4 Oct 2023: Interfaith Under a Sukkah
4 October 2023
4 Oct 2023: Interfaith Under a Sukkah
That evening, I was beneath a Sukkah, surrounded by Jewish community members in Singapore and friends from various religious backgrounds. Among this diverse gathering were cherished friends—individuals with whom I've forged deep connections over the years, navigating the complexities of our beliefs, traditions, cultures, and personal journeys. Together, we've confronted challenges, including the recent escalation in the Israel-Palestine conflict in 2021, and have witnessed the highs and lows within our respective faiths. We've grappled with the harsh realities of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia experienced by our communities, acknowledging that we, too, may inadvertently contribute to these issues.
Amidst it all, we share a commitment to strengthening our relationships. We recognise that the strain of the Israel-Palestine conflict may put our bonds to the test. Our loyalties will be a source of strength and, at times, a challenge.
While Sukkot was a familiar celebration, this occasion held special meaning as I helped with the speech for the President of the Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore. Collaborating in the days leading up to the event, we worked to include sections that highlighted the integral role of the Jewish community in Singapore's interfaith fabric, a commitment dating back to the establishment of the IRO in 1949. The speech detailed the Jewish community's extensive engagement in fostering interfaith relations and their valuable contributions to Singapore's religious harmony. I also had the chance to recollect the observations I gained from my closer connection with the community in recent years.
It was yet another moment when the friendship between the Jewish community in Singapore and people from other religions became closer. It was also a moment to reflect on the occasion's significance interfaithly.
Five days after Yom Kippur, Sukkot, a festival symbolising the harvest and commemorating God's protection of the children of Israel during their exodus from Egypt, takes place. The celebration involves waving the "Four Species" (lulav, etrog, myrtle, and willow) and tracing its roots to agricultural practices. Sukkot emphasises joy, hospitality, and spiritual reflection, fostering gratitude and unity within the Jewish community.
In my quest for a deeper understanding, I engaged in an interfaith reading of the Bible and Quran to delve into the background of the Jewish festival I had just participated in.
Turning to the Torah, Leviticus 23:42 (in English translation) reads:
"You shall dwell in booths for seven days...that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt."
Examining the corresponding Quranic verse at 44:31-33 (in English translation) revealed:
"And indeed, God delivered the Children of Israel from the humiliating torment [inflicted] upon them by Pharaoh. They were indeed a people who were [deeply] sinful and disobedient. And We chose them, knowingly, above the worlds, and gave them signs of a clear trial [of their faith]."
Sharing this revelation with a Jewish friend, I was directed to Deuteronomy 7:6-8 in the Hebrew Bible, which states (in English translation):
"For you are a people consecrated to Adonai your God: of all the peoples on earth that Adonai your God has chosen to be His treasured people, cherished out of all the peoples on earth. It was not because you are the most numerous of peoples that Adonai set His heart on you and chose you—indeed, you are the smallest of peoples; but it was because Adonai favoured you and kept the oath He made to your fathers that Adonai freed you with a mighty hand and rescued you from the house of bondage, from the power of Pharaoh, king of Egypt."
In exploring these passages that bridge the story of the Exodus in Islamic and Jewish traditions, I acknowledge my limited expertise in Quranic and Bible studies. This endeavour deepened my empathy for the Jewish people, linking their religious traditions to a profound remembrance of displacement and leaving their home—a sentiment I could remotely understand as someone who reveres Prophet Muhammad, forced to leave Mecca due to opposition and persecution of Muslims. Simultaneously, I recognise that parts of these verses, both in Islamic and Jewish traditions, warrant critical inquiry and uncomfortable interfaith dialogue in today’s political context, which I am not prepared for now. My understanding stops at empathy for now.
Holding the Ropes: Interfaith Dialogue & Reflections Surrounding the Israel-Gaza War is a blog series that follows the events, dialogues and reflections experienced by Nazhath Faheema in the aftermath of the 2023 Israel-Gaza war. Triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and Israel’s military response, there continues to be widespread destruction and civilian displacement in Gaza. Additionally, Israeli hostages remain in captivity.
Against this backdrop, Nazhath Faheema, through her reflections, provides insights into the dynamics of the war, its impact on interfaith relations, and the inherent challenges and opportunities in fostering understanding and empathy between Jewish and Muslim communities.
