The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity includes Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig as a member

Abu Dhabi : The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity has announced the inclusion of Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig, Senior Rabbi at Washington Hebrew Congregation, to the membership of the Committee, bringing the total membership to eight members concerned with the achievement of the objectives set forth in the Human Fraternity Document.

Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig expressed his deep gratitude to His Holiness Pope Francis the Pope of the Catholic Church and Dr. Ahmed At-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar for their support and encouragement of the work of the Committee, and their sincere efforts to achieve the sacred mission of the Document of Human Fraternity. He thanked the Committee for his nomination as a representative of the Jewish faith, expressing his acceptance of the role and his pleasure in witnessing the signing of the historic declaration.

"It was my hope that such an event would be a watershed moment to bring new opportunities for building bridges between religious leaders and communities as well as to foster Peace and Harmony in our fractured world" Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig said. "I am honoured to join such esteemed individuals working to champion love over hate, justice over injustice, and faith over fear…”, adding that “Empowered by the knowledge as children of Abraham that all are created in the Divine image, we must seek justice and peace for all of God’s Children. May God give each of us the strength and the courage to bring harmony, hope, justice, and love into our fractured world as envisioned in the Human Fraternity Declaration and as demanded by our common faith in God.”

His Eminence Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, Chairman of the Higher Committee, welcomed Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig as a new member, saying "The Committee welcomes all competencies and religious and cultural personalities and all who contribute to the achievement of the honourable goals for which the Document of Human Fraternity was established,” adding that in the coming period, the Committee seeks to meet with a number of important leaders and icons to coordinate on the initiatives and projects being implemented by the Committee.

Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig is a Senior Rabbi at Washington Hebrew Congregation, where he has served for more than 25 years, leading over 2,800 family gatherings, as well as holding various leadership roles in local and international Jewish communities. Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig is a committed social activist and organized the first Abrahamic summit bringing together Christian, Jews and Muslims in the United States following the 9/11 attacks. The summit led to the creation of the first Abrahamic Round Table with Bishop John Chane, Professor Akbar Ahmed, and Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig becoming a trio that spoke for peace and interfaith dialogue around the United States. Newsweek recognized him as "one of America's most influential Rabbis” and he has received a medal of honour from King Mohammed VI for his leadership on inter-religious cooperation.

The Higher Committee was formed in order to achieve the objectives of the “Document of Human Fraternity", and the development of an operational framework for the goals and objectives set forth in it. The Committee also handles the execution of plans, programs and initiatives to carry out the provisions of the Document, which calls for world peace and coexistence and to ensure a bright and tolerant future for the coming generations.

The tasks of the Higher Committee include overseeing the implementation of the Document at the regional and international levels, and holding international meetings with religious figures, various leaders, heads of international organizations, and other relevant parties. In addition to this, the Committee has a pivotal role in overseeing the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, one of its initial initiatives, embodying the relationship between the three Abrahamic faiths and providing a platform for dialogue, understanding, and coexistence between their religions.

For more information on The Higher Committee for Human Fraternity, please visit www.forhumanfraternity.org

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About the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity

The Pope’s visit to the United Arab Emirates in February 2019 and the signing of the historic Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, inspired leaders from across faith communities and wider society to create a bold new humanitarian mission.

Guided by the values and principles outlined in the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, the Committee’s global mission is to progress a culture of mutual respect and dialogue across all backgrounds, beliefs and nationalities.

The founding Committee members include faith leaders from around the world and new members from other religious groups will be invited to join in the coming months. The Committee’s inaugural meeting took place in September this year. The Committee includes:

• Monsignor Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, Personal Secretary of Pope Francis;
• Judge Mohamed Mahmoud Abdel Salam, Advisor to the Grand Imam;
• Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue;
• Prof Mohamed Hussein Mahrasawi, President of Al-Azhar University;
• Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi;
• Dr Sultan Faisal Al Rumaithi, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders;
• Yasser Hareb

About the Abrahamic Family House

Located on Saadiyat Isand in Abu Dhabi, the Abrahamic Family House will serve as a community for inter-religious dialogue and exchange, nurturing the values of peaceful co-existence and acceptance among different beliefs, nationalities and cultures. 

This landmark initiative will be a place for learning, understanding and worship—open to all and a true reflection of the UAE’s values of tolerance and hospitality. 

Within each of the houses of worship, visitors will have the opportunity to observe religious services, listen to holy scripture and experience sacred rituals. A fourth space—not affiliated with any specific religion—will serve as a center for all people of goodwill to come together as one. The community will also offer educational and event-based programming.

About the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together

At the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Holiness Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, made the first ever papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula. During this trip, Pope Francis and His Eminence Dr. Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, signed the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together on 4 February 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The landmark document addresses how people of different faiths can live together harmoniously. Pope Francis and the Grand Imam describe the need to adopt “a culture of dialogue as the path; mutual cooperation as the code of conduct; reciprocal understanding as the method and standard."

The document also calls on world leaders "to work strenuously to spread the culture of tolerance and of living together in peace…to rediscover the values of peace, justice, goodness, beauty, human fraternity and coexistence in order to confirm the importance of these values as anchors of salvation for all, and to promote them everywhere."

© Press Release 2019