US rabbi talks peace in Syria - publicly
By Tovah Lazaroff


As an Orthodox rabbinical student pouring over religious texts in New York,
Marc Gopin never imagined that one day as a rabbi he would give a public talk in Syria about Judaism and peace.
But on Wednesday morning in Damascus – in front of Syrian television cameras and an audience of dozens of people – Gopin spoke about the value of religion in building a tolerant and caring society along with the Mufti of Aleppo, Ahmad Hasoun, and Bishop of the Orthodox Church of Syria, Ghattas Hazim.

In a country known in Israel and the US mostly for its extremist voices, he found a more moderate and compassionate face. "There has never been a meeting like this before, not only of the three religions but also with a group that can ask questions," Gopin told The Jerusalem Post. "My experience here and in other countries is that before there is even a thought of democracy there needs to be a culture of debate. In particular, there needs to be a a culture of conversation between minorities and religions." After more than two decades of conflict-resolution work and back-channel diplomacy throughout which he has believed that religion is a unique bridge-building vehicle, Gopin this week entered Syria for the second time this year.

In January, he slipped into Syria between speaking engagements in Israel to hold a public talk at the Assad Library in Damascus. He also gave television, newspaper and radio interviews. Throughout the eight-day January visit, he was warmly received, but when he returned to his home in Maryland, few believed him.

"In fact, my biggest problem since I left Syria was that no one in Israel believed that the event actually took place, nor that a religious Jew would be treated this way in the capital of Israel's fiercest foe," he later wrote in an article about the event.
This week he returned to Damascus after attending the World Economic Forum in Jordan for an interfaith talk at the Arab Author Union with an extended question-and-answer period among an audience of about 70 comprising politicians, religious leaders and journalists.

Such a public exchange is "unusual" in Syria, said Philip S. Khoury, a professor and dean at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who has written extensively on Syria, but he could not say if it was the first time. "I cannot tell you the import of it, except that it happened and that is a new data point for us to think about," said Khoury.

Gopin said he specifically wanted to do conflict resolution work in Syria because "it's the last front line rejectionist state. Every one of its neighbors is against it now and that is precisely where I want to offer my help," said Gopin. "I am here to demonstrate that there is someone to work with," said Gopin.

The author of several books, an academic and the head of the Center for World Religions and Diplomacy at George Mason University in Virginia, Gopin said he was there both in his professional role and as a Jew.

It was amazing to him that he stood there and was able to speak of the Talmud and the levels of charity and poverty relief set out by the 12th-century Jewish sage, Maimonides.

"I said that the highest levels were the ones that help people in a sustainable way," said Gopin. "I wanted to represent a different kind of Judaism, rather than one they are used to. They are used to a Judaism that is only filtered through what has been done to the Palestinian people or through anti-Semitism."

"There were a lot of hard questions about Israel and Palestine directed at me," said Gopin, who explained that the event was held in Arabic, including the questions, with English translation provided for his benefit.

One person said he felt that an apology needed to be issued for the Balfour Declaration of 1917 set out by the British which first promised a homeland for the Jews in Israel.
"I responded that in the conflict there are many people that need to receive and give apologies," said Gopin.

Such interchanges are important, said Gopin, because "I want people to yell at Israel rather than support extremist attacks. I want them to express in words to a Jew what the feelings are rather than support policies that make peace impossible," said Gopin.

On the whole, the exchange was very respectful, said Gopin. When speaking he said, he noted that Abraham had passed through Syria. "I was also appreciative of the government and wished them well and offered them my help in creating more peace in the region," he added.

He sensed among the people there a yearning for a "new, free, prosperous Syria," said Gopin. He had some harsh words for the United States policy, which he said was too harsh toward Syria even as it was too soft on Saudi Arabia.

The US should be offering Syrians incentives to reform rather than using the "blunt instrument" of pressure.

"When you have a bad situation, you have to offer people a way out," said Gopin. "If they are going to pressure people, they should pressure the right people. There are problems all over the world with extremist regimes. You cannot get anywhere with troubled societies if you single people out. American policy has to be more sophisticated and more subtle."

In this situation, he said, "citizen diplomacy" and religion can be helpful.

In writing of his past visit, Gopin said that in spite of the warm feelings he holds for the Syrians he met, he was also aware that Hamas and Islamic Jihad also had offices in Damascus.

"It never escaped me that I was in the heart of a city that had been at war for my entire life with my ancient homeland, with Israel, and therefore a threat to my cousins and family members there. I lived with this paradox at every moment," he said.

The Syrian Jewish community today numbers less than 300 people. Most of the 30,000 who lived there before 1948 emigrated, many to the US and Israel.

Click here to view pictures of the event