May 26, 2011

NEW DELHI – AJC has concluded a series of ground-breaking meetings in India with leaders of the Hindu, Jain, Muslim and Sikh communities.

"All of these meetings reflect the new world of global interfaith cooperation in which AJC has been a trailblazer," said Rabbi David Rosen, AJC's International Director of Interreligious Affairs. "Deepening relations between the spiritual foundations of our respective civilizations are just as important as diplomatic relations and provide for deeper, stronger and more lasting bonds of friendship and collaboration."

Rosen was part of a group of leading Jewish scholars from Israel that met with Hindu scholars in Delhi to advance the historic bilateral collaboration that AJC has pioneered. The gathering follows the Hindu-Jewish leadership summits AJC has co-sponsored in India, Israel and the U.S. since 2007. "The Hindu-Jewish relationship in particular has taken impressive new strides in recent years," said Rosen.

This week's meeting in Delhi was convened under the auspices of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the All India Dharma Acharya Sabha, and facilitated by AJC and the World Council of Religious Leaders. Participants discussed the theological points of convergence and difference in the two great religions.

Israel's Ambassador to India, Mark Sofer, who addressed the meeting, stressed the importance of this gathering of religious leaders for the State of Israel. The Jewish delegation was also joined by representatives of the Indian Jewish community.

In addition, the Jewish delegation also held meetings with Sikh leadership from its world center in Amritsar; with leadership of the Jain religion; and with leaders of the Muslim community in India.

American Jewish Committee