Without employing critical historical perspectives to explore the role of religion and the construction of God, we cannot hope to fully grasp the complex interfaith dynamics at play in the world.
On October 7, I was a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, teaching about the relations among religions communities – exploring intense controversies that often led to bloodshed. I study Jewish and Christian groups in the early Common Era. I was teaching this subject, while in Israel my family and friends were grappling with the greatest tragedy to befall the Jewish people since the Holocaust. This catastrophe stemmed from another bitter enmity, this time between Jews and Muslims in the Land of Israel. The dissonance between the horrors unfolding at home, with bodies lying in the streets, and the continuation of daily life in the United States was overwhelming. Adding to that was the immediate wave of criticism against Israel which quickly escalated into questioning Israel’s very right to exist.
Despite this, I felt that my classroom became a space of engagement and solidarity. Most of my students were not Jewish but were eager to listen. Catholic students prayed for Israel, and Jewish students found comfort in knowing they had someone listening. Returning to Israel in December to assume my new role as vice president for global engagement at Ben-Gurion University, I began to see the impact of the war on academic institutions’ ability to foster international partnerships during these turbulent times.
Everyone brings his own history, faith, and cultural perspective to these events. Recognizing and addressing these varied perspectives is crucial to fostering resilience, understanding, and collaboration across communities. I struggled with the delicate balance – acknowledging the need for accountability and ethical decision-making while rejecting narratives that deny Israel the right to exist or defend its people. I wrestled with recognizing the controversy surrounding the war’s targets, the casualties on both sides, the urgency of a ceasefire, and the struggle to secure the return of the hostages.
The full article was published in ‘The Jerusalem Report.’
