In the aftermath of the horrors of October 7 2023, it became painfully clear that our world would be forever altered. The Jewish people know the cost of hatred only too well. Over the last 16 months, we have felt it acutely on our streets, in our synagogues and in the rhetoric that seeks to delegitimize our very existence.
Among the damage done has been the destructive impact on interfaith engagement, particularly between the Muslim and Jewish communities. In a relatively short period of time, we have seen much of the trust and cooperation that previously existed evaporate. Meaningful engagement and hope have been in short supply.
And yet, our history teaches us that hope is not found in standing still, but in the courage to take the next step.
This week, I stood alongside His Majesty The King and Imam Sayed Abbas Razawi, the Chief Imam of Scotland, together with other Jewish and Muslim faith leaders and the Duke of Buccleuch, to share news of the signing of the Drumlanrig Accords. It was a moment which I believe represents a significant breakthrough in Jewish Muslim engagement and which attempts to reset the narrative by expressing our shared desire for a more peaceful and harmonious future.
