A guide unto the nations

THE Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) presented the first copy of its new guide to multi-faith interaction – based on halachah, or Jewish law – to Premier Ted Baillieu last Wednesday.

The RCV’s Guidelines of Engagement with Other Faith Communities is the product of more than a year’s research and deals with a broad range of communal matters.

RCV spokesperson Ari Morris said the Premier commended the publication for its foresight and courage regarding engagement with other faith communities.

Rabbi Yaakov Glasman, president of the RCV, said the guide was motivated by a perceived need.

“There are many organisations which have engaged in meaningful dialogue with other faith groups for years now. We sought to create a platform in which such dialogue becomes possible in a halachically acceptable manner,” he said.

“We should be able to build meaningful relationship with fellow human beings, without having to understand the theological underpinnings of their respective religions to do so,” Rabbi Glasman said.

The policy will be made widely available to enable Jewish groups to utilise the resource as they interact with leaders of other faiths.

Publication of the guide caps off a busy time for the RCV.

Among a number of programs has been a course for rabbis’ wives and a lecture on cyber-security.

The new publication is available for download at www.rcv.org.au.

TIMNA JACKS

RCV meet with Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu. Photo: Peter Haskin

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