GATHERING OF EUROPEAN MUSLIM AND JEWISH LEADERS Brussels, 6 December 2010
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
07:00 Muslim Morning Prayers [Marie-Henriette Room (26th floor), Hilton Hotel]
07:30 Halal/Kosher Breakfast Served [Marie-Henriette Room (26th floor), Hilton Hotel]
07:45 Jewish Morning Prayers (Schaharit) La Regence Synagogue [3 mins walk from Hilton Hotel]
09:00 Registration opens / Coffee served [En Plein Ciel Room (27th floor), Hilton Hotel]
10:00 OPENING SESSION
Welcome & Opening Address: Rabbi Marc Schneier, President of The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and Vice-President of the World Jewish Congress & Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America
"Experiences in the United States of America in fostering Muslim-Jewish Cooperation"
Introduction: Dr. Moshe Kantor, President of European Jewish Congress
Preparation of meetings at European Commission & European Council: Dr. Maram Stern, Deputy Secretary General of the World Jewish Congress
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SESSION 1: SHARED EUROPEAN EXPERIENCES
Presentations on Muslim-Jewish initiatives in different European countries and efforts to strengthen ties of understanding, friendship and trust
Co-chaired by: Rabbi Schneier & Dr. Siddiqi
Presentation: Rabbi Reuben Livingstone, Chairman of the Children of Abraham & Imam Dr. Abduljalil Sajid, Chairman of the Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony "Muslim-Jewish Initiatives in The United Kingdom"
Presentation: Imam Hassen Chalgoumi, Imam of the Mosque of Drancy, France & Rabbi Michel Serfaty, French Judeo-Muslim Friendship Association "Muslim-Jewish Initiatives in France"
Presentation: Imam Fatih Sahan, German Turkish-Islamic Religious Union & Rabbi Benjamin Soussan, Chief Rabbi of Baden, Germany "Muslim-Jewish Initiatives in Germany"
Presentation: Rabbi Joseph Levi, Chief Rabbi of Florence, Italy & Imam Yahya Pallavicini, President of the Italian Islamic Religious Community "Jewish-Muslim Initiatives in Italy"
Reading of Statement: Walter Ruby, FFEU Muslim Jewish Programs Officer
11:45 Transfer by coach to the European Commission
12:15 Working Lunch (Kosher/Halal) with the Policy Advisors to the President of the European Commission [Berlaymont Building, 13th Floor]
12:34 Muslim Noon prayer
Jewish Blessing of Bread (Chamoutzi) - Rabbi Raphael Evers, Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam
Address: Jean-Claude Thebault, Director-General of the Bureau of European Policy Advisors of the European Commission
14:00 Delegation meeting with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy [Justus Lipsius Building]
Return to Hilton Hotel
Muslim Later Afternoon Prayer
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15:00 SESSION 2: COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION
Different modalities for Muslim-Jewish theological, cultural and social dialogue and cooperation Co-chaired by: Mrs. Flo Kaufmann, Chair of the Board of Governors of the European Jewish Congress and Vice-President of the World Jewish Congress & Prof. Anas Schakfeh, President of the Islamic Community of Austria
Presentation: Rabbi Marc-Raphaël Guedj, Chairman of Racines et Source, Geneva, Switzerland & Imam Dr. Abduljalil Sajid, Chairman of the Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony "The Theological Basis for Dialogue & Cooperation"
Presentation: Mrs. Ayse Cindilkaya, Germany, & Mr. Ilja Sichrovsky, Secretary General of the Muslim Jewish Conference "Engaging Young People in Interfaith Activities"
Presentation: Mrs. Nadine Iarchy-Zuker, Chair of the Interfaith Committee of the International Council of Jewish Women & Mrs. Haddou Aicha, Belgian Women of Faith Network "Women's Initiatives in Interfaith Cooperation"
16:30 Jewish Afternoon Prayers (Mincha)
16:40 Muslim Sunset Prayer
17:00 SESSION 3: FUTURE COOPERATION
Plans for Jewish-Muslim cooperation on a European Level in 2011
Co-chaired by: Imam Prof. Marzouk Abdellah, University of Amsterdam & Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp, President of the Jacob Soetendorp Institute for Human Values, The Hague, The Netherlands
Closing Remarks: Chief Rabbi Albert Guigui, Chief Rabbi of Belgium & Mr. Salah Echallaoui, Spokesperson of the European Council of Moroccan Clerics
18:00 Close of Meeting
* FUNDING FOR THE GATHERING IS GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY * * THE EUROPEAN JEWISH FUND AND THE EUROPEAN JEWISH CONGRESS *
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19:30 DIPLOMATIC DINNER
Dinner (Halal/Kosher) with Brussels Diplomatic Corps hosted by the World Jewish Congress [En Plein Ciel Room (27th floor), Hilton Hotel]
Kindling of the Channuka Menora Rabbi Schneier & Dr. Siddiqi
Jewish Blessing of Bread (Chamoutzi) - Chief Rabbi Albert Guigui, Chief Rabbi of Belgium
Address: Dr. Moshe Kantor, President of the European Jewish Congress & Reis-ul-ulema Mustafa Effendi Cerić, Grand Mufti of Bosnia-Herzegovina "The Challenges of Building Trust between Communities in Europe"
Address: Richard Prasquier "Muslim-Jewish Dialogue in Europe today"
Following dinner:
Muslim Night-time Prayer & Jewish Evening Prayer (Ma'ariv) [Marie-Henriette Room, 26th Floor, Hilton Hotel]
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