Limmud FSU Reaches the Volga, with an Unique Interfaith Dialogue Between Leaders of the Three Monotheistic Faiths - Islam, Judaism and Christianity

    NEW YORK, NY, September 07, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The latest conference of Limmud FSU (former Soviet Union) for Russian-speakers began this weekend (4.9.15) in Kazan, the capital of the Tatarstan Republic on the Volga River. This is the newest of the Limmud FSU conferences and is designed for the Jewish population of the greater Volga and Urals area. Today there are some 10,000 Jews in the city.

The three-day conference, which like all Limmud events, adheres to the principle of volunteering of Limmud International, is expected to attract several hundred participants who will hear some 100 presentations, workshops, debates anddiscussions, history and cultural sessions and artistic performances, on a wide range of Jewish topics and on the State of Israel.

In addition to the usual rich and packed Limmud program, another Limmud initiative took place in Kazan Thursday (3.9.15)- "Inter-Faith Dialogue - Islam, Judaism, Christianity," that was co-chaired by Chaim Chesler, founder of Limmud FSU, with the participation of the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berl Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Tatarstan, Rabbi Yitzhak Gorelik, the head of the local Russian-Orthodox church, the Grand Mufti of Tatarstan Kamil Semigullin, senior Islamic clerics and two prominent rabbis from Israel - Rabbi Menachem Hacohen and Rabbi David Rosen.

All the speakers stressed the importance of interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence "among all the sons of Ibrahim," in the words of Kamil Hazrat Semigollin, the Chief Mufti of Tatarstan. Less predictable perhaps, was his expressions of outrage on the actions of ISIS. "These people are not men but animals. The foundation stone of Islam is love. The unimaginable cruelty of these people is fundamentally in opposition to Islam. Christians have been expelled, priceless works of world civilization destroyed. We all pray to the same God and believe in the same prophets. True Islam is not opposed to other faiths." He also stated in relation to the Jewish events in the city that "A day of celebration for the Jews of Tatarstan is a festive day for all in the state".

Chief Rabbi of Russia, Berel Lazar said during the meeting that : "We must do all in our power to convey the message that identity is freedom, and it is the right of every person to be free".

In addition, Limmudnks enjoyed the Kazan Festival of Jewish Music, jointly organized by the Jewish community and the government of Tatarstan, including Limmud FSU guests Hanan Yovel and the Alma Group, that presented the songs of the late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, to mark 90 years since his birth. Limmud participants also joined the rededication of the 100 year-old Great Synagogue of Kazan with the participation of the President of the Tatarstan Republic and leaders of the local Jewish community.

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