Jewish filmmaker to head Muslim group’s Philadelphia chapter
A national Muslim civil-rights organization has named a Jewish filmmaker as executive director of its Philadelphia chapter.
In introducing himself online, Jacob Bender writes "Asalaam Alaykum!" ("peace be upon you" in Arabic), quotes the Quran, and states he brings "a decades-long commitment to promoting peace and justice between Abraham's Children (Abna' Ibrahim) and a long resume of professional accomplishments."
In announcing the appointment, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) referred to Bender, its highest ranking non-Muslim, as "a bridge builder between the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities," noting that, "in the wake of the attacks on September 11, 2001, Mr. Bender undertook a series of outreach initiatives to the Muslim community, both in the U.S. and abroad.
"He has spoken at dozens of mosques and Muslim venues across the country; made six trips to Qatar to speak at interfaith conferences; and addressed an international meeting of Muslim scholars at Al-Azhar University in Cairo in 2009."
Out of Cordoba, Bender's award-winning documentary, explores the influence of Arab and Muslim thinkers on Western civilization, suggesting "There is no 'Clash of Civilizations' ... There is only a clash of ignorance," according to the film's website.
Reaction from the Jewish establishment includes mistrust and even "hostility," according the Jewish Daily Forward.
Ethan Felson, vice president of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. is quoted as saying, "CAIR is far off the radar screen of the Jewish community. ... The Jewish community looked at their record and said, 'We won't work with this group.' "
"We will wait and see," said the Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil-rights group.
Contending CAIR is not an extremist organization, Bender, who lived for years in Israel, is quoted as saying, "There will always be those who will try to demonize other groups. As someone who has long supported Palestinian rights and was critical of the policy of occupation, I find no contradiction between my long-stated opinions on the Middle East and those of CAIR."
"Israel is not a top issue for CAIR, especially its branches, which tend to deal more with countering discrimination against Muslims within the local community," the Jewish Daily Forward article states.
In his online introductory letter, Bender's sign off includes this quote from the Quran: "O people! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may come to know each other (not that ye may despise each other)."
Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.