INTRODUCTION TO THE MUSLIM JEWISH PEACE WALK

The Muslim-Jewish Peace Walk for Interfaith Solidarity is a religious response to the devastating impact of various forms of communal and state violence and militarism are having upon our communities and upon the memory and accomplishments of the historically positive relationship between Muslims and Jews.

As an alternative to prejudice, militarism and violence, we promote the restoration of an interfaith culture of convivencia that strives to achieve Jewish, Christian, Muslim reconciliation, economic justice for women and the poor, love and concern for the well- being of one's neighbors, an embrace of non-violence and peace for all the world's children. We also believe that security for Israel is inextricably linked to a secure and viable Palestine that can realize its dream of freedom. We devote ourselves to illuminating the heart of the message revealed to the Children of Abraham to serve the One whose name is Peace by working for peace together.

The Jewish-Muslim PeaceWalk initiates rituals of pilgrimage that gather together the children of Abraham and a broad spectrum of interfaith communities to give witness to our shared belief that peace is possible. We embark on a several mile pilgrimage from mosque to church to synagogue (or the other way around) and welcome each other into our houses of prayer in order to honor each other and pray for peace. Traversing the distance between our community institutions on foot helps us realize that the distance between us is not as great as we might have believed.

From its inception in April 2002, the Muslim-Jewish Peace Walk working in collaboration with national and local community organizers has touched the lives of thousands of individuals. Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Bahai, Sikh, and First Nation peoples in several American and Canadian cities including Philadelphia, New York, Tucson, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Nelson, Ossoyous, Spokane, Kettle Falls, Colville, Grandforks, Las Vegas and Albuquerque have participated with the peacewalk in dialogue and pilgrimage to express hope and goodwill.

We are currently working to create a national Muslim Jewish Peace Walk Weekend that will hopefully occur during October 2006.