Episcopal Press and News

Israeli Rabbi Clings to Hope for Peace in the Middle East

Episcopal News Service. November 1, 2000 [2000-189B]

(ENS) A prominent rabbi who has been active in reconciliation attempts with Muslims, Christians and Jews still clings to hope that the three faiths may one day live together in peace. In an interview with Church of England Newspaper, before he delivered a lecture on Jerusalem to a London conference, Rabbi David Rosen admitted that the current round of violence is "very, very depressing." He described the situation as "manic depressive," going rapidly from depths to heights. "It is possible, and one hopes, that out of this terrible violence and counter-violence will produce another stage in the peace process. While "there is room to be critical of Israel's reaction to Palestinian stone-throwing," Rosen said that "for the time being the Palestinian leadership believe that they will get more from violence than they will from the negotiating table." As president of the World Conference on Religion and Peace and also the International Council of Christians and Jews, he has been a strong advocate for reconciliation. In his role as director of the Anti-Defamation League's office in Israel, Rosen coordinates education "for diversity and tolerance to promote greater acceptance of the other." Speaking of the future, he said that "we have seen in practice the three religions living peaceably alongside each other -- but I hope and strive and work for the day [when] we will learn to see the beauty in the other and to appreciate that and seek its welfare as well as our own wellbeing."