In honor of the launching of God's Holy Mountain on June 18th, 2009, the Interfaith Encounter Association held a day of dialogue, study and vision on "The One God in Judaism, Islam and Christianity" at Mishkenot Sha’ananim Konrad Adenauer Conference Centre in Jerusalem. The launching event was preceeded by an interfaith panel discussion, and followed by an

 

Panel Discussion: “On that day God will be One” (Zech. 14:9); an Interfaith Perspective

During the panel discussion moderated by Senior Researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, Yair Sheleg, Rabbi Yosef Azran of Blessed Memory, Chief Rabbi of Rishon Le’Zion and Kiryat Mal'achi and former Shas Knesset member emphasized that the Muslim declaration "Allahu Akbar" is a as perfect an expression God's unity as possible; while adamantly insisting that politically there must be no change in the current status quo, Sheikh Abdullah Nimar Darwish, founder of the Islamic Movement in Israel, declared that if the true Messiah ordered the Temple be built, he would shoulder the bricks to help build it; Sheikh Abed Alsalam Manasra, Head of the Salam Qadiri Sufi Order explained that Islam recognizes the legitimacy of Judaism and Christianity; Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Head of the Religion and Ethics Desk, Mishkenot Sha’ananim and Head of Petah Tikva Hesder Yeshiva warned that it is the responsibility of human beings to do everything in their power to make sure that the prophecies of devastation for the End of Days do not come true; Fr. Dr. David M. Neuhaus, S.J., Patriarchal Vicar for the Hebrew Speaking Catholic Communities in Israel noted that an End of Days where all people where clones of each other would be boring and expressed the belief that human diversity will persist. (View segments of the panel with English subtitles below.  For full Hebrew version press here).

 

Cheif Rabbi of Haifa and member of Cheif Rabbanite, Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen, was unable to come to launching event of God's Holy Mountain, however he sent his warm blessing calling Jews Muslims and Christians to pray that the Temple Mount be a source of belief and peace (view reading of letter on YouTube here 01:33 min).


Launching Event: God's Holy Mountain Study Project


 Reception and Presentation of Visionary Painting

Greetings by Dr. Yehuda Stolov, Executive Director of the Interfaith Encounter Association and Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Head of the Religion and Ethics Desk at Mishkenot Sha’ananim, were followed by unvailing of the exquisite painting by Oscar (Asher) Frohlich that represents the Project's vision. 

 

Project Presentation

Project Director, Yoav Frankel, presented the vision of turning the Temple Mount from a place of contention and strife, to one where Jews, Muslims and Christians can worship the One God in peaceful proximity. He explained how according to halacha (Jewish Law), a rebuilt Temple could stand beside the Alaqsa Mosque and nearby Christian shrines, radically manifesting God's presents in the world. (View a segment of the presentation with English subtitles below.  For full Hebrew version press here).

Interfaith Encounter

An interfaith encounter entitled The Temple Mount (Al Haram Al Sharif) in Judaism, Islam and Christianity was held at Chatham House Rule, led by Dr. Ohr Margalit, Project Manager.

(Photo album from entire day right)