Olive branch extended to Jews

LONDON -- Some 100 imams, rabbis, community leaders, businessmen and journalists gathering in Cambridge Feb. 25 sent a letter to rabbis around the world calling for a far-reaching dialogue to try to end long-standing conflicts between Muslims and Jews.

In the keynote address at the gathering, Oxford University professor Tariq Ramadan explained the letter as an attempt to "generate dialogue and understanding between Jews and Muslims."

"At the moment," the letter said, "there is no challenge more pressing than the need to bring to a closure some of the historical and long-lasting estrangements between the Jews and Muslims."

Ramadan said, "We need to get beyond 'tolerance,' which is saying that 'I put up with you but I would rather you were not here,' to a mutual knowledge and respect."

--Religion News Service

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