NEW YORK – The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) has joined with the Muslim Jewish Interfaith Coalition for an inaugural conference in Essaouira, Morocco on August 28 to September 1 that will bring together 70 young professional leaders, aged 23-35, from 17 countries. The group is split evenly between Muslims and Jews.

Participants will join in discussions and seminars to provide them with a more nuanced understanding of the theological, cultural and deeply personal underpinnings of Judaism and Islam. The goal is to have them go back to their communities with a deeper understanding of the complexity of the issues that often separate Muslims and Jews, as well as with a deeper appreciation for the values and experiences that bring us together.

The conference will center around in-depth text-based sessions in its Beit Madrassa, which is a play on the Jewish, beit midrash, and the Muslim religious school, a madrassa. Discussions will center around the complexity of Muslim-Jewish relations, spirituality, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and provide the opportunity for members of both faiths to meet one another and create meaningful relationships.

“Our hope is that these young, future leaders bring back what they learn from this conference to their local communities and create programming and discussions about tolerance, understanding and compassion for the other community,” said FFEU President Rabbi Marc Schneier. “Through our work globally, we’re seeing a real interest from the youth and young adults in their desire to help bring together Muslims and Jews around the world.”

“So often in Muslim Jewish interfaith work, faith is left out of the conversation,” said Muslim Jewish Interfaith Coalition Founder and Director Rachel Delia Benaim. “Our forum bridges sacred text, belief, and culture through a simultaneously text based and culturally immersive environment.”

Participants were selected through a competitive process that looked at their community involvement, leadership experience, and their dedication to their faith and its rituals.

The inaugural event is being help in partnership with the Mimouna Association and under the patronage of André Azoulay, senior advisor to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI.

Founded in 1989, the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding is the global address for Muslim-Jewish Relations and the national address for African American-Jewish relations. The organization is committed to the belief that direct dialogue between ethnic communities is the most effective path towards reconciliation. For more information, visit https://ffeu.org/.