Pardes News
First Jewish Leader Speaks in Muslim Indonesia – Rabbi Landes Calls on World Religious Leaders to Promote Tolerance
Bali, Indonesia – June 12, 2007 (26 Sivan) – Israeli Rabbi Daniel Landes, the first Jewish leader to speak publicly in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, was the featured rabbi at a historic conference where leaders from the five major faiths joined together to condemn terrorism and promote tolerance. The conference on the resort island of Bali brought Rabbi Landes, Director of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, together with Indonesia's former President Abdurraham Wahid, Hindu spiritual head Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Buddhist teachers, and a Jesuit priest.
"I was told repeatedly that I'm the first rabbi ever to speak at a public forum in Indonesia and to meet with major religious leaders. It was a real privilege to interact with leaders of the Muslim, Hindu and Christian communities who were very receptive to the need to encounter Jews and to encounter Israel," Rabbi Landes stated.
Conference goals included reducing the growing polarization between faiths since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States and to counter Iran’s recent Holocaust denial conference. "Since most of the stories of the Holocaust took place in the West, there are not that many natural witnesses within Muslim countries who can say we know the facts to be true," Rabbi Landes said during his speech to the conference.
Tolerance Between Religions: A Blessing for All Creation was co-sponsored by the Wahid Institute, the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance, and LibForAll Foundation.
The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem offers men and women of all backgrounds the authentic study of classic Jewish texts in the rigorous, challenging and open environment of dynamic Beit Midrash Havruta partner learning. Pardes, founded in 1972, offers a Year Program for university graduates as well as Educators, Summer, Spiritual and Advanced Scholars learning programs. Pardes students who qualify receive support from the Jewish Agency for Israel’s MASA – The Gateway to Long-term Israel Programs initiative.
Rabbi Landes is available for in-person and telephone interviews in the U.S. and Israel
Press Contact:
U.S.
Joshua Chadajo
Executive Director
American Pardes Foundation
212-447-4333
joshua@pardesusa.org
Israel
Nadine Wildmann
Director of Communications
Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
972-673-5210 ext.240
nadine@pardes.org.il