A Pilgrimage to Andalusia Sponsored by the Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue
May 28, 2025
From May 19–26, a group of 27 Muslims, Jews, and Christians toured Andalusian Spain together.
Generously sponsored by the Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue at JTS, the group included 14 Muslims from the Peace Islands Institutes of Philadelphia and New York. The Peace Islands groups are followers of the late Turkish Imam Fethullah Guelen. The National Council of Synagogues sent a delegation of eight Jews on the trip; seven were rabbis among whom four are graduates of JTS. The five Christians were also clergy (two Catholics and three Protestants).
The pilgrims visited Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Sevilla, and Granada. In Cordoba they saw the famous Mosque/Cathedral.
In Granada they toured al Hambra.
The pilgrims made new friends and shared many meals.
On the bus rides, they shared their stories and forged alliances.
One of the rabbis commented, “Traveling with Peace Islands was such a blessing. Our conversations and study were deep and personal and I learned so much . . . We spoke about future trips to Bethlehem (the Gulen compound), Morocco, and ultimately Istanbul/Jerusalem.”
One of the Muslim leaders summarized: “In Madrid, our first handshakes were stronger than jet-lag, and welcome met us in our shared language. In Toledo, where mosques, synagogues, and churches share narrow streets, I learned that harmony can live longer than any wall when we care for it. In Córdoba, beneath the arches of the great mosque-cathedral and inside the old synagogue, beauty blooms when cultures honor one another. In Seville, the courtyards of the Royal Alcázar, with their patterned tiles and whispered memories, taught that history is a bridge, never a wall. In Granada, the Alhambra showed that art, spirit, and reason can live together like flowers from one root . . . The Qur’an says: “We made you peoples and tribes so that you may know one another.” (49:13) The Torah says: “You shall love the stranger.” (Deut 10:19) The Gospel says: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mk 12:31) Three books—one clear melody: meet, listen, love. This trip may feel like a small step, yet it is a first step—and first steps matter. I believe we must work even harder, together, to make our world a better place.”
Another said, “We at Peace Islands Institute New York will continue to bring together, educate, collaborate with our diverse communities to help overcome hate, prejudice and racism and increase respect and understanding between and within our communities” They studied together and learned from one another.
Media coverage in Spanish newspapers wrote about the trip:
Musulmanes, cristianos y judíos visitan la España de las tres culturas – Alfa y Omega
Now home, the weary travelers all agree that this is the first step of a long journey towards interreligious cooperation and harmony.
