http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1067767.html
Jewish World / Can U.S. Muslims and Jews work together to change the world? By Haaretz Service and Leadel.NET Tags: marc scheier, leadel.net Rabbi Marc Schneier, a leading figure in interfaith dialogue, is optimistic that the U.S. Jewish community will one day share a bond with Muslims as strong as its historical relationship with African Americans. In this exclusive interview with Leadel.NET, Schneier characterizes black-Jewish relationship as "clearly one of cooperation." Schneier has spearheaded cooperation between the two minority groups, alongside Russell Simmons, his good friend and partner in the African American community. While Jews were prominent in the civil rights movement, their ties with the black community soured following the assassination of Reverand Martin Luther King, Jr. Nevertheless, Schneier says, the bond has strengthened again over the last decade and a half. "We understood our responsibility to speak out against the injustices of racism and discrimination," Schneier says in reference to the major role played by Jews in the civil right movement. The fact that 78 percent of Jews voted for President Barack Obama demonstrates that the American Jewish community finds it important to maintain a strong relantionship with African Americans, Schneier said. He adds that such a relationship is "deeply rooted in social consciousness of American Jewish community because of the role played in the civil rights movement," noting that now, an African American and a Jews are "the most important people in the White House." This is the fifth edition of Leadel.NET'S 'Living the Vision' series on The Jewish World. Visit Leadel.NET for more online interviews with Jewish leaders.
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