Jewish-Muslim Friendship of France

Jewish-Muslim Friendship of France (French: Amitié judéo-musulmane de France (AJMF)) is an organization for interfaith dialogue between Jews and Muslims. Founded in 2004 by French Rabbi Michel Serfaty, it is known for its Jewish-Muslim Friendship Bus which travels across France to create meetings and connections with local partners, neighborhood associations, public authorities as well as local Jewish and Muslim communities. Its slogan is: "We look more alike than it seems."

Jewish-Muslim Friendship of France
Amitié judéo-musulmane de France
FoundersMichel Serfaty
Typesnon-profit organization
LocationRis-Orangis
CountryFrance
Websitewww.ajmf.org 

History

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The organization was founded in 2004. It is sponsored by the Conseil Représentatif des Institutions juives de France and the Grande Mosquée de Paris. Its co-presidents are Michel Serfaty and Djelloul Seddiki, director of the Institut Al-Ghazali.[1] In 2005, they debuted their Jewish-Muslim Friendship Bus which travels every year (first through the Île-de-France region, and then through the rest of the country) with Rabbi Serfaty and Imam Mohamed Azizi, a local hospital chaplain.

On March 19, 2008, a local offshoot of the organization was created in Paris.[2] A dozen other local groups have organized, notably in Strasbourg, Besançon, Nice, Montpellier, and Toulouse. These local organizations organize meetings, conferences, film screenings, and open-houses for mosques and synagogues.[3][4][5]

In 2012, Mohamed Azizi decided to stop touring but remains with the organization, while Serfaty is accompanied by young Muslim leaders.[6][7] In 2017, the organization bought a new minibus.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Un bus de l'Amitié judéo-musulmane démarre un Tour de l'Ile-de-France". Saphirnews. 21 April 2006.
  2. ^ "L'Association Judéo-Musulmane de France Paris". www.ajmfparis1.com. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  3. ^ Marie Lefebvre-Billiez (12 November 2015). "Bannir le mépris". Réforme.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Anne-Bénédicte Hoffner (2017-03-01). "Bernard Cazeneuve regrette que la République ait " négligé " le dialogue interreligieux". La Croix (in French). ISSN 0242-6056. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  5. ^ Étienne Séguier (25 November 2009). "Des rencontres mosquées/synagogues". La Vie.
  6. ^ Sarah Diffalah (31 January 2015). ""Dans les quartiers, la haine du juif ne disparaîtra pas par miracle"". L'Obs.
  7. ^ Bernadette Sauvaget (27 December 2012). "Un ticket pour la paix entre juifs et musulmans". Libération.
  8. ^ "Favoriser le dialogue entre Juifs et Musulmans". Fondation pour la Mémoire de la Shoah (in French). Retrieved 2019-10-11.
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