To the Reader,
We are living through extraordinary times within Israel and on
the world stage. The global struggle for cultural leadership has
intensified, and much of the world is confused. Questions of
identity arise from every corner, along with a deep search for
meaning in life. The spiritual dimension is central in this upheaval,
and religious leaders are re-examining their roles. The return
of the Jewish people to their land after a long exile presents a
theological and cultural challenge to the global community. One
branch of this phenomenon is the new dialogue between the
children of Israel and Islam.
One might have thought such a dialogue would lead to a dead
end due to the mutual antagonism between Israel and much of
the Islamic world. In recent years, however, a less prominent
perspective has emerged within Islam - one that recognizes the
people of Israel and their state as legitimate interlocutors, not
for pragmatic reasons but for substantive reasons rooted in
authentic Muslim sources.
This expectation has always existed within Jewish thought under
the term “T’shuvat Yishmael” - the “Return of Ishmael” - a new
chapter in Islamic theology. A few of the fruits of this awakening
are presented here for the reader who feels a desire to repair
the world.
Oury Cherki
To the Reader,
We are living through extraordinary times within Israel and on
the world stage. The global struggle for cultural leadership has
intensified, and much of the world is confused. Questions of
identity arise from every corner, along with a deep search for
meaning in life. The spiritual dimension is central in this upheaval,
and religious leaders are re-examining their roles. The return
of the Jewish people to their land after a long exile presents a
theological and cultural challenge to the global community. One
branch of this phenomenon is the new dialogue between the
children of Israel and Islam.
One might have thought such a dialogue would lead to a dead
end due to the mutual antagonism between Israel and much of
the Islamic world. In recent years, however, a less prominent
perspective has emerged within Islam - one that recognizes the
people of Israel and their state as legitimate interlocutors, not
for pragmatic reasons but for substantive reasons rooted in
authentic Muslim sources.
This expectation has always existed within Jewish thought under
the term “T’shuvat Yishmael” - the “Return of Ishmael” - a new
chapter in Islamic theology. A few of the fruits of this awakening
are presented here for the reader who feels a desire to repair
the world.
Oury Cherki
