Rabbi Rosen: Interreligious dialogue is key to Trump's plan for Gaza
For the Jewish leader, a leading figure in relations with Christians and Muslims, the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi is a "natural partner" to develop point 18 of the US plan to end the war in Gaza. “Such a clause already appears in the Abraham Accords, but nothing was implemented,” he said. For him, everyone is “blessed by the presence of as very wise as well as deeply spiritual Latin Patriarch (Pierbattista Pizzaballa) who understands the fears and aspirations of the different sides of conflict.”
Milan (AsiaNews) – Point 18 of Trump's peace plan refers to interreligious dialogue. “Potentially it is very important. Such a clause already appears in the Abraham Accords, but nothing was implemented,” said David Rosen, a British-born Israeli rabbi.
Son of Anglo-Jewish rabbi and educator Kopul Rosen, he spoke to AsiaNews a few hours before the beginning of Yom Kippur, the solemn Jewish holiday of atonement.
“I have the impression that the UAE in particular understands the importance of this much better than the Israeli political leadership,” said the religious leader. “The involvement of religious leaders/figures in publicly visible respectful encounters can play an enormous role in educating people that we are all members of one Abrahamic Family and to learn to know and respect one another.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu accepted President Donald Trump’s peace plan, which is waiting for Hamas's response. Point 18 reads: “An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasizing the benefits that can be derived from peace.”
In this regard, Rabbi Rosen notes that something already exists. “There are already such frameworks. The Chief Rabbinate of Israel has a committee for official dialogue with the Holy See's Commission for Religious Relations with Jewry. The Abu Dhabi Peace Forum would be a natural partner for this and could convene Palestinian religious leaders in such engagement.”
The Emirates are already the home of the Abrahamic Family House, what Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, has repeatedly called a "positive model," even for a Holy Land at war.
“The AFH is an amazing example of the understanding and positive contribution of the UAE to interfaith understanding. Just its presence is an impressive testament and all who visit the complex are moved and inspired,” Rabbi Rosen explained.
“On a local grassroots level it has many successful programmes. However, in my opinion, it needs to be more proactive in terms of global impact, and it would be a good place to host activity as envisaged in point 18 of the Trump plan.”
David Rosen is one of the promoters of ties between the Vatican and Israel and a member of the Joint Bilateral Commission that led to the formal establishment of diplomatic relations in 1994.
Over the years, he has dedicated himself to dialogue and open discussion between the parties, even in times of crisis, without sparing criticism of his country's leaders, like when he called the Jewish state's attitude toward the Holy See “outrageous”.
Born in Great Britain, he studied at a yeshiva in Jerusalem and enlisted in the Israeli army. He then served as a rabbi in Cape Town, South Africa, from 1975 to 1979. Before returning to Israel, he served as Chief Rabbi of Ireland.
He served as International Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) as well as on the Chief Rabbinate of Israel's Commission for Interreligious Relations.
In November 2005, he was named a Knight of the Pontifical Order of St Gregory the Great for his contribution to reconciliation between Catholics and Jews.
Rabbi Rosen is among the signatories of an appeal published last August and signed by dozens of Orthodox rabbis and Jewish religious leaders – the Modern Orthodox movement led by Rabbi Yosef Blau – against settler violence and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
He also recognises the role played by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa in the past two years of conflict, which has seen tens of thousands of deaths and vast devastation in Gaza, not to mention the plight of the families of hostages awaiting the return of their relatives seized by Hamas.
“All of us in the Holy Land are blessed by the presence of a very wise as well as deeply spiritual Latin Patriarch who understands the fears and aspirations of the different sides of conflict. His role is very important with much potential for the future in advancing reconciliation if and when the conflict is brought to an end.”
“The Christian presence is generally important for the health of both Israeli and Palestinian society, both for historical reasons and for moral ones. The condition of a minority faith group is always the most profound reflection of the social and moral health of a society, especially in the land of its (Christianity's) origin.”
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