Overview

The story of a prominent rabbi and imam, each raised in orthodoxy, who each overcame the temptations of fundamentalism and bigotry and instead began working to bridge the chasm between Muslims and Jews. A prominent rabbi and imam, each raised in orthodoxy, overcome the temptations of bigotry and work to bridge the chasm between Muslims and Jews Rabbi Marc Schneier, the eighteenth generation of a distinguished rabbinical dynasty, grew up deeply suspicious of Muslims, believing them all to be anti-Semitic. Imam Shamsi Ali, who grew up in a small Indonesian village and studied in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, believed that all Jews wanted to destroy Muslims. Coming from positions of mutual mistrust, it seems unthinkable that these orthodox religious leaders would ever see eye to eye. Yet in the aftermath of 9/11, amid increasing acrimony between Jews and Muslims, the two men overcame their prejudices and bonded over a shared belief in the importance of opening up a dialogue and finding mutual respect. In doing so, they became not only friends but also defenders of each other's religion, denouncing the twin threats of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and promoting interfaith cooperation. In Sons of Abraham, Rabbi Schneier and Imam Ali tell the story of how they became friends and offer a candid look at the contentious theological and political issues that frequently divide Jews and Muslims, clarifying erroneous ideas that extremists in each religion use to justify harmful behavior. Rabbi Schneier dispels misconceptions about chosenness in Judaism, while Imam Ali explains the truth behind concepts like jihad and Shari'a. And on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the two speak forthrightly on the importance of having a civil discussion and the urgency of reaching a peaceful solution. As Rabbi Schneier and Imam Ali show, by reaching a fuller understanding of one another's faith traditions, Jews and Muslims can realize that they are actually more united than divided in their core beliefs. Both traditions promote kindness, service, and responsibility for the less fortunate-and both religions call on their members to extend compassion to those outside the faith. In this sorely needed book, Rabbi Schneier and Imam Ali challenge Jews and Muslims to step out of their comfort zones, find common ground in their shared Abrahamic traditions, and stand together and fight for a better world for all.

Full Product Details

Author:   Rabbi Marc Schneier ,  Imam Shamsi Ali ,  President Bill Clinton ,  Samuel G. Freedman
Publisher:   Beacon Press
Imprint:   Beacon Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.00cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.323kg
ISBN:  

9780807061190

ISBN 10:   0807061190
Pages:   236
Publication Date:   16 June 2015
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Foreword by President Bill Clinton   Introduction by Samuel G. Freedman   PART ONE: WHO WE ARE Chapter One Child of the Soil  Imam Shamsi Ali Chapter Two Child of a Dynasty  Rabbi Marc Schneier   Chapter Three The Struggle Within  Imam Shamsi Ali   Chapter Four The Empathetic Imagination  Rabbi Marc Schneier   Chapter Five From Suspicion to Trust  Imam Shamsi Ali Chapter Six Growth and Evolution  Rabbi Marc Schneier PART TWO: WHAT WE BELIEVE Chapter Seven The Chosen People  Rabbi Marc Schneier   Chapter Eight Kheir Ummah  Imam Shamsi Ali   Chapter Nine Amalek, the Dangers of Literalism, and the Role of Oral Tradition  Rabbi Marc Schneier   Chapter Ten War and Jihad  Imam Shamsi Ali   Chapter Eleven Love Thy Neighbor or Love the Stranger?  Rabbi Marc Schneier   Chapter Twelve Understanding Shari’a  Imam Shamsi Ali   PART THREE: OUR SHARED FUTURE Chapter Thirteen What Israel Means to Jews  175 Rabbi Marc Schneier   Chapter Fourteen Anti-Semitism  Imam Shamsi Ali Chapter Fifteen Why Jews Should Care about Islamophobia  Rabbi Marc Schneier   Chapter Sixteen Palestine  Imam Shamsi Ali   Chapter Seventeen Standing Up against Holocaust Denial  Rabbi Marc Schneier   Chapter Eighteen At Home in America  Imam Shamsi Ali   Acknowledgments 

Reviews

Sons of Abraham represents the culmination of years of work by Rabbi Schneier, my partner at the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, Imam Ali, and myself to bring Muslims and Jews together all across the world. Few people thought that these orthodox religious leaders could be friends, and even fewer believed their work would succeed, but Sons of Abraham shows how their friendship has created a model for a worldwide Muslim-Jewish reconciliation. --Russell Simmons, Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and co-founder of Def Jam Records <p/> Through a robust discussion of the history and mindsets that define both Judaism and Islam, Imam Shamsi Ali and Rabbi Marc Schneier offer that the truest illustration of faith lies not in traditions or a myopic approach to piety, but rather in a deeply held belief in one God, a concern for human dignity, and a commitment to mutual respect. The authors--in their friendship and in their service--offer a rare example of cooperation and provide a beacon of hope as we pursue peace between peoples torn apart by millennia of misunderstanding and mistrust. Sons of Abraham is a work of political, social, and religious significance and a roadmap for how we should and can move forward. --Congressman Andre Carson <p/> In this book my friends Rabbi Marc Schneier and Imam Shamsi Ali show us that Muslims and Jews are not enemies, but friends who are united by our belief in a monotheistic god and our lineage to our forefather Abraham. The Rabbi and Imam's friendship is a reminder that peace and friendship are possible between our peoples. --S. Daniel Abraham, Chairman, Center for Middle East Peace

Sons of Abraham represents the culmination of years of work by Rabbi Schneier, my partner at the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, Imam Ali, and myself to bring Muslims and Jews together all across the world. Few people thought that these orthodox religious leaders could be friends, and even fewer believed their work would succeed, but Sons of Abraham shows how their friendship has created a model for a worldwide Muslim-Jewish reconciliation. --Russell Simmons, Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and co-founder of Def Jam Records Through a robust discussion of the history and mindsets that define both Judaism and Islam, Imam Shamsi Ali and Rabbi Marc Schneier offer that the truest illustration of faith lies not in traditions or a myopic approach to piety, but rather in a deeply held belief in one God, a concern for human dignity, and a commitment to mutual respect. The authors--in their friendship and in their service--offer a rare example of cooperation and provide a beacon of hope as we pursue peace between peoples torn apart by millennia of misunderstanding and mistrust. Sons of Abraham is a work of political, social, and religious significance and a roadmap for how we should and can move forward. --Congressman AndrE Carson In this book my friends Rabbi Marc Schneier and Imam Shamsi Ali show us that Muslims and Jews are not enemies, but friends who are united by our belief in a monotheistic god and our lineage to our forefather Abraham. The Rabbi and Imam's friendship is a reminder that peace and friendship are possible between our peoples. --S. Daniel Abraham, Chairman, Center for Middle East Peace

Sons of Abraham represents the culmination of years of work by Rabbi Schneier, my partner at the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, Imam Ali, and myself to bring Muslims and Jews together all across the world. Few people thought that these orthodox religious leaders could be friends, and even fewer believed their work would succeed, but Sons of Abraham shows how their friendship has created a model for a worldwide Muslim-Jewish reconciliation. -Russell Simmons, Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and co-founder of Def Jam Records Through a robust discussion of the history and mindsets that define both Judaism and Islam, Imam Shamsi Ali and Rabbi Marc Schneier offer that the truest illustration of faith lies not in traditions or a myopic approach to piety, but rather in a deeply held belief in one God, a concern for human dignity, and a commitment to mutual respect. The authors-in their friendship and in their service-offer a rare example of cooperation and provide a beacon of hope as we pursue peace between peoples torn apart by millennia of misunderstanding and mistrust. Sons of Abraham is a work of political, social, and religious significance and a roadmap for how we should and can move forward. -Congressman Andre Carson In this book my friends Rabbi Marc Schneier and Imam Shamsi Ali show us that Muslims and Jews are not enemies, but friends who are united by our belief in a monotheistic god and our lineage to our forefather Abraham. The Rabbi and Imam's friendship is a reminder that peace and friendship are possible between our peoples. -S. Daniel Abraham, Chairman, Center for Middle East Peace

Sons of Abraham represents the culmination of years of work by Rabbi Schneier, my partner at the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, Imam Ali, and myself to bring Muslims and Jews together all across the world. Few people thought that these orthodox religious leaders could be friends, and even fewer believed their work would succeed, but Sons of Abraham shows how their friendship has created a model for a worldwide Muslim-Jewish reconciliation. --Russell Simmons, Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and co-founder of Def Jam Records Through a robust discussion of the history and mindsets that define both Judaism and Islam, Imam Shamsi Ali and Rabbi Marc Schneier offer that the truest illustration of faith lies not in traditions or a myopic approach to piety, but rather in a deeply held belief in one God, a concern for human dignity, and a commitment to mutual respect. The authors--in their friendship and in their service--offer a rare example of cooperation and provide a beacon of hope as we pursue peace between peoples torn apart by millennia of misunderstanding and mistrust. Sons of Abraham is a work of political, social, and religious significance and a roadmap for how we should and can move forward. --Congressman Andre Carson In this book my friends Rabbi Marc Schneier and Imam Shamsi Ali show us that Muslims and Jews are not enemies, but friends who are united by our belief in a monotheistic god and our lineage to our forefather Abraham. The Rabbi and Imam's friendship is a reminder that peace and friendship are possible between our peoples. --S. Daniel Abraham, Chairman, Center for Middle East Peace

<i>Sons of Abraham</i> represents the culmination of years of work by Rabbi Schneier, my partner at the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, Imam Ali, and myself to bring Muslims and Jews together all across the world. Few people thought that these orthodox religious leaders could be friends, and even fewer believed their work would succeed, but <i>Sons of Abraham</i> shows how their friendship has created a model for a worldwide Muslim-Jewish reconciliation. --Russell Simmons, Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and co-founder of Def Jam Records Through a robust discussion of the history and mindsets that define both Judaism and Islam, Imam Shamsi Ali and Rabbi Marc Schneier offer that the truest illustration of faith lies not in traditions or a myopic approach to piety, but rather in a deeply held belief in one God, a concern for human dignity, and a commitment to mutual respect. The authors--in their friendship and in their service--offer a rare example of cooperation and provide a beacon of hope as we pursue peace between peoples torn apart by millennia of misunderstanding and mistrust. <i>Sons of Abraham</i> is a work of political, social, and religious significance and a roadmap for how we should and can move forward. --Congressman Andre Carson In this book my friends Rabbi Marc Schneier and Imam Shamsi Ali show us that Muslims and Jews are not enemies, but friends who are united by our belief in a monotheistic god and our lineage to our forefather Abraham. The Rabbi and Imam's friendship is a reminder that peace and friendship are possible between our peoples. --S. Daniel Abraham<i>, </i>Chairman, Center for Middle East Peace <i> </i>

Author Information

Rabbi Marc Schneier serves as vice president of the World Jewish Congress, founder and president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (where he works with Russell Simmons), and founding rabbi of the Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach. He has been honored by the US Congress and the State of Israel as an advocate for human and civil rights and religious and ethnic tolerance. Imam Shamsi Ali is the spiritual leader of Jamaica Muslim Center, New York City's largest Islamic center and former imam of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York. Imam Ali also serves on the boards of the Tanenbaum Center, the Federation for Middle East Peace, the Asean Muslim Federation of North America, and the Muslim Foundation of America, among others. Both men live in New York City.

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