Mosaica's Center for Inter-Religious Cooperation is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 by Rabbi Michael Melchior and Prof. Elie Wiesel, two leading figures in the field of peace and reconciliation, joined by Jewish leaders in the areas of education, religion, culture and society, who are committed to reconciliation and inter-religious dialogue.
Mosaica's vision is founded on the premise that effective dialogue between Jews and Muslims is only possible under conditions of mutual trust in the realm of religion. This derives from the understanding that today's conflict in the Middle East is based not only upon territory but on culture, ethnicity and religion, which are at the roots of the conflict and the key to its resolution.
The Center is committed to providing an innovative approach to conflict transformation and resolution, based on universal and traditional Jewish values of mutual respect, reconciliation and justice.
The Mosaica Center set itself a goal to translate the principles of the “Alexandria Declaration of the Religious Leaders of the Holy Land” into concrete actions that would impact upon the lives of Jews, Muslims and Christians in the region. The “Alexandria Declaration” is a historic document, signed in 2002 at the peak of violence of the second Intifada, by prominent religious leaders ― Jews, Muslims and Christians ― in a joint effort, calling for an end to incitement against the Other and to bloodshed in the name of religion, and laying the foundations for a coalition of rational, moderate religious leadership. The principles of the Alexandria Declaration have been endorsed by the Pope, the foreign ministers of the “Quartet”, the Secretary General of the United Nations and the US Government. These principles have already been applied successfully in resolving a number of inter-religious conflicts in the region and elsewhere.
The historic signing of the Alexandria Declaration holds a message of hope for change and a future of reconciliation and stability in the relations between Jews and Muslims in the Middle East. Inspired by the values and principles of this declaration, the Mosaica Center, together with its partners, promotes and implements these values and principles among the various communities within the Jewish and Muslim sectors – targeting community leaders, educators, students, academic institutions, among others. Mosaica's activities focus on expanding and deepening inter-religious dialogue in the Middle East on a grassroots basis.
Goals:
The Mosaica Center aims to realize the potential of the “Alexandria Declaration” and lead to the implementation of its principles through the following objectives:
To widen the inter-religious coalition of religious leaders in the region and the circles of inter-religious diplomacy established at the Alexandria Summit, amongst others, by creating a cadre of religious leaders who will serve as prominent agents for dialogue and change between and within the different religious communities. To deepen the inter-religious dialogue between Jews and Muslims in the Middle East through educational programs and dialogue sessions, and by training facilitators to implement such programs. To establish a cadre of learned religious leaders who would disseminate moderate interpretations of religious sources used by extremist factors. This would provide legitimacy and religious validity to the recognition of the Jewish people and the State of Israel instead of standing in the way of dialogue. These leaders would take vigorous steps, among widespread populations, to publicize their interpretations in the written and electronic media, in academic publications, mosque sermons, educational institutions, community centers and elsewhere. To establish a joint inter-religious forum to confront regional and worldwide occurrences of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. To develop and implement a new model of conflict management and resolution within the framework of inter-religious dialogue, the multi-dimensional model. To produce and disseminate comprehensive and reliable knowledge to the general public, academicians, educators and policy makers.
Target Population:
While other organizations aimed at inter-religious dialogue generally engage secular populations, Mosaica is unique in targeting the various religious populations – the Jewish ultra-orthodox, national religious, Sepharadi religious, among others, as well as the traditional and devout Muslim population.
In an effort to generate deep and significant change in the culture of dialogue in the Middle East towards a future of rapprochement, reconciliation and trust, the Center specifically targets religious communities affiliated with the most traditional sectors of the three monotheistic religions. These populations are generally known for their insularity and opposition to change and for their uncompromising stance on issues related to the Middle East conflict. This is Mosaica's aim in directing its efforts towards religious, spiritual, and community leaders, educators and students in religious institutions, in the hope that change of attitude among the traditional community will affect that society as a whole. Mosaica's Center for Inter-Religious Dialogue is chaired by Dr. Aviad HaCohen, Dean of Shaarei Mishpat Academic College, Senior lecturer in Constitutional Law and Jewish Law at the Law Faculty of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and research associate at the Van Leer Institute in Jerusalem. Mosaica is directed by Gita Hazani.
Board of Directors
Dr. Aviad HaCohen
Jordan Herzberg
Rabbi Ari Smaja
Dr. Elisheva Baumgarten
Dr. Robert Rozett
Public Council
Aryeh Lova Eliav
Prof. Avishai Braverman
Bobby Brown
Aharon Yadlin
Rabbi Michael Briss
A.B. Yehoshua
Dr Alean Al-Krenawi
Rabbi Mordechai Peron
Yossi Chahanover
Prof. Anita Shapira
Donors
S. Daniel and Ewa Abraham
Caesarea Foundation
Baron & Baroness Benjamin de Rothschild
Rita & Harold Divine Foundation
Engelberg Foundation
Greenspun Family
The Norwegian Fund
for Support for Jewish Institutes or Projects Outside Norway Rich Foundation
Alan B. Slifka Foundation
Tres Culturas Foundation
United States Institute of Peace
Mosaica's Partners:
The Adam Center for Peace and Dialogue was established as a Mosaica project operating from Kfar Kassem in conjunction with Mosaica. At its initial stage, the Adam Center serves as the arm of Mosaica in the Muslim world, promoting inter-religious dialogue within the Muslim world. At its next stage, the Adam Center project will operate as an independent non-profit organization to continue promoting inter-religious dialogue among Muslims, Jews and Christians in the Middle East.
The Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME) was established in London in 2005 by Lord Carey of Clifton and Canon Andrew White, who played significant roles in the process leading to the signing of the Alexandria Declaration. The Foundation was established with the aim of continuing the inter-religious reconciliation project in the Middle East which they commenced at Alexandria. Among its other functions, the Foundation serves as a bridge between the Mosaica Center and the Jewish world on the one hand, and the Christian world in the Middle East on the other. 
