As part of a long-term effort to promote Jewish-Muslim reconciliation, a delegation of Jewish and Muslim faith leaders convened in Cape Town, South Africa, at the G20 Interfaith Forum Summit, to issue the following declaration:
With a shared commitment to fostering genuine understanding and respectful dialogue between our Jewish and Muslim communities, we acknowledge the deep-rooted historical complexities that have shaped their relations.
Rooted in our shared humanity as descendants of Adam, we view the deepening of religious fraternity between Jews and Muslims not merely as a means to ease tensions but as a revival of our common Abrahamic heritage and a fulfillment of God’s will. This delegation is part of a long-term process of dialogue, joint study, and cooperation. Its purpose is to make our religious identities a source of connection rather than conflict.
We draw inspiration from the al-Madina Constitution of the 7th century, which brought our communities together, as well as from the historic Nostra Aetate declaration of 1965, which marked a pivotal shift in Jewish-Christian relations. As we commemorate its 60th anniversary in 2025, we seek to build upon its legacy by embarking on a parallel journey for Jewish-Muslim relations.
This endeavor will critically examine both the convergences and distinctions between our traditions, with the overarching aim of equipping our communities with the wisdom and perspective necessary to address illnesses in the world that plague our ability to coexist in lasting peace.
The road ahead is long and fraught with complexities. Our efforts will require strategic planning, scholarly engagement, participation in global forums, dedicated women-led interfaith dialogue, and the dissemination of our shared vision through educational and media channels, and more.
We do not presume to predict the timeline or ultimate success of this undertaking. However, we recognize that it holds the potential to be one of the most significant interfaith initiatives of our time. We, the undersigned, guided by hope and faith, commit to taking the first step on this journey.
We invite all of you to join this endeavor.
Imam Dr. Talib M. Shareef, President, International Coalition for Peace and Reconciliation, United States
Rabbi Dr. Aharon Ariel Lavi, Managing Director, Ohr Torah Interfaith Center, Israel
Imam Rashad Abdul-Rahmaan, Director, International Coalition for Peace and Reconciliation
Rabbi Dr. Yakov Nagen, Executive Director, Ohr Torah Interfaith Center
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I speak as a student in the spirit of the late Muslim-American Imam W. Deen Mohammed, a visionary leader, a bridge-builder, and a reformer who saw in our sacred texts and histories the potential for peace, not division; for dignity, not degradation.
He taught that “the Qur’an came to confirm the truth that came before it,” and that Islam honors the faiths of Jews and Christians NOT in spite of our differences, but because of our shared origin. It’s stated in the Qur’an 2:136: Saying, ‘We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes…’”
This reminds us that we are not enemies of each other; we are branches of the same sacred Abrahamic tree, which has many branches. Muslims and Jews alike are children of a covenant, keepers of prophetic wisdom, and inheritors of the original Human identity dating back to Adam.
Thus, we are not to inherit the hatreds of history. We are to inherit the intelligence and mercy of scripture.
Our scars should not divide us—they should make us healers. That is our charge today and is the basis of our partnership and presentation.
We have A Shared Moral Responsibility. The Qur’an and the Torah both speak to the sacredness of life, the sanctity of justice, and the moral duty to uphold the rights of others.
We as Muslims are to meet others not on the battlefield of past grievances, but on the common ground of our moral teachings. For interfaith engagement is not simply about tolerance—it is about cooperative human excellence.
Out of the African diaspora, as an African American Muslim Leader, I’m no stranger to struggle, having experienced racism, oppression, and the need to overcome inherited pain—not by perpetuating blame, but by rising in dignity. The future is not built by looking back in anger, but by walking forward in understanding.
This forum is not merely a conference—it is a global call to conscience. It is an imperative that all of us – Muslims, Jews, Christians, and people of all faiths—rise above political entanglements and partisan fears, and return to the moral clarity of our scriptures.
We are here to urge Muslim and Jewish leaders to cooperate in serving humanity—not in silos, but shoulder to shoulder. To fight hunger, educate the poor, protect the planet, and build peace—not as a favor, but as a fulfillment of divine responsibility.
In our collaboration, we’ve learned not to underestimate the power of dialogue. One sincere conversation between a rabbi and an imam can ripple through generations. One act of mutual respect or one shared project can break a chain of centuries-old suspicion and transform it into solidarity.
In conclusion: We are not here to fight each other’s religion. We are here to witness what God wants for the Human Being. And what God wants, we believe, is justice, mercy, and mutual respect. We are to value God’s Mercy, His Creation, and God’s ways, being mindful that God does not want us to be cruel to each other, nor to be the victim of cruelty, but treat all Humans as the sacred creation of the Almighty Creator.
Today, let that be our aim—not merely to coexist, but to co-elevate. We invite you, in preparation for and ahead of next year’s G20 in my country, the USA, to join us in this sacred responsibility, embracing our shared identity as humans and to value our intrinsic nature to live together intellectually.
Let our efforts here at the G20 Interfaith Forum be a beacon for others. And may the spirit of justice, mercy, and unity guide us in all that we do.
Thank you and Peace be upon you.
