Muslim-Jewish dialogue increases, report says

Muslim-Jewish engagement is growing in the United States, with the greatest expansion during the past two years, a new report has found.

Even as the political situation in the Middle East continues to heat up, more groups dedicated to Muslim-Jewish education, dialogue and joint social action are being formed, according to the report issued by the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement in Los Angeles, a partnership between Hebrew Union College, Omar Ibn Al Khattab Foundation and USC. The data were collected from two surveys conducted in November 2009.

More than 70 percent of these groups have emerged since 9/11. Of those, half were created in the past 24 months.

Half of the groups have no staff or budget, demonstrating a heavy reliance on volunteerism. Fifty percent of existing groups raise less than $250 a year, according to the report.

The major focus of the initiatives is religious and social dialogue, followed by social action work and participating in each other’s rituals. The Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement is the only academic think tank and resource center in North America specifically dedicated to Muslim-Jewish relations. — jta