Mission:
This program grew out of Professors Ahmed and Pearl's shared concern about the deterioration of relationships between Muslim and Jewish communities around the world, and their strong belief that reconciliation between these two Abrahamic faiths can be achieved through frank and respectful dialogue.

Origins:
In 2003 the American Jewish Committee invited Professor Judea Pearl, President of the Daniel Pearl Foundation and co-editor of I am Jewish (2004), and Professor Akbar S. Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University and author of Islam Under Siege (2003) to lead a public dialogue in Pittsburgh, PA.   The conversation was to be about the divisions between Muslims and the western world and between Muslims and Jews.  The event had a profound impact on those in attendance and was covered widely in the U.S., Arab and Pakistani press. Due to its success, this personal yet public dialogue now continues in cities across America and abroad.

The Ongoing Project:
Professors Ahmed and Pearl have been invited to continue their program all over the world. The conversations, which are never the same twice, cover issues from theology, history and ideology to politics and current news, and encourage audience participation.  Two organizing principles guide the conversation; first, no Issue is taboo and, second, respect at all times. Professors Ahmed and Pearl believe that these open and honest dialogues are essential to the future of humanity. It is their hope that their public dialogues will carve a path of legitimacy and inspire the communities who participate in them to continue the conversation at the grass root level.

In 2006 Professors Ahmed and Pearl were among the recipients of the first annual Purpose Prize “in recognition of [their] simple, yet innovative approach to solving one of society’s most pressing problems.” See professors Ahmed and Pearls video

Publications:

1.         After Terror

‘After September 11, many thought a clash of civilizations was inevitable. This book offers a different, more hopeful answer of building bridges instead of burning them. I strongly recommend it.’

President Jimmy Carter

After Terror edited by Professors Akbar Ahmed and Brian Forst (Polity Press, 2005) offers a sustained reflection by some of the world’s most celebrated thinkers on the most pressing question of our time: how can we find ways to defuse the ticking bombs of terrorism and excessive interventions against it? Without ignoring the dangers of the modern world, it points to a future in which people can celebrate both the fundamental sentiments that make us human and the diversities that make us interesting. The book includes the essay “On Clash, Morality, Renaissance and Dialogue” by Judea Pearl.

2.         Naseeb Vibes

Naseeb means “destiny” in most languages spoken in the Muslim world, including Arabic, Urdu, Persian, Malaysian, Indonesian, Bangla and Hindi.

Naseeb Vibes, a literary site for Muslims by Muslims, takes The Dialogue online. Naseeb members add their voices through the TalkBack section.  See Professors Ahmed and Pearl’s contributions here:

Building Bridges by Judea Pearl (Naseeb Vibes, 9-1-04)

3.         The Postage Stamp Question - Key to Peace in Palestine by Judea Pearl (Naseeb Vibes, 3-7-05)
Need for a Double Narrative by Akbar Ahmed (Naseeb Vibes, 3-11-05)

4.         Across the Great Divide

Across the Great Divide, an article by Paula Span for the Washington Post Magazine, August 1, 2004 asks the question “Could a public conversation between a Muslim from Pakistan and the Jewish father of murdered reporter Daniel Pearl be something more than ‘just two grandfathers on stage talking?’”

5.         Carving The Path for Muslim Jewish Dialogue

by Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl

Common Ground News Service (CGNews),  January 19, 2006

Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl believe that the incendiary remarks made by Iran's president Ahmadinejad show that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict needs to be viewed in the context of the global tension between Muslims and Jews. They call for "an urgent and powerful international dialogue between Muslims and Jews to air basic grievances and search for common ground and shared goals," and share the wisdom they gained from conducting their own such dialogues.

Preliminary version of this article was posted on Beliefnet, November 17, 2005)

Chronolgy of Dialogue Events

April 28 - May 12, 2008 Beliefnet.com Online Dialogue
Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding
Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl invite you to post your questions about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, about the worldwide relations between Muslims and Jews and other questions. They will respond directly to your questions in this public forum.
http://community.beliefnet.com/?page_id=1107&group_id=1059

Learn about Islam (in York), Seacoast Online, April 16, 2008

April 7, 2008, Portland, Maine
"Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim Jewish Understanding"
Featuring Professors Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl.
University of Southern Maine Hannaford Auditorium of Abromson Hall Portland, Maine
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Contact: Abraham J. Peck,  Director, 207 780-5331
Academic Council for Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Studies      apeck@usm.maine.edu
Link to Flyer
For press coverage click at:
Portland Press Herald, April 8, 2008
The Free Press, April 7, 2008
Seacoast Online, April 16, 2008
For host comments click here.

November 13, 2007 Kansas City, KS
Kansas City Festival of Faiths
Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding featuring Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl
Village Presbyterian Church
6641 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, Kansas
Time: 6 pm
Contact: Janet Burton, Feree Burton Consulting
816-721-4909 913-685-4172
janetburton@fereeburton.com, janetjayburton@sprintmail.com
Link to Flier

October 15, 2007, San Francisco, CA
Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding with Judea Pearl and Souleiman Ghali
Jewish Community Center of San Francisco
3200 California St.
San Francisco
Time: 8:00 pm
Tickets: M $15 & P $18
Contact: Barbara Lane (415)292-1209
blane@jccsf

April 30, 2007, Cerritos, CA
7:00 p.m.
Cerritos College
11110 Alondra Boulevard
Norwalk, CA 90650
"Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding"
Speakers: Judea Pearl, Akbar Ahmed
Contact: Matthew Pizzo matthew_pizzo@hotmail.com

March 26, 2007, Richmond, VA
7:00 p.m.
University of Richmond
The Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding
Speakers: Judea Pearl and Akbar Ahmed
Contact: Martha M. Delgado at martha@duplain.com
Link to Article

November 12, 2006, Hamilton, Ontario (CAN)
Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim Jewish Understanding
Featuring Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl
Contact: Dr. Lorne Finkelstein at lfinkelstein@cogeco.ca
Link to flyer

Bridging a Faith Divide, The Washington Times, December 24, 2006
Two Men, One Goal, No Hatred, Hamilton Spectator, November 10, 2006
World Must Keep Its Faith in Friendship, Hamilton Spectator, November 13, 2006
Let’s Embrace and Respect our Differences, Hamilton Spectator, November 17, 2006
Muslim-Jewish group hosts Judea Pearl, Canadian Jewish News, November 30, 2006

May 29, 2006, Toronto, Canada
Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding featuring Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl
Moderated by Lloyd Robertson – CTV National News
Sponsored by: Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, Temple Har Zion
Time: 7:00 PM
Islamic Iranian Centre of Imam Ali
129 Bermondsey Road
Scarborough, Ontario
Link to flyer

October 30, 2005 at 2:30- 4:30 pm - New York, NY
Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish understanding,
featuring Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl
Location: Museum of Jewish Heritage, - A Living Memorial To The Holocaust
Introductory Remarks by Rabbi Marc Schneier and Russell Simmons of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding
Moderated by Jacki Lyden of NPR
Co-sponsored by the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding
Safra Hall, 36 Battery Place, New York, NY 10280
contact: For information and Tickets 646 437-4202 View Flyer.

May 16, 2005 – UC Irvine, California
Moderated by Rusty Kennedy, Executive Director of the OCHRC
7:00 p.m.
Crystal Cove Auditorium
Student Center
UC Irvine campus
Campus map and directions: www.uci.edu/campusmap
This event is free and open to the public; however reservations are advised.
For more information or to make a reservation, call the Office of the Dean of Students at (949) 824-5590 or www.dos.uci.edu.

May 4, 2005 – Toronto, Canada
Moderated by Hon. Bob Rae
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies
7:00 p.m.
Temple Har Zion
7360 Bayview Avenue.
Temple Har Zion
Thornhill, Ontario L3T2R7
For more information please contact Leo Adler, Director of National Affairs adler@pathcom.com

May 3, 2005 – Ottawa, Canada
An Evening of Peace, Tolerance and Hope
Moderated by Hon. Ed Broadbent (Ottawa Centre, NDP)
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies
7:30 p.m.
The Hilton La Leamy - Grand Salon
3 boluevard du Casino
Gatineau (Quebec)
For more information please call 1-866-864-9735, ext. 0

February 28, 2005 – Duke University, Durham, NC
Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim Jewish Understanding
Featuring Professors Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl
7:00pm
Page Auditorium at Duke University
This event is free and open to the public.
For more information, please contact Susan Kauffman, Office of Public Affairs, susan.kauffman@duke.edu or (919) 681-8975

Articles on the Duke University Dialogue
Slaying turned into call against violence - The Herald Sun, 2-28-05
Prof, father of slain writer talk tolerance - The Duke Chronicle, 3-01-05
Building Bridges Between Jews and Muslims - Duke News, 3-03-05

November 18, 2004 – Baltimore, MD
Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim Jewish Understanding
Featuring Professors Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl
Moderator: John Milewski, Close Up Foundation
84th National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference
4:15pm
Radisson Plaza, Salon C
This event is open only to NCSS conference participants and is being recorded for broadcast on C-Span.

August 8, 2004 - Chicago
Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim Jewish Understanding
Featuring Professors Akbar Ahmed and Judea Pearl
Moderator: Azam Nizamuddin, Esq.
2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
56th Annual Conference of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies   
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Chicago Rooms 6 & 7

June 21-25, 2004 – London, U.K.
Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim Jewish Understanding
Featuring Professor Akbar Ahmed and Professor Judea Pearl
Public Program on Wednesday, June 23, 2004
6:00 p.m.
Brunei Gallery  
University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London
Free and open to the public. No RSVP needed

Articles on the London Dialogue
Daniel Pearl and the Law of Unintended Consequences – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7-11-2004
A very different revenge – The Tablet, 7-3-2004
Jewish-Muslim Dialogue in London  - The Daily Star of Lebanon, 6-26-2004
Father of Murdered Journalist Daniel Pearl Promotes Jewish-Muslim Dialogue - Listen to Voice of America broadcast, 6-25-04

April 18, 2004 – Williamsburg, VA
The Daniel Pearl Dialogue of Acknowledgement and Reconciliation
Featuring: Dr. Akbar Ahmed and Dr. Judea Pearl
3:00 p.m.
Williamsburg Lodge Auditorium
The College of William and Mary
Williamsburg , Virginia
Free and open to the public

Articles on the Williamsburg Dialogue
Pearl & Ahmed dialogue for acknowledgment & reconciliation - W&M News, 4-22-04
Slain Journalist's Father Tackles Hatred - The Virginian Pilot, 4-19-04
Interfaith Talks Spark New Hope - The Daily Press, 4-19-04

January 20, 2004
Choosing Hope: A Dialogue in Search of Common Ground
Featuring: Dr. Akbar Ahmed and Dr. Judea Pearl
Moderator: Larry Kane, veteran broadcast journalist
7:00 p.m.
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
Harrison Auditorium (entrance on 33rd Street between Spruce Street and Convention Avenue)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Free and open to the public

Articles on the Philadelphia Dialogue
Dr. Pearl's Revengeful Dialogue - Pakistan News Service, 1-29-04
Professor Calls for Inter-Faith Harmony - Pakistan Daily Times, 1-26-04
An Open Dialogue Born from Tragedy - Philadelphia Inquirer, 1-20-04
Professor Pearl's op-ed - Continuing a Son's Legacy,  1-18-04
Professor Ahmed's op-ed - Speak, Learn, Befriend,  1-18-04

October 23, 2003 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Towards Interfaith Understanding: A Journey Through Dialogue
Featuring: Dr. Akbar Ahmed and Dr. Judea Pearl
Hosted by David Shtulman, Executive Director, American Jewish Committee of Pittsburgh

Muslim and Jew: Can we talk? Judea Pearl & Akbar Ahmed Forum - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Read Akbar S. Ahmed’s article in the Arab News and Daily Times, Pakistan
Read South Asia Tribune article
Read Pitt News article