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by mjconference

My religious identity was not something I would talk about until quite recently. I used to consider it an indeed very private matter, of individual faith and personal choice. Interculturality, but also interfaith were the most natural way of life to me. Why would I ever need to attend an international interfaith meeting? Then one day, everything changed.

I was teaching, when a student, who happens to be Muslim, said “I hate all Jews”. Twice. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I was shocked, and felt hurt. Personally hurt in my family’s history, my Jewish part of identity, my friends’ identity. Hurt as a human facing Anti-Semitism, ignorance, hate. But also and maybe most deeply hurt in my faith, hurt that my brother in faith would say such a thing, think such a thing. My heart started racing. I knew I had to react. As a teacher. As a citizen. As a human. But also from this most intimate position, as a Muslimah.

Suddenly and painfully aware of my religious responsibility, I applied for the 1st MJC, hoping to contribute to a Muslim Jewish dialogue and to find ways to counter prejudices.

The 1st MJC was a great experience, working on a unique and in many ways groundbreaking declaration, but also meeting so many outstanding people. It was also incredibly enriching to meet people from the same faith, but with so different backgrounds and experiences, different understandings of religious identity and community. And long-lasting deep friendships formed, across continental and –often imagined- cultural divides.

I was happy to help in the organization of this year’s second MJC, eager to do more, really engage. And throughout the year, working on different projects, meeting people, traveling, it was at times still difficult to grasp the value of interfaith conferences, and the unique value of the MJC. And then, I saw, I felt what happened in Kiev. I am so thankful for this experience, and proud and honored to be able to continue working with the MJC over the next year.

I saw people getting to know each other, talking, breaking down barriers, young people laughing and crying together, sharing so much of themselves. Visiting the Babi Yar memorial site was emotionally incredibly challenging, but we were holding each other, reaching out and supporting each other, as some cried. And by the end of the week, besides the fantastic and professional work on projects, I saw people who had become friends, open to one another and showing an amount of respect I’d never had imagined. And I understood how unique that experience was, how precious the possibility to get to know each other over the days and work together. Seeing the projects created almost instantaneously coming to life was simply amazing – inspiring and motivating.

After the closing ceremony and the first goodbye hugs, the week ended with a very personal, familiar Shabbat dinner. For me, the happiness of seeing so much goodness happen, the last months’ work pressure lifting off my shoulders, the sadness of the end and goodbyes, all moved me to tears. And as Ben led us through prayer so wonderfully, as we remembered, all together, those we have lost recently, I wept. And warm hands reached out for me, arms opened to hold me, Jewish, Muslim, Muslim, Jewish, compassionate, human, friends, and the right words were said, Urdu, English, German, English, … Muslim, Jewish, what does it matter.

Thank you.

-Anna Magnand

Venue

The MJC 2010 will be held at the insitute of International Development, at the University of Vienna, Austria. 

Vienna

Throughout history, Vienna has been a city in which different cultures and people from different origins meet each other in productive ways. It also bears witness to the darkest ages in Europe's history, where the power of dialogue ceased functioning as a whole and resulted in the first industrialized genocide during the existence of mankind: the holocaust. Keeping this in mind, but also due to the fact that the City is home to several UN councils and considered a center-point for international negotiations, Vienna seemed most appropriate for hosting our first MJC, not only in the heart of Europe but also on neutral ground.

Committees

Participants may choose from 3 thematic committees, in which the Conference will be split .

1. Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism

A lack of knowledge and experience throughout all societies perpetuates both phenomena; Islamophobia and nti-Semitism. Presumptions and preconceptions offer fertile ground for xenophobic ideas that reach all corners of the world. The alarming power behind these terms, the legal aspects, as well as the role of Europe as a hot spot for both communities will be the basis for discussion in the first Committee.
 

2. Education

It is generally accepted that education is the key to the personal development of individuals and to the health and growth of a country. However, the design, implementation and recipients of education vary strongly. The second Committee will focus on the kind of knowledge that is imparted through educational institutions, religious influence and the prospects of an inter-cultural approach.  
 

3. The Role of Media

The media, regarding its power within today's societies, has significant influence concerning the increase or decrease of stereotypes and prejudices. The third committee will deal concretely with the role of the media and its effect on intercultural behavior. Its impact on interfaith awareness will be reviewed and analyzed for its potential of bridge-building and peace-building activities.

GUEST SPEAKERS

Walter Ruby, has served as Muslim Jewish Relations Officer for The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) since March 2008. A strong proponent of Muslim-Jewish communication, reconciliation and cooperation, he organized the FFEU-sponsored Weekend of Twinningsm of Mosques and Synagogues Around the World in November 2008 and 2009. (115 mosques and 115 synagogues in North America and Europe took part in the Weekend of Twinningsm in 2009 and more are expected to take part in 2010). A reporter before joining FFEU, Ruby served as the New York and United Nations correspondent for the Jerusalem Post and Moscow correspondent for the Jerusalem Post and The Forward. During the 1990’s Ruby was a co-founder of Encounter, a pioneering Internet community composed of Palestinians, Jews, Israelis, Arabs and others, focused on fostering dialogue and joint projects.

Rabbi Marc Raphaël Guedj is the President of the Geneva-based interreligious Foundation 'Racines Et Sources' (roots and well-springs), bringing rabbis and imams together to work for peace. He is the former Chief Rabbi of Genevas traditional Jewish congregation. Rabbi Guedj is a member of the Editorial Committee of the World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace, UNESCO.

Faouzi Skali is an anthropologist and ethnologist; professor at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Fes, Morocco, an author of many publications including "La Voie Soufi" (The Soufi Path) and "Traces de Lumiere" (Traces of Light), Initiator of the Mediterranean Institute for Dialogue Project and Director of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music. Dr. Skali has coordinated a colloquium to follow the festival called Giving Soul to Globalization, a meeting place for humanitarians and international leaders in the business world to work together to develop more space for spirituality in the working world. He was designated in 2001, by the UN, among seven world personalities having contributed to the Dialogue of Civilisations.

For those of you who have not noticed yet, we are pleased to inform you that we have recently launched our new website. We are absolutely delighted about the reuslt, so please have a look.

your MJC team

August 2010,

OFFICIAL CONFERENCE DECLARATION 2010. This document proves everything we thought is possible to be a reality. This document proves that if we take our own decisions instead of letting them being taken for us, we have a potential that no one dared to dream about.The MJC was just the beginning. The Declaration is living proof of what its capable to achieve. Lets start speaking out now! Lets start to speak out so loud, giving those who decide no chance but to listen.

1. www.mjconference.org
2. Official Conference Declaration

September 2010,

Official Conference Report 2010, is done and available. Please tell us if you need a copy.

September 2010,

MJC Youtube channel, including videos from the conference established
 

Friday, September 18th , 2010

General Secretary was invited by the US Embassy in Vienna to hold a online-TV presentation about the Muslim Jewish Conference, organised by the US State Department.

Sunday, October 3rd , 2010

The Muslim Jewish Conference organised in cooperation with ost club – an Evening for Pakistan – Charity Night – (Music & Dancing) to benefit the Edhi Foundation for relief work within distressed areas in Pakistan. The MJC is greatful for all those who came, resulting in 1800€ collected for the flood victims in Pakistan.

October 18-21st,2010,

Anna Magnand(MJC Alummni) and Ilja Sichrovsky (Gen.Sec.) represented the MJC at a summit of inter-religious and interfaith institutions and NGO´s in Sevilla, Spain, organised by the prestigious „Tres Culturas“ Foundation.

October 31st ,2010

The Muslim Jewish Conference is proud to have successfully organised the first ever ONLINE `Twinning´ and wants to thank the -Foundation For Ethnic Understandingfor their help. Especially we want to express our gratitude to those individuals from Nigeria, Pakistan, Lebanon, Canada, USA, France,Austria, Hungary, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain ~ that have participated in this event and made it such a great experience.

November 2nd , 2010

General Secretary was invited to talk about the Muslim Jewish Conference on the podium at a discussion within the austrian parliament, focusing on `moral courage´ and initiated by the president of the austrian parliament, Barbara Prammer.

November 3rd , 2010

General Secretary was invited to present the Muslim Jewish Conference and its vision at the Lauda Business School in Vienna.

November 8th – 12th ,2010

Ilja Sichrovsky (Gen.Sec.) was nominated by the US Embassy in Vienna to join the conference of the US State Department in Prague. `Young Leaders Dialogue with America´. He was furthermore asked to moderate the experts pannel-discussion on interfaith dialogue and diversity, representing the MJC and its concept.

November 2010,

The MJC is proud about its role in this years worldwide `Weekend of Twinning´ organised by the `Foundation For Ethnic Understanding´. Through its network, this year there are additional European twinnings held in Sweden, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria including participants from Slovakia.

December 6th,

General Secretary is invited to join a summit of Muslim and Jewish leaders in Brussels, initiated by the European Commission and the President of the WJC-USA

Official conference report MJC 2010

PDF (right click, save as)

Official declaration  muslim jewish conference 2010 Vienna

PDF (right click, save as)

Click here to view the video on YouTube.