Inter-Faith Collaboration

I celebrate those working to bring people together

One of the most moving interfaith events I attended in London was the celebration of the Jewish Mimouna festival at Rumi’s Cave community hub in Kilburn.

The charismatic storyteller Rachel Rose Reid, Kohenet Yael Tischler and Kohenet, and her male Muslim co-host, lead us in Hebrew and Arabic chants, which they intertwined and harmonised beautifully in a song circle, including everyone.

We shared food, listened to music and heard poetry together.

A female rabbi delivered an impressive and engaging story.

I found it heartening to witness two faiths come together so naturally, so easily and sincerely.

There was abundant and evident good will on both sides as Londoners of different backgrounds and beliefs sought to understand each other’s perspectives and also just to socialise, hang out and be human together.

It was a wonderful, organic, grassroots event, and one which defies the stereotypical headlines we often see in the media. I can’t help but feel we need more like it.