In a historic ceremony during the 13th Conference of the Council of Religious Leaders, held in Jerusalem on Thursday at the initiative of the Interior Ministry, leading Israeli religious leaders signed an unprecedented joint statement.
The conference, which is held annually but was postponed last year due to the Iron Swords War, was attended by the Chief Rabbis of Israel, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Religious Affairs, representatives of non-Jewish denominations and members of the Council of Religious Leaders.
During the conference, religious leaders stressed the crucial importance of peace and religious reconciliation during this period and reiterated their strong commitment to dialogue and partnership between all communities in Israeli society.
The joint statement, signed amid a particularly challenging time for Israeli society, underscores the deep commitment of religious leaders to promoting universal values such as peace, mutual respect and tolerance. The document represents an important milestone in strengthening coexistence in Israel.
The declaration signed by Israel’s religious and sectarian leaders states:
“We, the religious and sectarian leaders of the State of Israel, believe in the universal values of love for humanity, respect and tolerance towards all people, regardless of their origin and religion. We commit ourselves to working together in partnership and to promoting a good life in the country based on mutual respect, preventing violence and promoting respectful dialogue. Especially at this time, we commit ourselves to strengthening coexistence and working together to ensure a future of peace and brotherhood for all residents of the country.”
Minister of the Interior, Knesset Member Moshe Arbel:
“In this time, we must call for and act on tolerance and mutual responsibility. Patience allows us to listen, understand and respect other opinions, even when we are in a controversy. We cannot change the past, but we can shape our future in partnership. People of all religions and denominations were killed last year, and we must promote tolerance and mutual respect. Religious and denominational leaders have enormous influence in promoting these values.”
Minister of Religious Affairs, Knesset Member Michael Malchieli:
“It is your responsibility to ensure, with all the means at your disposal, that every Jew everywhere in the world feels safe. This is a historic task. This gathering sends a clear message: We all want to live together and safely. The religious leaders speak together for unity and tolerance.”
The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Kalman Bar:
“We have a broad common ground – we are all equal and we are all for life and peace. We must show the world that there is no war between us. As religious leaders, we should act together from here and declare that we all want peace. In this way, we can save many people and reduce violence – we all want to live together.”
The Chief Rabbi of Israel and Rishon LeZion, Rabbi David Yosef:
“In these days when the world needs a unifying voice of faith, I call on all my brothers, the religious leaders: Let us share the common value of the sanctity of life. The Torah teaches us that every person is created in the image of God, regardless of religion, race or origin. Let us respect the life of every person simply because he or she is human. This is our common mission as spiritual leaders – to be ambassadors of peace and to protect the sanctity of every person’s life.”
Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif, spiritual leader of the Druze community and chairman of the Supreme Religious Council of the Druze:
“The events of October 7 have shown that we are all united in pain. We must promote common values and call for brotherhood, unity and peace.”
The sheikh highlighted the efforts of the Minister of the Interior for all population groups during the year of war, which had contributed to the cohesion and stability of Israeli society.
Archbishop Dr. Yusuf Matta, head of the Greek Catholic Church in Israel:
“Such meetings are an example for young people and leaders of all religions. Together we pray for brotherhood and respect – the foundation of every religion and of all humanity.”
Kadi Dr. Iyad Zahalka, Director of the Sharia Courts in Israel:
“In these difficult times, we are sending a clear message: we are committed to coexistence, tolerance and cooperation. This is the only way we can continue to exist together.”
Lior Shahar, Director of the Department for Special Tasks in the Ministry of the Interior:
“Here we see the beautiful face of religion and state: people of all religions unite in a common declaration for mutual respect, love of humanity and the promotion of respectful dialogue.”
Retired Colonel Iyad Sarhan, Head of the Department for Religious Communities in the Ministry of the Interior:
“In Israeli society, there is no distinction between religions and denominations. We all share concern for human dignity, love of neighbor and the desire for community. Shared responsibility for these values is the key to the strength of society and the state.”
During the conference, participants identified a number of practical steps to strengthen relations between the different communities and agreed to promote joint initiatives aimed at promoting interfaith dialogue and tolerance in Israeli society.
At the end of the conference, a special panel discussion was held with the religious leaders, during which participants discussed the challenges facing Israeli society and ways to promote mutual understanding and respect among the different communities.
The conference, held under the auspices of the Department of Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Interior, represents an important step in promoting interfaith dialogue in Israel. The exchange underlined the crucial role of religious leaders in building bridges between communities and promoting an inclusive and respectful society.
