Speaking to King Charles in the 1844 Room in Buckingham Palace, the Chief Rabbi thanked him “for blessing us on this historic day”. Speaking of the accords, he said: “We’re up for it, it’s the only way forwards.”
With the war in the Middle East reverberating globally, faith leaders recognise that the relationship between Jewish and Muslim communities in the UK has become increasingly fractured. The accords represent a renewed commitment to promoting mutual respect, while establishing new formal channels for dialogue.
Rooted in Jewish and Islamic traditions, the agreement offers a pathway away from playground bullying, toxic university campus culture, and rising discrimination faced by both faith groups amid a politically unstable world.
Anti-Muslim hate in the UK more than tripled in the four months since the Hamas attacks, the Tell Mama charity found. Meanwhile, there was a 589 per cent increase in the number of antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2023 in the months following October 7 compared with the same period in 2022.
Other Jewish signatories of the accord include Progressive Judaism co-leader Rabbi Charley Baginsky, the Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism Jonathan Wittenberg OBE, the Senior Rabbi of the S&P Sephardi community Joseph Dweck and Orthodox Senior Rabbi Moshe Rubin.
Other Muslim signatories Imam Sheikh Muhammad Ismail, Head Imam Dr Sheikh Khalifa Ezzat and Naushad Jivraj, president of the Ismaili National Council.
The agreement is intended to foster interfaith dialogue and combat discrimination[Missing Credit]
Practical implementation of the accords could include the establishment of a Faith Leaders’ Council, to create a platform for continuous dialogue, and joint committees, focused on combatting discrimination of university campuses, fostering religious and charitable collaboration, and protecting religious freedoms and practices.
The accords outline four ‘principles of reconciliation’: unity in diversity, sacred texts as a guide, commitment to no harm, and recognising the impact of global crises to reaffirm a shared dedication to peace.
Also included in the agreement are five ‘mutual commitments’, including fostering education, protecting safe worship spaces, and shared civic responsibility.
The historic agreement is the outcome of a year-long series of interfaith meetings convened by Imam Razawi, which culminated in a private retreat from January 14th - 16th at Drumlanrig Castle in Scotland hosted by the Duke of Buccleuch.
The accords are named after the castle, for the retreat is thought to have marked the first time in UK history where senior representatives from major Muslim and Jewish denominations gathered to conceive of a peaceful future.
The agreement begin with a shared recognition that Jewish and Muslim communities share a “profound spiritual heritage”: both traditions are rooted in monotheism, the sanctity of life and a commitment to justice. They are grounded in the Muslim value of Sulh (reconciliation), and the Jewish value of Derech Eretz (dignity).
Championing the principle of “disagreeing agreeably”, the accords are not a symbolic gesture, but a genuine call to action, committing both communities to working together on initiatives that tackle societal inequities such as discrimination, isolation, and poverty.
Rabbis Baginsky and Levy, the co-leaders of Progressive Judaism, said: “In this period of real challenge for Jewish-Muslim relations, these historic Accords model that we can still be in relationship with each other – even at the most difficult times.
Our task now is to make these words real by building deep, long-lasting structures nationally, locally, on campuses, and wherever Jews and Muslims interact in the UK.”
Describing the motto of “disagreeing agreeably”, the co-leaders told the JC that “it's deeply embedded in Jewish tradition that it's possible for two truths to exist side by side”.
“We're not trying to come to a point where everybody sees the world through exactly the same eyes. Rather, it’s a commitment to being able to honour the conversation rather than necessarily the outcome.”
Speaking about hostile campus culture, the co-leaders emphasised that students from both the Muslim and Jewish communities “don’t want to grow up siloed”.
“Part of the beauty of being at universities in the UK is that it's an opportunity to learn from others. One of the deeply saddening things about antisemitism and islamophobia on campus is that communities become siloed and they go into an insular mode of functioning.”
The accords, they hope, will galvanise both communities into being “allies against antisemitism and allies against islamophobia”, to create a better world for the younger generation where they can “experience the other”.
Also present today was the First Minister of Scotland John Swinney MSP and Lord Khan of Burnley, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Housing and Faith, who emphasised that today’s momentous progress among faith leaders must “cascade down” to the grassroots level.
Speaking to the JC, the Chief Rabbi said it had been “a genuine pleasure” to collaborate with the Imam Razawi on the accords. “We have been on a very special journey,” he said, noting that “our group of rabbis and imams have got on exceptionally well”.
The momentous agreement follows October 7, which triggered a dramatic decline in Jewish-Muslim relations. Ever since the attack, Britain “plummeted into a very low level of interfaith engagement”, said Rabbi Mirvis, who noted that previous efforts at cross-community collaboration, as well as the desire to communicate, were both woefully squandered. “Interfaith relations suffered enormously,” he said.
“We have seen so much hatred, so much demonization throughout Britain and on our streets, and in the aftermath of the horrific murders in Southport, it has become patently obvious that something needs to be done.”
The Chief Rabbi made it clear that the accords are no “silver bullet”, and progress will “take some time”, but both religious groups are committed to a process of reconciliation. “I recall my own journey with Imam Razawi, which started quite a while ago, and I found in him a genuine partner, keen on establishing and maintaining peace and harmony.”
“We don’t have time to lose,” said Rabbi Wittenberg. “There is danger for us if we don’t work together.” This weekend, the Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism is hosting an interfaith event, ‘For the love of trees’, bringing together Jews, Muslims and Hindus to mark Tu BiShvat. Speaking about the future, Rabbi Wittenberg said it’s the responsibility of faith leaders to spread the message of the accords to the grassroots level. “We have to make it real.”
