Peace it Together

Singapore’s Muslim and Jewish communities to hold peace gathering

(PRWEB) August 20, 2006 -- Communion between Muslims and Jews can seem rare - at least when seen against the backdrop of the Middle East, where every day seems to bring new headlines of violence. But halfway around the world in Singapore, members of the republic’s Muslim and Jewish communities are planning to meet and hold a peace gathering.

Some 50 people are expected to attend the peace gathering to embrace a common humanity in each other. The peace gathering will be held this Sunday, 20 August 2006, at the Orchard Parade Hotel (Antica Room) at 11am.

“The get-together is aimed at encouraging both sides to re-affirm their confidence in humanity. It is our belief that when people meet and get to know each other at the human level, many of the barriers that divide us will dissipate,” explains Dr. Syed Farid Alatas, one the organizers of the peace gathering and a member of the Arab community.

Dr Alatas, who is also an associate professor at the department of sociology at the National University of Singapore, believes that such a gathering will create space for both communities to learn more about each other. “Muslims regard members of the Jewish faith as People of the Book so this is an opportunity for us all to interact.”

Present at the peace gathering will include Rabbi Mordechai Abergal and the congregation will also hold a 1-minute silence for both the Lebanese and Israelis who died in the recent war.

Singapore’s Jewish community, mostly Sephardim, dates back to 1830, and migrated mainly from Baghdad, Iraq. Singapore’s Muslims are a diverse group consisting of the Malays, Indians from various parts of India, and Arabs who originate from the Hadhramaut valley in southern Yemen.

Your reporter and camera crew, photographer are welcome to join us at the peace gathering.
Venue: Orchard Parade Hotel (Antica Room, Level 2)
Time (11 am – 12.30 pm)
Date: 20 August

For more information, contact
Khaled Talib, PR Consultant
Newsline Communications
Tel: +65 93821747 65847402

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