US Jewish and Muslim associations unite to combat bigotry
Two prominent associations have banded together to form the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council, which aims to combat hate crimes
The council is comprised of 31 members, including politicians like former senator Joe Lieberman (AFP)
Jacob Powell-Wednesday 16 November 2016
Two prominent Jewish and Muslim associations have banded together to
form an interfaith alliance to address anti-Muslim bigotry and
anti-Semitism in the US, and advocate for issues of common concern.
The Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council was created by the American Jewish Committee and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
“Our two communities share much in common and should find ways, where
possible, to work together for the benefit of the entire country,” said
Stanley Bergman, council co-chair.
According to a press release on the group's formation, the “council
brings together recognized business, political, and religious leaders in
the Jewish and Muslim American communities to jointly advocate on
issues of common concern.”
The council is comprised of 31 members, including former senator Joe
Lieberman and influential clergyman Imam Mohamed Magid. The new body
also includes Deborah Lipstadt, an academic, and Farooq Kathwari, who is
CEO of furniture chain Ethan Allen.
“The council aims to provide a model for civic engagement by two
communities, vital to American society, that agree to work together on
issues of common concern and overlapping interest,” Kathwari said.
Throughout
the election campaign, racist incidents spiked, sparking fears among
minorities and civil rights groups that Donald Trump's election as US
president has emboldened hate groups.
While it will work on combating such crimes, the Muslim-Jewish Advisory
Council said it was not created as a direct response to the election.
“It’s been in the works for months,” Kenneth Bandler, the American
Jewish Committee’s director of media relations, told Middle East Eye.
“...It takes a long time to assemble these people serving on the council,” he added.
One of the main objectives of the group is developing “a coordinated
strategy to address anti-Muslim bigotry and anti-Semitism in the US,”
according to the press release.
Bob Silverman, who is director of Muslim-Jewish relations at the
American Jewish Committee, told Israel's daily Ha'aretz that they’re
working towards enforcing legislation against hate crimes in the
workplace.
“There’s no specific law currently saying you can’t fire someone for
wearing a yarmulke or a hijab,” Silverman said. “There’s good hate crime
legislation at the state and federal levels, but it’s not being
enforced.”
