Opening Presentation - Chief Rabbi Bakshi Doron

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

For the first time in history, more than 100 Imams and Rabbis, surrounded by 70 personalities from all over the world, met, from January 3 to 6, 2005, under the high patronage of His Majesty Albert II and His Majesty Mohammed VI in order to de-legitimise all forms of violence committed in the name of God or of any religious principle. Furthermore the representatives of Jewish and Muslim communities from 34 countries, in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and America affirmed their determination to develop dialogues and co-operation between Islam and Judaism.

Here in its entirety the opening speech of Eliyahu Bakshi Doron. Sepharadic Chief Rabbi of Israel (from 1993 to 2003), he is still one of the most influential and respected Rabbis in Israel and in the whole Jewish world.

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First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace - Opening Presentation from His Majesty the King Mohammed VI

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

His Majesty Mohammed VI, king of Morocco and Commander of the Faithful, is one of the two Patrons of the First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace in partnership with Its Majesty the King Albert II.

Here is in its entirety the opening speech of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI read by his Minister for Habous and Islamic Affairs, Dr. Ahmed Taoufiq .

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One God, One Prayer by Rivon Krigyer

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

Following the First World congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace, many participants have attested their immense enthusiasm that this historical and unhoped-for meeting finally took place.

The experiences they felt were enriching, and sometimes surprised them, in any case, persuaded them that the work should continue, in order to deepen their links, their knowledge and the collaboration between the two communities.

Rivon Krygier is the rabbi of the Adath Shalom community in Paris. Rabbi Krygier attended to the Congress in Brussels.

His testimony, published in the February number of the magazine Arche, was both touching, but also very representative of what we had experience during those four days.

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Opening Speech - Speech of Chief Rabbi Sirat

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

For the first time in history, more than 100 Imams and Rabbis, surrounded by 70 personalities from all over the world, met, from January 3 to 6, 2005, under the high patronage of His Majesty Albert II and His Majesty Mohammed VI in order to de-legitimise all forms of violence committed in the name of God or of any religious principle.
Furthermore the representatives of Jewish and Muslim communities from 34 countries, in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and America affirmed their determination to develop dialogues and co-operation between Islam and Judaism.

Here in its entirety the opening speech of Chief Rabbi René-Samuel Sirat.
Chief Rabbi René-Samuel Sirat, born in 1931, was Chief Rabbi of France between 1981 and 1988. He’s now Director-Founder of the Unesco Chair "Reciprocal Knowledge of the religions of the Book and teaching of Peace" and President-Founder of the Rachi European University Institute of Troyes.

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Opening Session - Speech of Sheikh Talal Sedir

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

Sheikh Talal Sedir used to be minister for the religious affairs of the Palestinian Authority during many years. After the death of Yasser Arafat he was fully devoted to his duty of Imam of Hebron and kept on working actively to the interfaith dialogue in the Holy Land.

Sheikh Sedir took part into the First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace (Brussels, January 3 to 6, 2005) gathering more than 100 Imams and Rabbis, surrounded by 70 personalities from all over the world, under the high patronage of His Majesty Albert II and His Majesty Mohammed VI in order to de-legitimise all forms of violence committed in the name of God or of any religious principle. The representatives of Jewish and Muslim communities from 34 countries, in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and America affirmed their determination to develop dialogues and co-operation between Islam and Judaism.

Here in its entirety the opening speech of Sheikh Talal Sedir.

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Opening Session - Speech of Chief Rabbi Michael Melchior - First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

Here in its entirety the opening speech of Chief Rabbi Michael Melchior who attended to the First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace (Brussels, January 3 to 6, 2005).

Chief Rabbi Michael Melchior, born in 1954 in Norway was successively, Rabbi and educator of a Jerusalem congregation, International Director of the Elie Weisel Foundation, Chief Rabbi of Norway, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and  Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, and Sport in Ariel Sharon’s government.

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Opening Session - Speech of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar - First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

For the first time in history, more than 100 Imams and Rabbis, surrounded by 70 personalities from all over the world, met, from January 3 to 6, 2005, under the high patronage of His Majesty Albert II and His Majesty Mohammed VI in order to de-legitimise all forms of violence committed in the name of God or of any religious principle.

Furthermore the representatives of Jewish and Muslim communities from 34 countries, in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and America affirmed their determination to develop dialogues and co-operation between Islam and Judaism.

Here in its entirety the opening speech of HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is born in India in Bangalore. He established the Art of Living Foundation, in 1982, to promote self development and health-related educational programs, many of which feature the Sudarshan Kriya technique.

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Opening Session - Speech of the Generation of Peace delegation

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

The Generation of Peace delegation was composed of 16 young people who did attend the First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace (Brussels, January 3 to 6, 2005) gathering more than 100 Imams and Rabbis, surrounded by 70 personalities from all over the world.

This delegation of students was set up by the association “Des penseurs dans la Cité” in order to imply high-school pupils and young students from priority zone of education and allow them to participate to the building of dialogue and peace.Under the high patronage of His Majesty Albert II and His Majesty Mohammed VI the aim of this historical event was to de-legitimise all forms of violence committed in the name of God or of any religious principle.
Here in its entirety the opening speech of the delegation of students “Generation of Peace”.

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Opening Session - Speech of the Professor Ady Steg

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

For the first time in history, more than 100 Imams and Rabbis, surrounded by 70 personalities from all over the world, met, from January 3 to 6, 2005, under the high patronage of His Majesty Albert II and His Majesty Mohammed VI in order to de-legitimise all forms of violence committed in the name of God or of any religious principle. Furthermore the representatives of Jewish and Muslim communities from 34 countries, in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and America affirmed their determination to develop dialogues and co-operation between Islam and Judaism.

Here in its entirety the opening speech of Professor Ady Steg. The Pr Steg, is for several years the president of the Universal Israelite Alliance. He is also a member of the Benjamin and Ariane Rothschild foundation that he represented at the congress.

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Vision of the Other in the Qu'ran

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:15

In a time where Islam is often incriminated in violence or terrorist attacks, the lecture of sacred texts has become a crucial issue for men of religion as for the public at large. We thus asked to Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid, Imam of Brighton and a highly committed personality of the interfaith dialogue, to contribute to an interpretation exercise.

The goal was to show that one cannot interpret a quotation without taking account of the global context where it is inserted and without the appropriated reading tools (historical, theological, philosophical…). A necessary step though the understanding of one of the founding text of monotheism.

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