TABLE OF CONTENT

Message by the Director ______01

Message by the Co-Director ______03

The Organization ______05 About MJC Vision Previous Conferences Official Support

2016 Conference ______10 Overview Committees and Workshops Conference-wide Programming The Muslim Jewish Agency Projects The Team Press Coverage

1 MESSAGE FROM ILJA another, emboldened racists in our cities SICHROVSKY, DIRECTOR are tearing the hijabs and kippas off the heads of young men and women in Growing up in in the 1990s, my T- busses and undergrounds while shirts were made in China, my Walkman swastikas and pig heads are desecrating was made in Japan and the music I both of our houses of worship. listened to was made in the U.S. I ate Thai food and drank African coffee. The So what to do if you're just one butterfly Austrian-ness around us seemed to get flying over that forest fire, trying to lost among all this multiculturalism-- decide whether to burn for a good cause, both in products as well as in people. The or to leave to some form of safety? You French-ness, Italian-ness and German- need to get yourself some strength in ness of Europe seemed to be slowly numbers. slipping away. Most of us are actually still sane. We I, of course, was generally ok with that. don’t want to live in a world where men For a long time, I felt that whatever was in brown or black shirts tell us what to do, left to be Austrian-- or French or where to do it, what to wear, what to German, for that matter-- could be best think and what better not to talk about in kept somewhere in a museum. Yet I still public. But that’s where the problem had a feeling of concern-- a foreboding starts and it’s where it has to end through that, someday soon, people might once making a stand. When I was 25, the again become afraid for their identity. longest conversation I could ever remember having with a Muslim was And now here we are, looking at a world ordering a kebab. Isolated and isolating rallying the last troops it has to defend myself from their community, which cultures marked by xenophobia, came out of a natural instinct, actually intolerance, religious radicalization and created fear of the other. It took a young the century-old hatred of everything that Pakistani to approach me at an is different. And, as usual it is the international conference for me to "others" that pay the price for a collective change. By actively seeking out a crisis of identity. Once more we are conversation, Mustafa gave me one of the turning against the so-called "enemy greatest gifts in this world: Not only a within" that we claim weakens our true and sincere friendship, but the societies, takes our jobs and destroys our certainty that the simple act of dialogue, culture: Skin color, religious belief and when used efficiently, can be a powerful national identities are again the simplest tool – especially for minorities, to lines along which we divide our organize and defend themselves by communities and minorities-- often building alliances by increasing their Muslims and Jews-- are yet again the numbers. main target of rising hate crimes. Barely seven years later, I founded and While we talk about each other, the ever directed an organization that hosts 150 more right-wing governments that rule people from around the world at a us all are discussing ways to ban our Muslim Jewish conference-- a place religious slaughter and circumcision where they could talk to each other rituals. While we live in fear of one instead of about each other, where interfaith and intercultural dialogue is many occasions. It meant nothing when taken as seriously as a prevention tool for my Jewish grandfather was hiding from hate crimes and racism as security the Nazis in the toilet of a train. The only institutions are as tools to protect us thing that made a difference was the from them. humanity, and conscious of one German soldier when he pointed my grandfather As a Jew from , who was numbed in the right direction and said: “Run.” by the age of 11 or 12 by yearly attendance at concentration camps--which became a Human passion, empathy, and a sense of bitter routine rather than an active what is right and what is wrong. This reflection on remembrance and history-- knowledge has no religious borders, it it took a group of young Muslims from 40 has no nationality or political affiliation. different countries to change my mind. I And if in 10 years from now an MJC watched them say prayers for lost loved alumni somewhere in this world is in the ones in the middle of Babi Yar, in the position to decide, we will have done our middle of Mauthausen, and in the middle part for them to do the right thing, at the of Sachsenhausen ... I saw them share my right time. We are not perfect. But at the pain, and it allowed me to cry again at a very least we have the guts to confront Holocaust memorial. each other and speak, like the leaders this world needs--how difficult that may be. My ancestor Heinrich Sichrovsky was made a knight by emperor Franz Josef, Now more than ever we have to unite and for establishing the first railway in toss this one drop of reason, one drop of Austria. Jews and Muslims alike fought hope, one drop of sanity, into that forest in the armies of the European empires as fire that is our 21st century. Strength patriots for their own countries causes. doesn’t come in size; it comes in numbers. So yes, one single drop will But all our collective titles, achievements, matter, if you just keep hurling it…day by and honors meant nothing when Europe day, together with an army of butterflies. decided to massacre its minorities--on so

2 MESSAGE FROM MARYAM The MJC is an opportunity to unite, to MOHIUDDIN AHMED, move, to breathe – like never before! And CO-DIRECTOR

Grief, the deep kind, has this uncanny way of paralyzing us. Of leaving us in a place so barren, so hopeless, we start to do that with the knowledge that we are believing we are powerless. We start not doing any of this to change the world, thinking there is nothing in our hands. but that we are doing it because it is the And we start taking this for granted – we right thing to do. There’s something very start believing we ought to do nothing beautiful the Talmud says: 'Do not be because we can do nothing. But as history daunted by the enormity of the world’s has shown, it is not the perpetrator of grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. violence who is the most dangerous, but Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated in fact it is the by-stander who chooses to to complete the work but neither are you do nothing about it. From the Holocaust, free to abandon it.' to the genocide in Srebrenica, to the Hutus and Tutsi slaughtering one The MJC is a chance for us to come another – even those they called family. together and act now – no matter how small, how insignificant we think the We keep saying we’ll never forget and consequences will be. It is a living somehow that’s almost inadvertently attempt to 'be the change we wish to see what we repeatedly do. However, we in the world'. I’m often asked by people must realize that it has been far too long all over the world what on Earth a that we have chosen to be paralyzed by ‘Muslim Jewish Conference’ is. If its our grief -- since we have decided to lose making any impact at all or if its just a lot hope and give up our ability to act, to of ‘koombaaya’. speak, to breathe. Over the last 6 years, the conference has No more. No more can we choose to be managed to bring together over 750 the living dead. Now is the time for Muslim and Jewish youth leaders from action. The MJC is a call for action. over 50 countries to grapple with some of the most pressing problems facing both communities individually and With a voice, loud and clear, the MJC collectively, these include battling hate beckons each one of us to take on one of speech, resolving conflict through non- the most difficult tasks we will ever violent means, living as minorities encounter -- to act in face of injustice. But constantly facing anti-Semitism and in order to act, we must learn; & in order anti-Muslim bias, issues of gender and to learn, we must listen. More than inclusion, kosher and halal, issues that anything the MJC is an opportunity to touch both communities at the deepest pause and listen. level including the middle east conflict.

Listen. Reflect. Absorb. And then, ACT! From where I stand, let me tell you the impact the Muslim Jewish conference has had on me. This family has given me profound reasons to hope again. To know

3 that in the darkest of places, there will always be those who will choose to shine the light. Who will stand with me paying transcends all love ever imaginable. And no heed to the color of my skin, the so He reminds the believers in the Quran clothes on my body, the language that I about how He saved the first Muslims speak, or the number of times I pray in a from complete annihilation, day – if anything, they will pay heed to the twinkle in my eyes, that silly lopsided "And [remember, O Muhammad], when smile on my face, the way we hold hands those who disbelieved plotted against when we meet, the number of times I've you to restrain you or kill you or evict you taken a deep breath in a day. [from Makkah]. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners."

It has also taught me to not worry about The MJC focuses on empowering young the outcome, to not be too hung up on Muslim and Jewish leaders with the core how we will change the world or how values they need to make the world a many lives we need to impact before we better place. In an intense week-long reach some preset KPI and ROIs. No. It immersive engagement, the conference has taught me to just remember my part. reminds them to listen before they judge,

and to unite before they act. It pushes Just remember my role. Be the bird that them to challenge their perceived limits carries singular droplets of water in its and open their eyes to new horizons. And beak to quench the forest fire. And beyond that, it promises them, that they beyond that, it has reminded me, to just will always have a home, and people to have faith & leave it to Him. Working call family, no matter how rough times with the MJC over the last 76 years get – and in that, lies our greatest reminded me to never let of ‘tawakkul’ – the belief that God’s got our back – that strength. He will never abandon us, that His love

4

THE ORGANIZATION

About MJC

The Muslim Jewish Conference (MJC) is (2012); Sarajevo, Bosnia (2013); and a grassroots dialogue and leadership Berlin, Germany (2015 & 2016). Since organization that focuses on building our first conference in 2010, we have sustainable networks between Muslim gathered more than 750 young Jewish and Jewish leaders from around the and Muslim leaders for dialogue, world. The annual conference brings grassroots coalition building, and, most together students and young importantly, friendship. Participants professionals, and invites them to step have hailed from all corners of the globe: beyond the boundaries of ignorance and from throughout Europe, the Middle stereotyping in order to build a new East, Central and South Asia, North and global political movement of young South America, and North and Sub- Muslim and Jewish leaders, activists and Saharan Africa. Over 50 countries have experts who are committed to mutual been represented. Although young, our respect. Conference participants, who participants have been at the forefront of belong to all faiths and affiliations, work addressing the major issues of their together to develop and implement generation: they are directors of local and projects focused on promoting interfaith national NGOs; civil, human and and cross cultural dialogue. women’s rights activists; academics; emerging business leaders; government MJC has hosted seven annual policymakers; humanitarian aid conferences over the last six years in workers; spiritual leaders; journalists; Vienna, Austria (2010, 2014); Kiev, and community leaders. Ukraine (2011); Bratislava, Slovakia

5 The Muslim Jewish Conference aims to grow into a Muslim Jewish Agency (MJA), organizing several conferences The Vision

Not long ago, our vision of bringing and meetings throughout the year for together hundreds of young Muslim and communities, institutions, and Jewish leaders from around the world to academics, and serving as a convener and learn from each other, build long-lasting nexus for other interfaith institutions, in relationships and challenge the long-held order to have a long lasting impact on the misconceptions, stereotypes, and fears ground, and to change the world as we that have plagued our peoples was just know it. that: a vision. But through the help of our generous supporters and our dynamic team of volunteers, we are proud to Previous Conferences report that this vision has become reality for the seventh time. First annual MJC | August 1-6, 2010 Vienna, Austria As the years have passed, we have expanded our focus and have become a The first MJC was held in Vienna in project incubator, working with our 2010, under the official patronage of alumni to develop grassroots initiatives Austrian President Heinz Fischer. Over in their home communities on topics five days, 65 participants from around related to peace-building, improving the world worked together in thematic interfaith relations, and other issues of committees and conclusively produced mutual concern. an official declaration addressing two main social issues: combating anti- Our dual model as a dialogue platform Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred, and and a project incubator has allowed us to the roles of and media in spark transformative change extending Muslim-Jewish relations. much longer than a single week and affecting far more individuals than only those who attend our conference. Second Annual MJC | July 3-8, 2011 Kiev, Ukraine As we move into our next seven years, we continue to identify new ways to mobilize The second MJC was a "call to action," young Jewish and Muslim leaders to where 70 participants developed maximize our impact in communities concrete projects to implement in their around the world. The MJC will continue home communities. The conference also to host its annual interfaith gathering, included visits to houses of worship of strengthening its role as a respected both the faiths and to the site of the Nazi center of expertise and a main platform massacre of Jews at Babi Yar. Over the of contact for Muslim-Jewish course of the five-day conference, the international and innovative networks of committees addressed anti-Semitism cooperation and conflict resolution, and anti-Muslim hatred, sustainable grassroots driven by the next generation dialogue, and historical narratives. MJC of leaders, activists and entrepreneurs. 2011 came under the official patronage of

6 Russell Simmons and Rabbi Marc Schneier of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. Nine projects were created and are currently in different Fifth Annual MJC | August 7-14, 2014 stages of implementation. Vienna, Austria

For its 5th anniversary, the conference Third Annual MJC | July 9-13, 2012 returned to Vienna, where it all had Bratislava, Slovakia started, and gathered 140 leaders of the next generation under the patronage of In 2012, 100 participants divided into the President of Austria, Dr. Heinz four committees and developed more Fischer. In the midst of a summer full of than ten projects which are being hostility and hate the conflict in implemented around the world. In and Palestine was discussed passionately addition to the working committees, a but respectfully. Islamophobia and anti- separate business venture track and an Semitism in the Media, Rights of arts track encouraged Muslim and Religious Minorities, Historical Jewish participants to collaborate on Narratives and Identity, Gender and specific projects throughout the week. Religion, Art and Culture, and Conflict Site visits to the houses of worship of Transformation were all subjects of both faiths in Bratislava were intense workshops, incubating dozens of complemented by meetings with local project ideas. Together, the politicians in Vienna. participants visited a synagogue and a mosque, and traveled to the former Nazi death camp of Mauthausen to Fourth Annual MJC | June 30-July 5, commemorate the Jews and Muslims 2013 | Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina alike who were killed there.

The fourth conference was held, for the predominantly Muslim country. Under Sixth Annual MJC | August 7-14, 2015 the patronage of the Bosnian President Berlin, Germany Bakir Izetbegovic, 100 young delegates from 39 countries worked on joint Having received 340 applications – the projects to combat anti-Semitism and highest ever response since the anti-Muslim hatred, practiced tools of conference began six years ago, in 2015, conflict transformation, discussed hate we welcomed 120 participants and 35 speech and education and their effects on team members from 45 countries. This historical narratives and media, and year we have received 106 participants analyzed the relationship between from 33 countries. This year was gender and religion. The young leaders particularly powerful, given the also shared each other’s pain when they international Syrian refugee crisis. stood together at the site of the Srebrenica massacre, and recited Muslim and Jewish prayers for the departed souls.

7 Timna Brauer Eduard Dolinsky Rafi Elul

Official Support

Patron Aleksandr Feldman Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister of Dr. Franz Fischler Foreign Affairs, Germany Prof. Eveline Goodman-Thau

Josef Hader

André Heller Board of Advisors Dr. Michael Häupl Ambassador Jacob Finci Ibrahim Issa Dr. Mustafa Cerić Dr. Peter Jankowitsch Andrey Azoulay Patricia Kahane Rabbi David Rosen Abbas Khider Sally A. Painter Dr. Susanne Scholl Dr. Zeynep Taluy-Grossruck Honorary Dr. Alexander Van der Bellen Committee Dr. Josef Ostermayer Wolfgang Petritsch Jeremiah Baronberg Ambassador Nedzad S. Hadzimusic Supporters

Adnan Hasic Al Waleed Philanthropies Mag. Dr. Jameleddine Ben Abdeljelil American University in Bosnia Rabbi Andrew Baker

8 Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research Blue Star Strategies Bratislava International School of Liberal Neni Arts, Slovakia NH Hotels Bruno Kreisky Forum, Vienna Grand Hotel, Vienna Cafe Crossover, Vienna Organization for Security and City of Bratislava, Slovakia Cooperation in Europe (OECD) City of Vienna, Austria Ost Club, Vienna, Austria Claudio & Penny Pincus Sine Lege Film, Vienna, Austria Daniel Pincus Stanley & Marion Bergman Family Federal Ministry for European and Charitable Fund International Affairs, Austria The Academy of Fine Arts and Design Guerrard-Hermes Foundation for Peace Bratislava, Slovakia Hommes de Parole Foundation, Geneva, The Jewish community in Sarajevo, Institute for African Bosnia Sciences, University of Vienna, Austria Ukrainian Jewish Committee Institute of International Development, Alliance of Civilizations University of Vienna University of Vienna, Austria Irving and Dorothy Rom Charitable US Embassy in Vienna Foundation Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Germany Jumpstart EVZ Foundation, Germany Karl Kahane Foundation US Embassy in Berlin, Germany Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic

9 mediation sessions and practiced their facilitation. Participants shared that they have learned a lot from the practical skills 2016 CONFERENCE they learned and practiced. They were able to reflect upon their “own” Overview community conflicts and apply the tools that were handed to them. Politically, 2016 was greeted with numerous challenges and it became apparent that this year, more than ever Historical Narratives and Identities | the Muslim Jewish Conference was Chaired by Carla Habif and Yunus needed. Between August 7-14, Hentschel participants were able to delve into a myriad of topics that encompassed As suggested in the title, Historical religiosity, philosophy, law, politics, art Narratives and Identities focused and and culture in the heart of Berlin. reflected upon numerous concepts and Together, the participants visited the ideas surrounding identities and first ever concentration camp, historical narratives. With different Sachsenhausen, as well as participated in exercises, the participants reflected on social and networking events. the priority of different aspects of their own identity and tried to express the feeling of how others try to construct the Committees and Workshops own collective identity. The main priority was the immediate personal interaction within the group and the process of the Conflict Transformation | Chaired by group dynamic as well as with the Dagmar Kusá and Casper van der individual perception on identity. Heijden Participants with different backgrounds and mindsets were confronted with other This year’s Conflict Transformation mindsets, personalities and narratives committee had 21 participants who were which definitely put their own perception equally divided in gender and faith in question and in the end enriched it. (Muslim, Jewish) 11/10. These participants had both diverse backgrounds as well as experiences in Power, Religion and Human Rights | interfaith dialogue. The main goals of the Chaired by Amie Liebowitz, Oliver committee were specifically centred Braunschweig and Hammad Saeed around both theory and practical elements of conflict analysis, resolution The Power, Religion and Human Rights and transformation. Both Dagmar and committee’s main focus was to allow Casper used input from various fields to their diverse group of participants who enrich the learning experience of the originate from various types of countries participants. This included insights from to explore the interaction between the fields of neurobiology, anthropology power, religion, gender, and human and psychology. By organising a myriad rights. This was explored through of practical simulations, participants looking at ideas through different learned the steps in the process of perspectives and to be able to engage

10 with the information at hand. Tasks as the participants continued very included the committee as a whole to thought-provoking discussion. The “build their own State” as a Statebuilding participants in the committee continue exercise; understanding consumption to pass on information and write about habits of media; exploring customary v their experiences to pass onto their State laws; analysing gender and religion communities at home. and its constructs and reflecting upon minorities within their State of origin. There was both individual Art and Culture | Chaired by Eduardo reflection as well as transformation Placer and Rachel Colwell within groups as a whole. It was interesting to witness not only acts of This year’s Arts and Culture committee individual, intrafaith and changes of hailed from four different continents, the group in its entirety but also people and was composed of a variety of that identified themselves as a part of a Muslims, Jews, atheists, and agnostics. regional or ethnic group having The theme ‘Refuge’ was explored discussion outside of religion such as throughout the week and was lead those that came from the Balkan region through an array of artistic and creative who were given an opportunity to discuss projects and exercises. This included the impact of war and conflict. storytelling, singing, movement exercises, visual arts and poetry. During the Closing Ceremony of the 2016 Us and Them: Encountering Muslim Jewish Conference, the Arts and Marginalization | Chaired by Asif Culture committee shared a twenty- Hussain, Denisa Nestakova and Rachel minute performance that pieced together Suranyi all of the various artistic ideas, connections, and techniques they Understanding identity, marginalisation explored during the week. Not only did as well as Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia they explore refuge within their own and hate speech were the key themes journeys, the committee became a place within this year’s Us and Them of refuge for some as a particular few felt committee. Using a range of both that within their daily lives they were academic texts and practical exercises restricted from expressing themselves such as understanding key issues through art however, found that the surrounding identity, exploring the idea Muslim Jewish Conference enabled them of trust as well as personal experiences, to reinvent themselves and allow them to the chair’s of this committee wanted to focus on new goals and sparked new ensure that its participants were fully ideas in their own creative practices. aware of the consequences of Participants have kept in contact and discrimination in its various forms. On continue to share information about one of many notable occasions, whilst different projects that occur in their cities discussing the topic of the “majority”, or interesting projects that are being one participant described her thoughts as developed around the World. follows: “You never realise how accountable you are for not doing more with your privilege until you lose it”. This sentiment echoed throughout the week

11 details about the political prisoners, Jews, Muslims, Roma, LGBTQ individuals and other people who perished there, through arbitrary Projects Development and executions or public hangings. Implementation | Chaired by Tara Participants then engaged in silent Dickman and Sana Khalid reflection and quiet conversation. They shared personal stories and feelings, The main goals of the projects committee sometimes directly linked to this camp, was to assist participants in each stage of and pondered the possibilities for, and their project’s development and to allow difficulties inherent in, deriving positive other participants to enable change lessons from such horrors. At the end of through feedback and learning from each the visit, the entire conference convened other. The committee’s week was very at the central square– once a site of practical, witnessing both theory and public hangings along with forms of practical activities at play. For example, physical and psychological torture – for a whilst learning about the basics on joint memorial service that included fundraising, community organising and Jewish, Muslim, and secular elements. social entrepreneurship, they also The first prayer was a Jewish prayer developed skills on creating short 2 known as the Mourner’s Kaddish, recited minute presentations or pitches about in Aramaic by a Jewish participant. Then their projects and received feedback as Muslim team members recited Surah well as creating posters and information Fatiha from the Quran to send blessings briefs about their projects which to the victims and martyrs. inevitably highlighted the needs and challenges of their journey and projects What was striking about the visit was the simultaneously. The chairs have educational aspect for Muslims, Jews committed to speak every 2 months to and “friends”. One Hindu participant their participants to ensure follow up found it difficult to comprehend the support and feedback to help each atrocities that happened not so long ago project develop after attending the MJC. and not so far away from civil society. Surely people knew about this place? As Conference-Wide Programming she embraced a Muslim participant who was not coping very well, they could see Visit to Sachsenhausen how this same atrocity could be applicable to them, that there were also Continuing the MJC tradition of visiting Muslims held captive alongside the many sites of historical atrocities perpetrated other groups. Although we say “never against Jewish, Muslim, and other again”, the International community has victims, this year the Conference visited not kept their promise and people are the Sachsenhausen concentration camp currently struggling to survive under in Oranienburg, Germany, the first dictatorships, authoritarian states and concentration camp and the site at which the genocides of other ethnic minorities the Final Solution was planned. have not ceased.

Taking guided tours, we learned about The visit was one of the most emotional the history and layout of the camp, and and significant aspects of the conference

12 as many participants found peace in the fact that human suffering and capacity of commemorating is universal. To be able to congregate a group of activists that can examples of Israeli-Palestinian express themselves in the future and be collaboration embodied by civil society able to recall how they once stood in the organizations working across the green same space is truly comforting; that line. Following an interactive panel with maybe our voices will be heard as both guest speakers from those organizations, individuals within our community and a we then dedicate half a day to engage group fighting for a common cause is one participants in a peer to peer, of the many reasons we reflect every professionally facilitated dialogue to year. exchange their personal views and experiences of the conflict.

Dialogue on Israel-Palestine Disagreements and emotions are always welcome, for the purpose of this dialogue The Muslim Jewish Conference makes it is not to agree on everything, nor to come a point to not avoid any subject, even the up with a solution for a conflict that only toughest ones. The Israeli-Palestinian belongs to its direct protagonists. The conflict is of course one of them. MJC aim of this activity is simply to examine creates a space where all participants can our common ways of debating about this talk about it in a way that is both extremely antagonistic topic, for instance authentic and respectful. Each year, after on social media, and to realize that it is a couple of days of intense conversations possible to talk constructively about it on other topics, and after learning to talk instead. This unique mix of learning from to each other respectfully, we present our those who have a first hand experience of participants some of the most successful the conflict and open, facilitated dialogue

13 participants who now had the right attitude and tools to make it constructive. often allows participants to realize that the person who thinks differently is a Religious Activities and Discussions human being nonetheless and may even become a partner. Many participants Throughout the week, MJC offered come back to their communities after the activities to highlight our respective Conference and become agents of this communities’ diverse practices. The goal engagement shift. was to create an atmosphere of mutual understanding, supportive of religious This year, MJC invited the Parents Circle pluralism and gender equality. A – Families Forum, a very respected spacious prayer room was available at all organization in the region to engage the times with areas for attendees to pray participants through their personal together or separately. testimonies. Joel Braunold, the Executive Director of the Alliance for The week began with an interactive Middle East Peace, a coalition of over 90 introductory session on Judaism and different organizations, working in every Islam. Participants split into pairs to sector of society, building relationships share basic religious vocabulary with one between Jews and Arabs, Israelis and another, then reconvened for further Palestinians, moderated the session. discussion in the larger group.

Joel Braunold then facilitated a Mid-way through the week, we convened discussion for participants wanting to a panel of two local Muslim leaders, Leyla know more about the history of this Jagiella (Liberal-Islamischer Bund) and conflict. Every member of that discussion Dawood Nazirizadeh (International appreciated the professionalism and Institute for Peace & Religions), and two multi partiality with which Joel narrated local Jewish leaders, Rabbi Gesa the various aspects and perceptions of Ederberg (Oranienburger Strasse the conflict. Rafael Tyszblat, Director of Synagogue) and Johannes Frank (Ernst Content for MJC also facilitated a large Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk and dialogue group wanting to confront Dialogperspektiven). In response to points of views, ask each other questions participants’ questions, the four engaged and eventually learn from one another. in a fascinating conversation about That discussion lasted over 5 hours until opportunities and challenges for late in the evening. Everyone was Muslim-Jewish dialogue and engaged, despite sometimes harsh cooperation – in Germany and across the disagreements. The facilitator invited globe. participants not just to learn from each others’ experiences but also from the On Friday afternoon and evening, dynamics of the conversation conference attendees participated in and themselves, acknowledging that it was observed the Jumu’ah prayer and sometimes difficult to not let one Kabbalat Shabbat service, teaching one narrative dominate the conversation. another about the intricacies of their That discussion got continued in smaller respective practices. Such learning groups throughout the remaining days by opportunities continued on Saturday with optional visits to mosques and

14 synagogues, and a post Shabbat Havdalah ceremony in the evening One participant was apprehensive that accompanied by traditional readings she was not able to ask difficult questions commencing the Jewish fast of Tisha to the Jewish participants. The B’Av. facilitators provided practical and in depth advice, including the type of Intra-Faith session language to be used, when veering towards sensitive topics. Once the For the first time, MJC 2016 voluntarily participants eased into the environment scheduled a dedicated 3 hours of time to where they were encouraged to share engage participants, not in interfaith but their thoughts on structure of the MJC, in intrafaith discussions. Muslims the participants engaged each other on gathered in 2 different groups, Jews did what kind of progress they were making; the same and “Friends”, the non-Muslim and what level of interaction they had and non-Jewish group gathered amongst with Jews prior to the MJC. Some themselves as well. Each group was participants also started discussing how facilitated by several chairs from the their practices and beliefs regarding same faith or identity group. The goal of Islam were similar or different and how this session was two-fold: to get their these manifested across their different feedback on the framing of the backgrounds. conference as a whole and to have them reflect on their own participation. The There was much curiosity among some to starting question was “how is it to meet know more about different sects that with the “Other”? On the Muslim side, exist in different regions of the same participants, while initially hesitant to be groups, particularly amongst Muslims critical, provided us with their valuable who had come from over 30 different feedback.

15 countries. On the Jewish side, some Towards the Muslim Jewish participants were first suspicious about Agency: A Global Hub for the activity’s purpose: were they not Dialogue, Projects, and Interfaith trusted to say the same things amongst Training themselves as to the others? But quickly, it became obvious that many participants The Muslim Jewish Conference is a place did have difficulties discussing some for inspiration and impact, as evidenced difficult topics. This dedicated time by the scores of projects that participants allowed them to acknowledge that and come up with during the week of reflect on the best ways to address what interaction, and further develop with our they yet hadn’t been able to address with support as alumni. The new Projects the other. When asked how it was for Development and Implementation track them to meet each other and to meet ‘the helps participants realize and refine their other’ their responses were extremely ideas, and implement them once they positive. Majority stated how they had return to their home countries. certain preconceived ideas which were broken once they came to MJC, not just The Projects committee participants about the “Other” but also about people worked with each other, and together belonging to the same religion having with the rest of the conference, to develop different cultural or regional joint projects and outline background. recommendations on how to constructively bring Muslim and Jewish Finally, the non-Muslims or Jews group communities together, dealing with key felt very much welcomed by their fellow issues affecting both communities, such participants. There was a sense of being as anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim equal. It was said it was very interesting bigotry, the role of the media in to take part as a non Jew or Muslim, promoting hate, and the importance of experiencing the debate first hand. Even education in combating these trends. in the Israel-Palestine discussions, where as a non-Jewish or Muslim individual In our fast-changing global political one is often framed as the "unknown", climate, we have observed the need for this was not the case at MJC. It was also swifter action when it comes to mentioned that it was interesting to see peacekeeping and support. Therefore, how other "others," for example the the MJC core team has concluded that a LGBT community were so easily formally incorporated Muslim Jewish accepted. Alliance (MJA) as an umbrella body to continue this work outside of and in By the end of the session, they were all addition to our annual conference is engrossed in the dialogue and had necessary. The mission of the MJA requests for another session to be held would be to foster mutually supportive for further Intra-faith dialogue. Overall relations between Jews and Muslims by this experience proved to provoke a encouraging dialogue between, and useful “shift” in the overall leadership of, a new generation of conversations, acknowledging the organization and movement leaders, positive and more difficult aspects of the educators, academics, dialogue conference to help the discussion go facilitators, and parents committed to a even. more peaceful and cooperative world.

16 The MJA will serve as a convener and Of our many alumni-led endeavors nexus for other interfaith institutions in around the world, the MJC would like to order to have a long-lasting impact on the highlight a few of the following projects, ground, and to change the world as we also urging political, financial, and know it. Sustained year-round activity is communal support for the following needed to fully support and implement recommendations, focusing on issues all alumni-led and -conceptualized connected to Muslim-Jewish relations. projects and initiatives.

Initially, the primary activity of the MJA Projects will involve hosting several regional cross-cultural conferences to provide The Community young people with a more positive framework for establishing Muslim- The Community is a mobile phone app Jewish relations, through the exchange that gives users a tool to interact with of knowledge, ideas, and experiences as their city, and at the same time break well as the development of mutually down the barriers which exist between supportive courses of action. To the communities who live together, but encourage ongoing communication and remain alien to one another: contact, participants and alumni will be invited to design projects and will be 1) Incentivized volunteering: Users see actively involved in implementing these volunteering opportunities as red "pins" initiatives throughout the year. This work on their map & earn points for taking part will be supported by a professional (Diverse communities meet and mix Project Development and through good deeds; charities receive Implementation department within the free advertising & streamline HR) MJA. 2) Local businesses: Users see locally As the organization grows, it will expand owned businesses as green "pins" & cash its focus, serving as a platform for in points for discounts *Discover shops connecting actions and providing in "other" neighborhoods; small businesses receive free advertising* educational resources to communities, institutions, academics, and the media 3) Community leaders: Veteran users put on topics relevant to Muslim-Jewish their own blue "pins" on the map, relations. Utilizing our roster of skilled creating events that are visible & open to activists and experienced educators, and all. our established reputation as a leader in the field, we can provide guidance to new organizations working in these areas, and Brother from Another Mother we can serve as networking platform for existing interfaith institutions and hub Brother From Another Mother is a for ongoing actions. It is also crucial that Youtube channel where a Muslim our conferences continue to flourish, YouTuber and a Jewish Youtuber will further solidifying the MJA’s role as a gather to discuss culture (food, clothes leader in cross-cultural relationship- etc), overall general differences between building as a foundation for these the 2 communities, daily news (e.g. talk additional functions. about Trump, Olympic games or

17 whatever is trending) and every day matters or current affairs. North America through its "Isaac and The aim is to make it an open channel for Ishmael in Conversation" initiative. This dialogue and conversation in order for program will bring Jews and Muslims people to look at things and understand together at mosques, synagogues, from multiple point of community centers, and college views/perspectives. Videos or Vlogs will campuses to explore common questions be broadcasted each week and the and concerns related to the construction discussion between the 2 Youtubers will of religious and civic identity while living happen via Skype. as loyal minorities in non-Jewish and non-Muslim societies. Lee Goldfarb, also a Project Committee 2016 alumni has partnered with Yasser For more details about the project visit: for this channel and he’ll be the other facebook.com/ijmaforum/ person in the videos, which also makes this project an alumni collaboration project. Peace up The World

Institute of Jewish Muslim Action Peace up is a peace-building NGO that will focus on building the concepts of IJMA is a policy-action group that builds peace and respect in the world. bridges between Jewish and Muslim communities by developing and The objective is to have a universal coordinating cooperative efforts that language with an alphabet of PEACE. The protect and promote common interests team will travel to schools and remote in American public policy, law, and life. communities internationally to share the language of peace through dance, body IJMA is laying the groundwork for these language and tattoos among others. efforts by developing relationships with Jewish and Muslim communities around

18 The team will record their experiences Muslim Jewish Forum of Detroit and share them online. They will also (MJFD) offer free fun classes to kids and teenagers about the importance of living The aim of the MJFD is of build bridges as global citizens. between our two communities in Detroit and to come together for social good. MJFD is an interfaith community of Origin of Eve: A Muslim-Jewish young, determined, and idealistic Women's Network Muslims and Jews from, or living, in the Detroit area. They are a group intent on Origin of Eve connects professional creating change and promoting women in the Washington D.C. area. It is understanding between our two a networking platform for dialogue communities and serving our city of regarding shared issues faced by Detroit through local service and religious minorities in the professional educational initiatives. They have been workplace, discussion on how to organizing events during Ramadan, overcome those, and other issues facing Passover, and Hanukkah, along with women in the workplace. organizing events around arts, culture, faith, and film screenings, music. The Muslim-Jewish forum also tries to meet #NoFear Project regularly for potluck dinners at rotating locations so we keep our social bonds A project aimed at having a counterpoint stronger, which allows the communities to the divisive narrative of global media, to grow closer. especially in Europe where a coexistence has been a fact of life for over 200 years. It will be an online campaign against all MJFinder.com kind of stereotypes, open for all, not just to talk about and share Muslim Jewish MJFinder.com is an app that connects issues or news but also to share, interact Muslims and Jews from around the globe and gather regarding any injustice using location based module. The app happening anywhere in the world with contains information on the nearest any ethnicity, race, religion or gender. mosques and synagogues, halal and kosher eateries, Muslim and Jewish organizations, imams, rabbis. The app Nisa-Nisham also welcomes feedback from previous users. Nisa-Nisham is a joint Muslim Jewish Women’s group. The group aims to bring the 2 communities together and promote Responding to the Ongoing Refugee ways in which Muslim and Jewish Crisis women can understand that their similarities are greater than their As Europe witnessed a peak in the differences. They plan social events such number of migrants and refugees as picnics etc through which the women crossing its borders in search of a better gather and engage in informal dialogues. future, tensions also rose to unprecedented levels. But as intolerant

19 sentiments initially managed to get the International Rapid Response Alliance better of many European communities, MJC alumni and team members decided With rapid globalization, disparate to show the full meaning, and to communities are coming into closer demonstrate the true possibilities, of contact with each other. While this Muslim-Jewish collaboration. MJC presents immense opportunities for affiliates worked with one another to learning, it also increases the potential swiftly set up a specific Facebook group for friction and intolerance. Reports of to identify existing projects, and to hate crimes, discriminatory acts or racist connect people who needed help with events, both in Europe and around the people who wanted to help, and most world, are on the rise. The goal of the crucially, to people in our communities International Rapid Response Alliance, who knew how to help. This led to now in development, is to create an multiple continuous actions in at least 6 alliance of faith-based or faith-linked different European countries, which organizations that unequivocally and included providing food, clothing, unapologetically condemn hate crimes, medical supplies, and shelter, as well as racism and discrimination, wherever help with administrative orientation and they target people's’ faiths, on a joint basic language courses to newly-arrived platform. Such a joint platform will have individuals and families. This model of transparent representation, local and immediate, sustained interfaith international legitimacy, and actively collaboration can and will be replicated speak out against racism and bigotry of for similar future events. all forms.

Connecting Actions The History Project: Phase Two

The Muslim Jewish Conference has The History Project is an innovative recently established a partnership with educational textbook and dialogue tool several organizations, working for the developed to tell dual narratives of India past years on “active coexistence” in and in schools. One of the co- Europe and particularly France, focusing founders of this project, Ayyaz Ahmad as mostly on youth. Among them, Coexister well as core team member, Abdullah joins the MJC to co-organize a French- Leghari - are MJC alumni and team European inter-organizational members, and are working to apply this encounter, gathering members of project to a new case in the near future. intercultural and interreligious They are collaborating with other MJC movements in order to exchange best team members and alumni to lay the practices, create common platforms, and groundwork for a similar, high-quality initiate joint projects. The initial meeting educational book focusing on narratives took place in Paris in 2016 and was a first in Israel and Palestine. in a series of discussions that will be taking place in cities around Europe, with the aim of expanding and becoming inclusive over time.

20 MJC Cookbook with Recipes From The Immigrant Stories Art Project Around the World As a large and regionally-diverse The Muslim Jewish Conference is in the community, MJC has many participants process of producing a cookbook made who are descendants of refugees or with recipes from around the world, immigrants. The purpose of this project, written by MJC participants from now in development, is to tell those different countries and cultures. Each stories - through various forms of writing recipe will be accompanied by the stories and art - and to highlight the message of how participants’ families arrived at that we all come from migrant their current destination, or memories of backgrounds, and should embrace those the homes they families were forced to in need of a new home. flee. Proceeds from sale will go to support efforts to alleviate the current refugee crises.

21 The Team

Ilja Sichrovsky, Founder & Director Carla Habif Maryam Mohiuddin Ahmed, Co-Director Casper Van der Hejden Charlotte Abravanel, Chief of Staff Asif Hussain Lara Trikha, Deputy Chief of Staff Rahel Suranyi Jasmina Strobl, Director of Operations Eduardo Placer Rafael Tyszblat, Director of Content Hammad Saeed Rachel Delia Benaim, Director of Dagmar Kusa Communications Adnan Basic Livia Erdosi, Co-Director of PR Tara Dickman Shayan Ahmed, Co-Director of PR Denisa Nestakova Sana Khalid, Director of Alumni Affairs and Outreach Logistics team Alex Hohenecker, Director of IT Andreas Mayer Andy Radulovic, Security Coordinator Romana Prerad Andrea Prerad, Head of Applications Meytal Tau Shaina Hirsch, Co-Head of Applications Barbora Petrincova Lionel Mitelpunkt Religious content team Nassr Eddine Errami, PR and outreach team Yunus Valens Abdullah Leghari Alex Marcus Rahma Sghaier Flora Petak Thomas Kiebl Alison Balzer, external affairs Committee Chairs Daniel Shaked, Photographer Oliver Braunschweig, Basya Gartenstein, Alumni coordinator Rachel Colwell Amie Liebowitz

MJC 2016 in the News

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English language coverage

At the Table -- Audrey Galex The Friday Times -- Zee Salahuddin; YouTube/Television broadcast); 29/10 16/9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps http://www.thefridaytimes.com/tft/bo B7rlaKvEs nding-amidst-horror/

Newsweek-- Aleena Khan; 18/9 The Leveller -- Zachary Gallant; 16/9 http://newsweekme.com/lest-forget- http://theleveller.org/2016/09/muslim experience-muslim-jewish-conference/ -jewish-conference-2016/

The Jerusalem Post -- Josh Dell; 13/8 Times of Israel -- Jack Gozcu; 20/9 http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Musli http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/us-and- ms-and-Jews-from-around-the-world- them-muslim-jewish-conference/ gather-in-Berlin-for-seventh-annual- interfaith-confab-464037 German language coverage

Fearless communicators -- Eduardo Norddeutscher Rundfunk -- Simone Placer; 15/8 Horst; 4/9 http://www.fearlesscommunicators.co http://www.ndr.de/info/sendungen/fo m/blog/2016/8/15/no-place-i-would- rum_am_sonntag/Wir-muessen- rather-be reden,sendung543296.html

The Get on Up -- Sean Goodman; 15/8 Jüdische Allgemeine -- Jérôme Lobard; http://thegetonupblog.com/three- 18/8 things-i-learned-at-the-muslim-jewish- http://www.juedische- conference/ allgemeine.de/article/view/id/26302

Haaretz -- Joel Braunold; 21/8 Norddeutscher Rundfunk -- Jens http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.pre Rosbach; 11/8 mium- https://www.ndr.de/ndrkultur/sendun 1.738032?v=811460D614302A9576CE7 gen/freitagsforum/Feindbilder- A1D3C42CB87 ueberwinden-Die-Muslim-Jewish- Conference,freitagsforum274.html The Jeu Magazine -- Denisa Nešťáková; 23/8 Süddeutsche Zeitung / Jetzt Magazin -- http://jeumag.com/pulse/us-and-them Charlotte Haunhorst; 17/8 http://www.jetzt.de/aus-geschichte- The Jerusalem Post Magazine -- Ben lernen/mjc-in-sachsenhausen- Pyzer; 27/8 muslimisch-juedischer-dialog http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Amo ng-the-ruins-in-Jerusalem-and-Berlin- A-call-to-return-466028

23 Hungarian language coverage Slovak language coverage

Kibic Magazin; Ráchel Surányi 29/8 Islam Online; 17/9 http://akibic.hu/kozosseg/item/2907- http://www.islamonline.sk/2016/09/v csepp-a-tengerben-miert-fontos-a- -berline-sa-konal-7-rocnik-muslimsko- vallasok-kozotti-parbeszed zidovskej-konferencie-pred-styrmi- rokmi-bola-v-bratislave/

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