Tomer Shalev of the Abrahamic Movement in Haifa told the gathering that he had gone to the mosque of the Ahmadiyya community in Haifa and heard Imam Muhammad Sharif Odeh speak. “I thought he was an amazing leader,” Shalev said. “He speaks words of truth, and he looks reality in the eye.”

“And I envied you – your spiritual leaders.”Tomer Shalev, Building a Shared Future program

Then he said it plainly. Later in his remarks he added: “I don’t want to mention what is happening with us.” He did not elaborate on what he meant.

A Haifa answer from Rabbi Yoel Oz

Rabbi Yoel Oz, President of the Abrahamic Movement Israel and one of its founders, responded with an example from Haifa itself: Rabbi She’ar Yashuv Cohen, the city’s former Chief Rabbi and the son of Rav HaNazir.

Rav HaNazir edited Rav Kook’s philosophical writings in Orot HaKodesh. According to Rabbi Oz, he brought out “the elements in Rav Kook that are more universal, the ethics, and not necessarily the nationalism and ultra-nationalism.”

“But Rav HaNazir was very special,” Rabbi Oz said, “and Rabbi She’ar Yashuv Cohen drew from that.”

Why the exchange matters

The remarks were short, but they point to a theme that runs through interfaith work: that moral clarity and honest reading of reality are valued across traditions, and that every community has voices that draw on its more universal teachings. Mr. Shalev’s admiration for an imam, and Rabbi Oz’s reply pointing to a rabbinic tradition of universal ethics, show participants looking for common ground in each other’s spiritual heritage.

The full remarks can be heard in the video shared by Tom Wegnor, Founder and CEO of Abrahamic Movement Global, in his post on X.