‘Focus on Local Relations’

The Muslim-Jewish Dialogue has existed in Los Angeles for many years. Monthly meetings were held with sometimes as many as 20 representatives in attendance. But in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, a bitter gulf has opened nationally between the two groups over the role U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East played in the terrorist acts. KAREN KARLITZ spoke with two community leaders about Jewish-Muslim relations in Los Angeles.

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There was a break in the meetings during the summer because of the hostility in the Middle East. Also, there was some confusion after the events of Sept. 11 and my interview on a radio program hours later. We went ahead with that interview even though our whole point throughout the day was not to jump to conclusions, not to oversimplify. Obviously, the interview did not go in that direction, but I had just been speaking hypothetically.

I think the issue is that once we get involved in the Middle East, we have to separate ourselves from the conflicting parties and really speak on what’s in the best interest of America. It is a difficult thing to do.

Several participants dropped out of the Dialogue [before Sept. 11]. Their reasons vary, but some felt the Dialogue was too political or too public relations-oriented. Also, one Muslim member demanded that we issue a statement against Israel, and some Jewish members demanded that we issue a statement defending the right of Israel to exist. But the Muslim-Jewish Dialogue is not the place to discuss these matters. The important thing is to deal with these issues in a way that will prevent further reprisals on U.S. streets. Personal points of view, personal differences, must be put aside. If we want to deal with the Middle East, we should have a conference, bring in scholars, and discuss it from an objective, analytical and in-depth perspective.

For now we want to keep the Muslim-Jewish Dialogue on domestic issues and problems. Eventually I think we will have to address the issues in the Middle East, but my feeling is that our two communities need to gain a little more maturity before we do.

There are Muslim-Jewish dialogues forming in other California communities in Fresno, Arcadia, Pasadena, San Gabriel. A lot of these dialogues started as a result of ours. So whether our group and these particular players continue the Dialogue is immaterial to Muslim-Jewish relations. Nobody ordained us to be the leaders. We’re just a group that’s trying to understand one another.