November 14, 2016, New York – The Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council, a new national group of leading Muslim and Jewish Americans, was launched this month at a meeting convened by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
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. Stanley Bergman, CEO of Henry Schein, and Farooq Kathwari, President and CEO of Ethan Allen, are the Council’s co-chairs, and the initial members are listed below.
At the group’s inaugural meeting, the Muslim and Jewish participants met for two hours to get to know one another, discuss the Council’s mission, and identify and agree on a domestic policy agenda. Among the Council’s initial action items are:
• The Council will highlight the contributions of Muslims and Jews to American society, and aim to celebrate their contributions in the best traditions of American democracy.
• The Council will develop a coordinated strategy to address anti-Muslim bigotry and anti-Semitism in the U.S.
• The Council will work to protect and expand the rights of religious minorities in the U.S., as enshrined in the Constitution, so they may practice their faiths in full freedom and security.
“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, Co-Chair of the Council.
“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,” said Farooq Kathwari, Co-Chair of the Council.
The initial members of the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council are Raheemah Abdulaleem, KARAMAH; Shakila Ahmad, Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati; Chaplain Tahera Ahmad, Northwestern University; Imam Shamsi Ali, Nusantara Foundation; Roberta Baruch, AJC Commission on Interreligious Affairs; Stanley M. Bergman, Henry Schein Inc.; Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Central Synagogue; and Rabia Chaudry, United States Institute of Peace.
Also, Senator Norman Coleman, Hogan Lovells; Steven Collis, AmerisourceBergen; Rabbi Joshua Davidson, Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York; Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, Covington & Burling LLP; Imam Plemon El-Amin, World Pilgrims; David Harris, AJC; S.A. Ibrahim, Radian Group; and Congressman Steven Israel, United States House of Representatives.
And Farooq Kathwari, Ethan Allen Interiors; Suhail Khan, Microsoft Corporation; Daisy Khan, Women’s Islamic Initiative for Spirituality & Equality (WISE); Farhan Latif, El-Hibri Foundation; David Levin, McGraw Hill Education; Moses Libitzky, Libitzky Property Companies; Senator Joseph Lieberman, Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman LLP; and Dr. Deborah E. Lipstadt, Emory University.
And, Imam Mohamed Magid, All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS); Talat Othman, Grove Financial, Inc.; Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, New York University; Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, the Rabbinical Assembly; Imam Talib M. Shareef, The Nation’s Mosque, Masjid Muhammad; Dr. Sayyid Syeed, ISNA; and Rabbi David Wolpe, Sinai Temple, Los Angeles.
