabbi Bruce Elder, Congregation Hakafa
Rabbi Capers Funnye, Beth Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation
Rabbi Wendi Geffen, North Shore Congregation Israel, Glencoe
Tabassum Haleem, Executive Director, Organization of Islamic Speakers, Midwest
Rabbi Sidney Helbraun, Beth El, Northbrook

Dr. Hesham A. Hassaballa, co-author, The Beliefnet Guide to Islam Rabbi Peter Knobel, Beth Emet Synagogue, Evanston, president Central
Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi Jonathan Magidovitch, Congregation B'nai Torah
Rabbi Steve Mason, North Shore Congregation Israel, Glencoe
M. Khalid Mozaffar

Ayesha K. Mustafaa, Editor, Muslim Journal newspaper, Homewood
Camille Odeh, Executive Director, Southwest Youth Collaborative, Chicago, Illinois

Rabbi David Oler, Beth Or, Deerfield
Rabbi Aaron Mark Petuchowski, Temple Sholom of Chicago
Jane Ramsey, Executive Director, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs

Rabbi Brant Rosen, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston
Amina Saeed, president-elect, Muslim Bar Association
Rabbi Dov Taylor, Congregation Solel
Rabbi Jeffrey Weill, Temple Beth-El
Rabbi Michael Weinberg, Temple Beth Israel, Skokie
Rabbi Michael Zedek, Emmanuel Congregation
Rabbi Marc Berkson
Rabbi Herbert Bronstein
Rabbi Miriam Burg
Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus
Rabbi Laurence Edwards
Rabbi Suzanne Griffel
Rabbi Robert J. Marx
Eboo Patel, author Acts of Faith
Rabbi David Sandmel
Rabbi Michael Stevens
Rabbi Ira Youdovin