‘World changers’ visit Israel
A VISIT to Israel by a delegation of Indonesian scholars last month has “the potential to change the world”, says the local communal leader who led it.
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) director of international and community affairs Jeremy Jones said the potential of the group – which comprised senior figures from organisations representing over 100 million Muslims – to develop beneficial relationships between Muslims and Jews and between Muslims and Israel is “almost limitless”.
“This group is a group of people who are currently playing roles in main organisations and who will continue to do so,” he said.
The trip was co-organised with the Elijah Interfaith Institute in Israel.
The aim was to both honour deceased former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid – a strong voice during his time for interfaith dialogue – and to provide a memorable experience for the delegates.
The itinerary saw the group travel all over Israel and meet with rabbis, imams, peace negotiator Tal Becker, a Muslim judge and the governor of Bethlehem.
They toured Sderot and the Erez crossing, where they spoke to ordinary Gazans coming in and out of the strip.
Being a religious group, the delegation prayed in locations including at Yad Vashem – “they saw it as a spiritual place”, Jones said, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and even in a rabbi’s house.
Jones said the group found two particular experiences important in understanding Israel.
At the Ziv Hospital in Tzfat, the group conversed in Arabic with Syrians being treated for injuries sustained in Syria’s civil war. They also visited the organisation Save a Child’s Heart and met with children being treated, their families and volunteers.
Their final meeting was with Shimon Peres, who in addition to showing his understanding of Indonesia and paying tribute to Wahid, spoke about the importance of using religion as a force for good.
He encouraged the delegation to take back a message that there are people of all cultures and religions who want peace.
“Each individual in the group went through a complete reinforcement of their starting view that dialogue is essential if you want to contribute,” Jones said. “And they were the whole time reflecting on ‘how can we as Muslims make a better world for everybody, including Jews, Muslims, Christians, etc.’
“And ‘we are Indonesians, how can the world’s most populous majority Muslim country play a role in a better future for the peoples in the Middle East’.”
GARETH NARUNSKY
The delegation led by AIJAC’s Jeremy Jones meets Shimon Peres.
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