Last week I was blessed to participate in the first Forum of Young Religious Leaders,held in Astana, Kazakhstan. The forum was part of the annual meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Participants came from dozens of countries around the globe, representing a rich diversity of religions, and speaking different languages: from Chinese speaking Tao monks to Russian speaking priests to Kazakh speaking Bahai representatives. I met Shi’a leaders from Iran, and scholars of AlAzhar, the most prestigious Islamic university in the Sunni Muslim world. Each participant added a unique color to the rich tapestry of religious diversity at the conference, and I was truly honored to be the Jewish representative.
One of the highlights of the program was the opening reception, hosted by Maulen Ashimbayev, Head of the Secretariat of the Congress. In addition to a four course meal, well appreciated by the participants who came from all over the globe, we got to appreciate the rich cultural heritage of Kazakhstan, with an incredible music and dance program.
Later on we were also offered the chance to visit cultural and touristic sites around Astana–-I chose to visit the Yryskeldy Haji Mosque, which is one of only three mosques in the world that uses solar panels to produce more energy than it consumes. The head imam of the mosque came to greet me, and another imam showed me around the mosque and patiently answered questions about the mosque, and about Islam in Astana in general.
The forum itself began the next morning with an exhibition showcasing artwork by schoolchildren in Kazakhstan under the themes of Peace and Spirituality. In the book corner, dozens of books and monographs were on display. I was honored to present two books: The Lesson of the Olive Tree: contemporary thoughts on the Torah, which I published just a week earlier, and The Write Path, an anthology of writing by Israeli and Palestinian youth from four religious backgrounds that we published through the Writers Matter program. Before leaving the art and publication section, we were invited to draw or sign a giant peace banner.
The dialogue portion of the forum began next. This inaugural forum focused on the approach of religion to contemporary issues, from sustainable development, to artificial intelligence and technology. We heard from a range of speakers, with the benefit of simultaneous translation to maximize inclusion. My own speech was on technology and religious values, and I focused on encouraging us to consider what our core religious values are, and how we can use technology to enrich our religious experiences and our interpersonal relationships. The conference was further enriched by the participation of dozens of volunteers and local participants, who asked questions during the panels.
Beyond the immediate benefits of learning from so many incredible religious leaders, I left the conference feeling inspired and spiritually rejuvenated. Coming from a conflict zone and an ongoing war, during which religion has often been abused and exploited to promote hate, not love, to divide rather than unite, it was refreshing to be enveloped in a feeling of brotherhood from the moment I stepped foot in Kazakhstan. This was thanks to the thoughtful conference organizers, the wonderful participants, and atmosphere in Kazakhstan: a religious pluralism and tolerance that is sadly far too rare. Each conference participant’s needs had been carefully planned, which in my case meant an abundance of wrapped Kosher meals provided by the Chabad of Astana. It may sound like a fantasy for a religious Jew coming from Israel to break bread with Muslim leaders from Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, and other countries in the region, but thanks to the Forum of Young Religious Leaders, and Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, I got to experience it in person. It was heartening to experience that, and empowering to realize that there are many others who have dedicated their time and energy to turning the dream of religious tolerance and peace into a new global reality.
