Jewish leaders at Iftar dinner
NSW Premier The Hon Barry O’Farrell MP has hosted an “Iftar Dinner to celebrate Interfaith Harmony” at Parliament House.
The Premier invited communal Leaders of all faiths to join local Muslim Leadership at the Dinner, which is held annually during the month of Ramadan.
Sheikh Yahya Safi, the Imam of Lakemba Mosque with the Yeshiva’s Rabbi Eli Feldman
The event was conducted in a spirit of respect between all faiths, with prayers being offered by Sheikh Yahya Safi, Imam of Lakemba Mosque, followed by Sister Giovanni Farquar from the Commission for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations of the Catholic Church. Sheikh Safi mentioned in his prayer that Islam recognises the holiness of a number of great luminaries of the Jewish faith including Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as well as Moses, Solomon and David.
Grand Mufti of Australia His Eminence Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed addressed the crowd and spoke about the physiological similarities of all humans, created by the one G-d, and how tolerance and peaceful coexistence can only occur when we are open to appreciating the goodness found within every person; regardless of race, religion, colour or creed.
In his remarks, The Premier referred to the fact that 40% of Sydney’s population were born overseas, paying tribute to the immense contribution that people from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds have made to Australian Society. The Premier stated that, “in my belief, our greatest resource is not the mineral wealth underground but rather the walking diamonds and immense talent of our citizens. I take pride in the fact that with hard work and creativity anyone can succeed in this country, notwithstanding one’s background or the size of one’s bank account.”
Premier Barry O’Farrell with Rabbi Eli Feldman
The Premier also focused on the importance of Education as “not just the key to economic success, but indeed the key to greater understanding and respect between different faith communities.”
The three course Dinner was catered by Parliament House under Halal supervision, with a Kosher option provided by The Yeshiva Centre’s “Our Big Kitchen”.
Jewish Leaders in attendance included Rabbi Eli Feldman from The Yeshiva Centre – Chabad NSW HQ, Mr David Knoll, Mr Jeremy Spinak and Mr Vic Alhadeff from the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Mr Jeremy Jones from AIJAC and Mr Richard Balkin from the Zionist Council of NSW.
‘otto” not the most palatable comment?’ I would say more like a very distasteful comment! Maybe YOU should have attended as it may have (but probably not) opened your eyes and you could have ordered the sour grapes for desert, washed down with some bittars!
Kel
cute, but no cigar. Don’t worry, I’ve been to countless such occasions and there is nothing you can teach me !
Read my lines and don’t lick the lip service of coreographed “harmony”.
We have the reality of elegant protocols, say once a year, and the other reality of pervasive anti Zionism steaming out of incredible well fed Islamic sources, fed with palestinian dishes of anti Semitism. These are the daily diets we, the Jewish community of Australia, and the entire world, just for measure, are faced with, irrespective of well orchestrated dinners.
ALL Jewish organisations invited and well looked after at the party you, Kel, reckon, represents esily digestible menus, are involved principally with staving off dailyt relentless torrents of anti Semitism sponsored by some of the photo oportunists you seem to be so wrapped in.
Want to be funny, tell me another one.
I don’t know why I m so skeptical about these toomba-yee get together eating/speech fests.
Maybe not the most palatable comment, but with evey such dinners, one must digest the substance of holding hands together for public image consumption, following which, inevitably we arrive – when tangible realities hit us right in the middle of CBD demos – at the end result of any digestion, and, as the reality fans are spinning regardless, we end up with the pervasive bad odour of tachles.
At least I agree that the good Rabbis are worth feeding.