An Interfaith Declaration of Peace
As expectations for a Middle East cease fire increase, so does the conversation about the conflict here in the United States. Of all the various essays, blogs, newspaper columns and white papers I have see (and, in some cases, even read!) this week, none was more inspiring to me that this joint statement by Boston religious leaders calling on "Hamas [to] immediately to end all rocket attacks on Israel, and upon Israel immediately to end its military campaign in Gaza."
Many interreligious statements, which are, of course, crafted to appeal to the lowest common dominator, say almost nothing. This statement is a notable exception, offering specifics as well as broad language. The statement is not perfect, but its very existence is exciting. In the wake of the current violence, some expected interreligious dialogue - and Muslim/Jewish dialogue in particular - to be extinguished. That has not been the case. In Boston, New York, Chicago and elsewhere there have been significant interfaith conversations and activity concerning the conflict.
The full text of the Boston Religious Leaders statement, and the list of signatories, is available here.