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It would be an understatement to say that Muslim-Jewish relations have been under strain in the fallout from the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. While some local channels of dialogue between Jews and Muslims in the UK have withstood the rise in tensions and divisive rhetoric over the Middle East, they often remained below the radar.
So the public launch of the Drumlanrig Accord for reconciliation this week, agreed by spiritual leaders of the two communities and blessed with the approval from the sovereign himself, marks an important advance.
King Charles has always been a friend of faith, a firm believer in the positive contribution that religion can bring to the world, who hailed the then Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks as a “light unto this nation”. As sovereign, he is patron of the Council of Christians and Jews, the first national interfaith body in the UK. His support for a new national framework to improve mutual understanding between Jews and Muslims signals the significance he attaches to this work.
For some in our community, who have felt let down over outside reaction to events over the past year and a half, the value of interfaith diplomacy may be questionable. But our tradition enjoins us to be “disciples of Aaron, loving and pursuing peace” and if the new initiative is going to stand any chance of success, it will need time. The rabbis and imams who have made a public commitment to try to turn back the tide of distrust and to strengthen commitments to co-existence deserve an investment of patient goodwill.