October 7th marks the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza – a war that is still raging and even spreading, costing tens of thousands of lives and untold suffering and trauma for so many in the region. This week, The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio program and podcast, focuses on marking this solemn occasion, and exploring the impact that it’s had on interfaith relations between diverse communities here in the US.
The episode shares extended excerpts from a powerful recent panel discussion moderated by host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, featuring expert guests from the Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities – Dr. Najeeba Syeed, Rabba Rori Picker Neiss, and Rev. Fred Davie. Alongside that panel, Paul is also joined this week by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah, a heartfelt conversation on the emotional and spiritual weight of the Jewish High Holy Days as they intersect with the ongoing violence in the Middle East.
These conversations delve into the complexities and conflicts faced by religious communities, offering strategies for fostering collaboration, empathy, and understanding in a divided society. They reflect on how global conflicts can have intense local impacts here in the US, underscoring the need for dedicated relationship-building to create a more inclusive future.
Discussing the ongoing conflict in Israel/Palestine, Rabbi Jill Jacobs reflected, “Most people want to live their lives in peace. And various leaders are deciding to continue to escalate.” She added, “We’re sitting in this liminal moment where we see that things could get much worse, or God willing and the leaders willing, they could get better.”
During the panel, Dr. Syeed emphasized the importance of facing challenges head-on: “We can’t afford to disengage from the pain. We must show up, even in discomfort, and be ready to have the hard conversations that can lead to healing.” Rabba Picker Neiss stressed the need for dialogue: “We need to ask questions and then we need to listen to the answers. We need to hold space, and we need to recognize that offering someone space doesn’t mean giving up any of our own power.” Rev. Fred Davie offered a hopeful perspective, expressing that their collective efforts “serve as a bit of leaven, a bit of yeast, for this larger effort to build a kind of world…that we’d all like to see.”
Rev. Fred Davie is the Senior Strategic Advisor to the President at Union Theological Seminary, where he previously served as Executive Vice President for a decade. In his current role, he advises on public programming, racial justice, and social justice initiatives.
Rabbi Jill Jacobs is the CEO of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, leading over 2,300 rabbis and cantors in advocating for human rights in North America, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Rabba Rori Picker Neiss is the Senior Vice President for Community Relations at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA). Previously, she was the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis and a member of the clergy at Bais Abraham Congregation.
Dr. Najeeba Syeed is an Associate Professor of Muslim and Interreligious Studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary. She is a recognized leader in peacebuilding, having twice received the Jon Anson Ford Award for reducing violence and being named Southern California Mediation Association’s “Peacemaker of the Year” in 2007.