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Jerusalem, Israel - On Sunday, February 19, 2006, Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger called for the creation of "a religious United Nations." Metzger suggested that the religious u.n., which would represent the religious leaders of all the countries of the world, should be established in Jerusalem.
The meeting was attended by Metzger, chief rabbi of the Hasidic Ashkenazi Sect, Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, various kadis (Ethiopian rabbis),Islamic sheikhs, and the Dalai Lama. Rabbi Metzger further suggested that the exiled Tibetan leader should head the new organization.
The Dalai Lama, a self-proclaimed admirer of the Jewish people, has met with rabbis in the past to learn more about Judaism, and how to survive in exile. Many parallels have been made between the Tibetan people's exile in 1959, and the Jews' exile from the land of Israel.
"Religious leaders will get the opportunity to meet one another and discover that they have more in common than they may have realized," Metzger said.
The meeting's organizer, Rabbi Menahem Fruman of Tekoa, said, "The Zionist secular state of Israel is considered an evil knife of blasphemy by Hamas leaders. But if you send the Chief rabbis to speak with the Hamas in religious language I believe we can get them to recognize a Jewish entity of some kind."
Prior to the meeting, Kadi Muhamed Zibde, a judge on Jerusalem's State Shari'a Court, said, "Peace is the principle wish of Islam. All monotheistic religions believe there is inherent holiness in human life. Nonviolence is a value." He said he hoped to present to the Dalai Lama - and to the rabbis - "a more sane version of Islam."
The Dalai Lama said religious leaders have a special responsibility with regards to the current climate of violence. Of this new endeavor, he said, "Any noble work is bound to have obstacles. We need determination to pursue justice and truth."