To the Editor:
Thank you for Sue Fishkoff’s article "Jewish-Muslim study course grounds interfaith dialogue in sacred text." At the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, we have also found that a joint encounter of our scriptures is a powerful way to bring Muslims and Jews together.
Since the late ’80s, we have required our candidates for the rabbinate to take two full credit courses in the Department of Multifaith Studies — courses that have included the study of Islam for well over a decade. Last summer we created a retreat for rabbinical students from eight seminaries to learn with emerging Muslim leaders.
Text study, specifically the narrative of Joseph/Yusuf in Torah and Quran, was at the core of our four days together. It was, as your article suggested, an ideal way to focus on our time together, sharing our sacred stories and our personal ones.
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer
Director, Department of Multifaith Studies
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Philadelphia, Pa.
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