On 14 October 2026, Chief Rabbi Moshe Lewin, MJLC Board Member and Vice-Co-Chair, met with Chems-Eddine Hafiz, Rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, to explore avenues for strengthening Jewish-Muslim relations and developing joint initiatives grounded in mutual understanding, respect and peace.
At a time when international tensions and deepening divisions place relationships between communities under strain, the meeting reaffirmed the importance of sustained engagement across religious traditions. It reflected a conviction of enduring significance: that even where histories, beliefs and perspectives differ, the willingness to listen, understand and work together can open pathways towards a more peaceful shared future.
Beyond differences, a shared responsibility
The discussions focused on strengthening Jewish-Muslim cooperation and identifying opportunities to translate shared commitments into concrete initiatives. Both leaders underscored the importance of bringing communities closer together, confronting prejudice and upholding the dignity of every human being.
Cooperation between religious traditions does not depend on the disappearance of differences, but on the wisdom to meet them with respect. Jewish and Muslim communities, each rooted in their own spiritual heritage, can find common purpose in their responsibility towards humanity. Through genuine engagement, religious leadership can challenge misconceptions, restore trust and affirm that diversity need not divide where there is a willingness to understand.
From mutual understanding to meaningful action
The meeting also explored prospects for future collaborative projects aimed at combating prejudice and building bridges between communities. Such initiatives embody the understanding that dialogue acquires its fullest significance when it moves beyond words and becomes a sustained commitment to action.
For the MJLC, this principle is central to its mission: advancing Jewish-Muslim cooperation by creating opportunities for meaningful engagement and translating mutual understanding into practical collaboration. The meeting between Chief Rabbi Lewin and Rector Hafiz reflected the vital contribution religious leadership can make to this endeavour, particularly when uncertainty and polarisation threaten to narrow the space for mutual trust.
A future shaped by cooperation
The encounter offered a reminder that peaceful coexistence is neither a given nor a distant ideal. It is something people build together, through the courage to cross boundaries, the patience to cultivate trust and the resolve to uphold human dignity even in times of division.
By exploring new avenues for joint action, Chief Rabbi Lewin and Rector Hafiz reaffirmed the possibility of a relationship between religious traditions that honours their distinct identities while strengthening their shared commitment to the common good. For the MJLC, such engagement expresses a fundamental conviction: that Jewish-Muslim cooperation can help shape a future in which difference is met with understanding, prejudice with resolve, and division with the enduring determination to build bridges between communities.
Photos: courtesy of the Grand Mosque of Paris.
