Bilfinger Berger Magazine 1/2009

MUSLIM-JEWISH DIALOGUE
A Jewish grocery store is located right next to a Muslim butcher shop; in an Internet café, girls sit around in hijab dress, boys with high velvet hats. In North West London, Europe’s largest orthodox Jewish community lives side by side with conservative Muslims, mostly of Indian extraction. For decades, both groups lived together with hardly any contact until Rabbi Herschel Gluck (photo left) walked into the Muslim Center. “What do you actually think of us?” he asked the surprised faces — a question that marked the start of the Muslim-Jewish Forum. These days, Jews and Muslims exchange views about current events and discuss things of mutual interest, like the establishment of living quarters for large families. The forum is also important in light of all the tension in the Middle East, stresses Rabbi Gluck. “Our communities should take notice that we’ve started talking to each other.” Munaf Zeena (photo right), head of the Muslim Center, adds: “Extremism only arises when people have the feeling that they are not being included in a democratic process, and cannot achieve anything. We’re working to change that.”

Text: Bernd Hauser, Photo: Kathrin Harms
Bilfinger Berger Magazine 1/2009