[The Cleveland Plain Dealer] Five years ago, three courageous men of faith took the bold initiative to create an interfaith alliance built on the monotheist traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the understanding that the three religions are inextricably linked to one another.
These three men of faith are: Imam W. Deen Shareef of Masjid Waarrith Ud Deen in Irvington, N.J.; Bishop Mark Beckwith of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, N.J.; and Matthew Gewirtz, senior rabbi of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, N.J.
The group initially came together to address gun violence in inner-city Newark.
The three religious leaders set goals for their newly formed interfaith alliance.
Gewirtz, the rabbi, suggested to Imam Shareef and Bishop Beckwith the idea of making an interfaith peace mission to Israel. They would go to the Holy Land representing people from the grassroots, not as politicians with an ambiguous agenda.
Ten Christians, 10 Jews, and 10 Muslims — along with their religious leaders — embarked on this historical journey in October 2012, calling themselves “Ambassadors for Peace.”
