August 24, 2017 — Dallas, Texas
The Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council has launched a regional branch in Texas, the third local council since the national group was established on November 3, 2016. The American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) established the national council.
The Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council brings together recognized business, political, and religious leaders in the Jewish and Muslim American communities to jointly advocate on issues of common concern. Stanley Bergman, CEO of Henry Schein, and Farooq Kathwari, President and CEO of Ethan Allen, are the national Council’s co-chairs.
During the past eight months, the national council has convened five times, twice in Washington, D.C. to jointly advocate on strengthening hate crimes legislation, the free exercise of religion for all Americans, and promoting a positive image of religious minorities in the U.S.
The planned expansion of the Council locally comes amidst a marked rise in incidences of hate speech and crimes, notably the neo-Nazi, white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, the bombing of a Minneapolis mosque, and threats to Jewish synagogues. Each regional Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council brings together business, professional, civil society and religious leaders from the two communities.
“Interest among leaders in the Jewish and Muslim communities across our country in jointly advocating on issues of shared concern is an endorsement of our national initiative, and broadens our collective response to the serious challenges facing American society,” said Robert Silverman, AJC Director of Muslim-Jewish Relations.
For more information, visit www.muslimjewishadvocacy.org.
