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Three Faiths Urged to Go Beyond 'Exclusivist' Claims to Jerusalem

Episcopal News Service. September 21, 1995 [95-1243]

Martin Bailey, Former Director of Communications for the National Council of Churches

(ENI) Following an August meeting in Amman, Jordan, representatives of the three monotheistic faiths issued statements declaring the importance of Jerusalem to their religious groups. The statements from Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders who live in the Middle East were released by Jordan's Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies.

Rabbi David Rosen, the Jerusalem director of interfaith relations for the Anti-Defamation League, said the site of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem was "the only real holy site for Judaism." He explained that "the emanation of sanctity" from what Jews call the Temple Mount "gives the whole city a sanctity greater than anywhere else."

Muslims believe that the Day of Judgement will occur in Jerusalem, which they call "Al Quds," literally "the Holiness." For the Prophet Mohammed, Jerusalem was the first "Qiblah," or direction for prayer, before Mecca became the centre of Islamic faith.

Jerusalem is of vital importance to Christians as the scene of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, and the site of the birth of the church. According to the president-bishop of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, Samir Kafity, because Jerusalem is holy to Jews and Muslims as well as Christians, it has "a special vocation -- calling for reconciliation among people whether citizens, pilgrims or visitors."

Kafity's Cathedral Church of St. George is in Jerusalem. "For local Christians, as well as for local Jews and Muslims, Jerusalem is not only a Holy City but also their native city," he said. "They have a right to live there freely with all the rights that pertain to that."

In the three-faith document, Kafity called on "all parties to accept the nature and deep significance of Jerusalem, the City of God." The bishop invited "each party to go beyond all exclusivist visions, and without discrimination, to consider the religious and national aspirations of others."

His vision is that Jerusalem will regain "its true universal character" and become "a holy place of reconciliation for humankind."

The three statements were made public in connection with a major inter-faith conference in Amman, sponsored by the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies under the patronage of Crown Prince El Hassan.