By Dr. Yehdua Stolov | Executive Director
On July 27, the Interfaith Encounter Association and Mosaica Religious Peace Initiative held a special online event on the occasion of the “Jerusalem Ahavat Hinam Week”- moderated by Carolina (Community Director of Interfaith Encounter Association).
On this very week, Jews will be fasting and mourning during Tisha Be’Av, while Muslims will celebrate one of their most important holidays, Eid Al-Adha (Festival of the Sacrifice). As Rabbi Dr. Daniel (Director of Mosaica Religious Peace Initiative) stated at the beginning of the event, the closeness of these two dates can be (and has been in the past) fuel for violence and hatred, specially in Jerusalem’s Old City. Since one of the themes related to Tisha Be’Av is baseless love (ahavat hinam), as opposed to baseless hate (sinat hinam), we invited two religious leaders- a Sheikh and a Rabbi- to speak about the concept of Ahavat Hinam in these holidays, and in our current reality.
Sheikh Eyad explained the origins of Eid Al-Adha (the binding of Abraham’s son, Ishmael), and how it is celebrated worldwide- including a fast the day before, which this year will coincide with the fast of Tisha Be’Av. He also spoke about the deep sadness he feels about not being able to go to Mecca for this year’s Hajj (peregrination) because of Coronavirus.
Rabbi Matanya brought some sources on the relationship between Tisha Be’Av (a fast for the destruction of the Jewish Temples), and the concepts surrounding the commandment to love one’s neighbor. The Sheikh and the Rabbi engaged in a very interesting exchange regarding the challenges and the importance of developing Ahavat Hinam in relation not just to one’s neighbor, but specially with “the other”. They also answered questions from some of the more than 60 participants.The questions addressed topics such as dealing with disputes and criticism from more extremist groups within one’s own religion, and religious concepts that can contribute to building baseless love (such as respecting the foreigner in Judaism, and Wasatya- the middle path- in Islam).
Sheikh Eyad and Rabbi Metanya concluded the encounter with special blessings for the week ahead.
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