In the wake of the recent terror attack in Sydney, a delegation of 15 senior Muslim leaders from the United States and Canada visited Israel to express solidarity with the Jewish people and publicly oppose antisemitism and religious extremism.
The visit during Hanukkah was organized by the Ohr Torah Interfaith Center (OTIC), part of the Ohr Torah Stone network, and brought together Muslim and Jewish leaders for a series of meetings, site visits and public events focused on interfaith cooperation and the role of religion in confronting violence and hatred.
The delegation participated in a public event at ANU – Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv on December 23. The event included a panel discussion on how faith communities can play a constructive role in addressing antisemitism, extremism and religious violence, as well as the signing of the Jewish–Muslim Religious Reconciliation Project, a joint declaration committing to deeper understanding and respectful dialogue between Jewish and Muslim communities.
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Jewish and Muslim religious leaders meet as part of Ohr Torah Interfaith Center
( Photo: Ohr Torah Interfaith Center.)
“In the shadow of the Sydney attack, this visit underscored a critical truth: we cannot spend all our time only fighting terror,” said Rabbi Dr. Aharon Ariel Lavi, managing director of OTIC. “While confronting extremism is necessary, it is far more strategic and hopeful to invest in cultivating allies. This week has been about strengthening relationships with courageous Muslim partners who are willing to stand publicly against antisemitism, religious violence and the abuse of faith.”
During their stay, the delegation met with senior rabbis and Muslim leaders, toured communities near the Gaza border, including Kibbutz Kfar Aza and the Nova festival site, and held discussions on the ethical responsibilities of religious leadership. They also visited the Holocaust Museum at Kibbutz Lohamei Hagetaot and met with officials from Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
Anila Ali, president of the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC), said the visit was intended to deepen understanding between faith communities. “Many in our group experienced a synagogue for the first time during our visit to Jerusalem, making it a deeply spiritual and transformative moment,” she said. “Coming together in this sacred city to explore partnership and pathways to peace between Muslims and Jews is both a blessing and a profound responsibility.”
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The delegation participated in a public event at ANU – Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Ohr Torah Stone Interfaith Center)
Imran Ata Igra, president of the Pakistani American Republican Club and the Overseas Pakistanis Society, said the visit left a lasting impression. “Seeing the destruction, the massacre and the murder of innocent civilians who lived here in peace breaks my heart,” he said. “Do not believe what the international media tells you. Come and see with your own eyes. Entire communities are empty because so many of the people who lived here were killed.”
Sheikh Musa Drammeh, president of Muslims–Israel Dialogue, said the visit reflected a personal commitment to coexistence. “As a Muslim American who has witnessed the tragedies of September 11 and October 7, it is my strong belief to dedicate my life to building peaceful coexistence wherever conflict exists,” he said.
Rabbi Yakov Nagen, executive director of OTIC, linked the visit to broader religious themes. “The Torah portion we read this week about Joseph and his brothers reuniting reminds us that Jews and Muslims can also restore their relationship,” he said. “We are family, after all.”
The organizers said the visit was intended not as a symbolic gesture, but as part of an ongoing effort to build long-term interfaith partnerships aimed at countering extremism and promoting dialogue.