On 8 October 2026, the European Centre for Judaism in Paris became a place of encounter between religious traditions. Chief Rabbi Moshe Lewin, MJLC Board Member and Vice-Co-Chair, welcomed, alongside Chief Rabbi of France Haïm Korsia, Thierno Amadou Ba, Khalif of Bambilor, Senegal, and his delegation, during their European tour dedicated to religious diplomacy.
Following a visit to the synagogue, the delegation joined French Chief Rabbis, rabbis and military chaplains for an exchange marked by friendship, attentive listening and a shared commitment to peaceful coexistence. At a time when religious identities are too often drawn into narratives of division, the gathering offered a reminder of the possibilities that emerge when people meet in a spirit of mutual respect.
From encounter to lasting commitment
The meeting continued a relationship that began in April 2024, when Chief Rabbi Lewin addressed an international conference on religious diplomacy organised by the Khalif at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Senegal. Their reunion in Paris reaffirmed a shared conviction: that religious leadership carries a responsibility to build bridges across communities and translate spiritual values into meaningful action.
For Chief Rabbi Lewin, his commitment to religious diplomacy and his work within the MJLC are grounded in the conviction that Jewish-Muslim cooperation is indispensable to fostering a shared future founded on human dignity, deepened by mutual understanding and sustained by solidarity across religious traditions. Distinct religious traditions need not relinquish their identities to discover common purpose; rather, their differences can become the starting point for meaningful engagement.
The courage to build bridges
Chief Rabbi Lewin paid tribute to the Khalif’s courage, commitment and determination to sustain this work despite the challenges. His recognition highlighted an essential truth: trust cannot be proclaimed into existence. It must be cultivated through relationships, strengthened by listening and sustained by the willingness to remain engaged across differences.
The gathering in Paris gave tangible expression to this principle, bringing together religious leaders whose encounter transcended geographical and cultural boundaries while remaining rooted in their respective traditions.
A shared responsibility
For the MJLC, this meeting reflects the importance of religious leadership that transforms mutual understanding into cooperation. By bringing Jewish and Muslim perspectives into meaningful engagement, such encounters help challenge prejudice, strengthen social cohesion and affirm the dignity of every human being.
The gathering in Paris was more than a moment of friendship; it was an expression of a continuing commitment to a shared future. Through the relationship between Chief Rabbi Lewin and the Khalif of Bambilor, it illustrated how religious diplomacy can connect communities across borders and turn common values into a basis for action.
Ultimately, building bridges does not require erasing differences, but meeting them with openness, courage and respect. This is the spirit at the heart of the MJLC’s mission: fostering cooperation between Jewish and Muslim communities and helping create a future in which religious diversity becomes a foundation for understanding rather than division.
Photographs © Alain Azria.
