Two religions united by a common goal

The atmosphere could hardly be better: to a catchy beat, Elias Dray sashays into view and says: “I’m a rabbi and it’s incredibly important to me that people should be willing to build bridges.” Ufuk Erdogan also gives a friendly smile and says: “I’m a practising Muslim and have been advocating interreligious dialogue for years.” Together, the two of them host ask2respect, the new video podcast from the multi-award-winning Berlin initiative meet2respect. They talk with their guests about faith, prejudice and social conflicts. In one episode, Jewish rapper Ben Salomo talks about his background and personal experiences of marginalisation and antisemitism. Another episode on “Halal and Kosher” looks at what Jewish and Muslim dietary habits have in common. 

“We want people to really get to know the religions and see how much connects us all. And we want to delve deeply and address important social issues,” explains Dray. Erdogan adds: “We invite experts from all kinds of different areas, so it’s not just about Islam and Judaism.” 

Rabbis and imams in the classroom 

meet2respect uses the podcast to reach a wider audience. Since 2013, the initiative has chiefly centred around personal encounters. These include rabbis and imams going into school classrooms together. Students can ask questions, discuss issues, discover what they have in common and also address difficult topics. 

There are also workshops, training courses, digital education opportunities and other projects designed to bring people together. The “Respekt verbindet” (Respect connects) programme involves Muslim religious representatives engaging in conversation with people who have little to do with Islam. In the project “The Next Generation”, meet2respect trains young Jews and Muslims to become dialogue ambassadors. The programme also includes joint bike trips and sports projects. 

Understanding in difficult times 

The initiative’s work can be challenging at times. Ever since the Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent war in the Gaza Strip, social tensions have worsened significantly: Antisemitism, anti-Muslim racism and both right- and left-wing extremism are putting a strain on peaceful coexistence. For Jews in particular, the threat in daily life is palpable.