Peacemaker role for Rabbi Rosen
AMERICAN interfaith guru Rabbi David Rosen has revealed that people often question why he would rather spend time making peace between non-Jews than fostering peace among Jews.
NAOMI LEVIN
VISITING interfaith guru Rabbi David Rosen has revealed that people often question why he would rather spend time making peace between non-Jews than fostering peace among Jews.
The rabbi, who is visiting Australia with the support of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, is speaking at a number of community events, including at the Parliament of the World’s Religions, which began in Melbourne last week.
With the Orthodox battling the Progressive, the secular battling the religious, and the Left battling the Right, Rabbi Rosen would have his work cut out for him bringing peace among Jewish people.
“People have to determine where their role is most appropriate and I think there are plenty of people who can contribute very well to bridging the gulfs among Jews, but few have the experience I have in terms of reaching out to other communities and the knowledge of other communities and being able to authentically represent one’s faith to other communities,” Rabbi Rosen said.
The head of the American Jewish Committee’s Department for Inter-religious Affairs said the key to interfaith relations is the motivation of the participants.
“Paradoxically, if you go into a relationship for the purpose of exploiting it, that relationship will not last very long, but if you go into a relationship on the basis of genuine mutual respect, you will actually find you will be able to get much more long-term advantage.”
Rabbi David Rosen is a guest speaker at the Parliament of the World’s Religions. Enquiries: www.parliamentofreligions.org.
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