Mosaica Center
The Mosaica Center set itself a goal to translate the principles of the “Alexandria Declaration of the Religious Leaders of the Holy Land” into concrete actions that would impact upon the lives of Jews, Muslims and Christians in the region.
GROUP DETAILS
Created: Oct 07, 2009
Updated: Nov 01, 2009
Membership: Open
Semi-Private
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Mosaica Center for Inter-Religious Cooperation video
Mosaica's vision is founded on the premise that effective dialogue between Jews and Muslims is only possible under conditions of mutual trust in the realm of religion. This derives from the understanding that today's conflict in the Middle East is based not only upon territory but on culture, ethnicity and religion, which are at the roots of the conflict and the key to its resolution.
The Mosaica Center set itself a goal to translate the principles of the “Alexandria Declaration of the Religious Leaders of the Holy Land” into concrete actions that would impact upon the lives of Jews, Muslims and Christians in the region. The “Alexandria Declaration” is a historic document, signed in 2002 at the peak of violence of the second Intifada, by prominent religious leaders ― Jews, Muslims and Christians ― in a joint effort, calling for an end to incitement against the Other and to bloodshed in the name of religion, and laying the foundations for a coalition of rational, moderate religious leadership. The principles of the Alexandria Declaration have been endorsed by the Pope, the foreign ministers of the “Quartet”, the Secretary General of the United Nations and the US Government. These principles have already been applied successfully in resolving a number of inter-religious conflicts in the region and elsewhere.
The historic signing of the Alexandria Declaration holds a message of hope for change and a future of reconciliation and stability in the relations between Jews and Muslims in the Middle East. Inspired by the values and principles of this declaration, the Mosaica Center, together with its partners, promotes and implements these values and principles among the various communities within the Jewish and Muslim sectors – targeting community leaders, educators, students, academic institutions, among others. Mosaica's activities focus on expanding and deepening inter-religious dialogue in the Middle East on a grassroots basis.
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To widen the inter-religious coalition of religious leaders in the region and the circles of inter-religious diplomacy established at the Alexandria Summit, amongst others, by creating a cadre of religious leaders who will serve as prominent agents for dialogue and change between and within the different religious communities.
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To deepen the inter-religious dialogue between Jews and Muslims in the Middle East through educational programs and dialogue sessions, and by training facilitators to implement such programs.
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To establish a cadre of learned religious leaders who would disseminate moderate interpretations of religious sources used by extremist factors. This would provide legitimacy and religious validity to the recognition of the Jewish people and the State of Israel instead of standing in the way of dialogue. These leaders would take vigorous steps, among widespread populations, to publicize their interpretations in the written and electronic media, in academic publications, mosque sermons, educational institutions, community centers and elsewhere.
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To establish a joint inter-religious forum to confront regional and worldwide occurrences of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
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To develop and implement a new model of conflict management and resolution within the framework of inter-religious dialogue, the multi-dimensional model.
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To produce and disseminate comprehensive and reliable knowledge to the general public, academicians, educators and policy makers.
The First Alexandria Declaration of the
Religious Leaders of the Holy Land
In the Name of God who is Almighty, Merciful and Compassionate, we, who have gathered as
religious leaders from the Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities, pray for true peace in
Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and declare our commitment to ending the violence and bloodshed
that denies the right to life and dignity.
According to our faith traditions, killing innocents in the name of God is a desecration of his Holy
Name, and defames religion in the world. The violence in the Holy Land is an evil which must be
opposed by all people of good faith. We seek to live together as neighbours, respecting the integrity of each other’s historical and religious inheritance. We call upon all to oppose incitement, hatred and the misrepresentation of the other.
1. The Holy Land is Holy to all three of our faiths. Therefore, followers of the divine religions must respect its sanctity, and bloodshed must not be allowed to pollute it. The sanctity and integrity of the Holy Places must be preserved, and freedom of religious worship must be ensured for all.
2. Palestinians and Israelis must respect the divinely ordained purposes of the Creator by whose grace they live in the same land that is called Holy.
3. We call on the political leaders of both peoples to work for a just, secure and durable solution in the spirit of the words of the Almighty and the Prophets.
4. As a first step now, we call for a religiously sanctioned cease-fire, respected and observed
on all sides, and for the implementation of the Mitchell and Tenet recommendations, including the lifting of restrictions and a return to negotiations.
5. We seek to help create an atmosphere where present and future generations will coexist with mutual respect and trust in the other. We call on all to refrain from incitement and demonization, and to educate our future generations accordingly.
6. As religious leaders, we pledge ourselves to continue a joint quest for a just peace that leads to reconciliation in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, for the common good of all our peoples.
7. We announce the establishment of a permanent joint committee to carry out the recommendations
of this declaration, and to engage with our respective political leadership accordingly.
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