Euroasian Jewish News

Australian National Dialogue of Christians, Muslims and Jews, Sydney, Australia, March 14, 2003

The Hon. Gary Hardgrave MP, the Federal Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, enthusiastically launched the first formal cooperative project of the peak Jewish, Islamic and Christian bodies in Australia in Sydney this week.
The leaderships of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, together with the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils and the National Council of Churches in Australia, presented the Australian National Dialogue of Christians, Muslims and Jews to their constituencies, the media and government at a celebration of Australia's religious diversity, in a function at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney's Darling Harbor.
Gary Hardgrave said that: "Together, we make up this successful, cohesive multicultural society, a society which says a respect and a thirst to engage difference, a celebration of diversity is all part of the unity we enjoy".
He added, "As Australians we have shown ourselves to be always ready to give a fair go to those who are fair dinkum in their approach. That really is what Australian multiculturalism is all about and that is really the key message of harmony that we will take home from today's dialogue.
Tolerance and acceptance is not a one-way street. We must all take up the challenge to share our culture to benefit Australia and play an active part in building our future.
This occasion is a significant moment for all Australians, indeed for people of different religious faiths around the world.
Interfaith dialogues have existed at the grassroots level in different parts of the world for some years now, between members of different religions. I understand that there has previously been a liaison group between the Muslim and Christian representatives here. However, the Australian National Dialogue of Christians, Muslims and Jews is the first organization in Australia to be formed by the leaders of the three major religious communities in Australia, Christians, Muslims and Jews.
This ground-breaking initiative is an important and necessary contribution towards assisting Australians of all backgrounds."
Rev. John Henderson, the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Australia, said that, for Christians, "by this dialogue, we aim to serve God in our community, Australia. We have a deep concern for our Muslim and Jewish neighbors. We share a lot of history together, a lot of sorrow, and a lot of rebuilding. We hope to continue to build for the future. We live together in this land. Our dialogue means more than tolerance, which some interpret as apathy. It means valuing each other's humanity, sharing each other's stories, feeling each other's pains and rejoicing in each other's joys. We want to mitigate against any influences that would drive us to suspicious and mistrust."
The Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Amjad Mehboob, said, "Australian Muslims have felt under pressure and have welcomed the friendship of Christians and Jews. The leadership of the Australian Federation of Islamic Communities enthusiastically welcomes the opportunity to learn more about the other Abrahamic faiths and to work together to promote tolerance and understanding. This ceremony marks a milestone. When a lot is happening around us that is tending to divide us, we have established a platform from which we can break through misunderstanding"
Jeremy Jones, Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) General Council member, President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, began his comments by noting that the occasion of the launch was a celebration of Australian multiculturalism and a celebration of the potential within Australia to contribute to the building of a better society for our children and for succeeding generations. He noted that there was a great interest in the progress of the dialogue, not only in Australia, but internationally.
He said "one of the challenges we all confront is how we can make sure voices of reason are heard above the clamor of prejudice, how to ensure the voices of tolerance are heard above the sometimes deafening din of conflict".
Jeremy Jones added, "We must all be aware that we have, in contemporary Australia, people who vilify Jews, Muslims and Christians as the 'cause of all wars', representatives of 'deceits of Satan', or as subjects for ridicule and contempt", and this made the assertion of positive values more important than it might otherwise be.
Gary Hardgrave said: "The Australian National Dialogue of Christians Muslims and Jews is important because it provides a mechanism for that discussion to happen in a considered way, between the leaders and movers of your communities. By creating this forum for dialogue, the Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities in Australia, and your representatives, the Reverend John Henderson, Mr. Amjad Mehboob and Mr. Jeremy Jones, are to be commended for your thoughtful and constructive initiative.
"The Australian National Dialogue of Christians, Muslims and Jews has been formed to provide leadership in a time of increasing international tensions and conflicts, to support and encourage Australians to respect the rights of religious communities and their places of worship, and ensure that issues overseas do not intrude on the stability and tolerance of Australian society."

the EAJC Public Relations and Media Department