麻豆社

Good morning

Yesterday, Prime Minister Cameron laid out his plans for tackling home-grown Islamist extremism. I was struck that in this pivotal speech, there were a surprising number of mentions of Jews. He asserted that attitudes towards Jews are one identifiable measure of extremism. He said that the path to extremism often starts with the belief in the pernicious but potent Jewish conspiracy theory.

I appreciate Mr Cameron's robust response to anti-Semitism and the protective references to Jews. But I also worry when this kind of language sits alongside a very different image of British Muslims.

And I'd like to suggest that we look at the ways that Muslims and Jews view each other, as this helps us understand attitudes towards and between ethnic minorities. Often, for example, there鈥檚 an insidious confusion between Jews and Israel. Yes, many British Jews have a strong connection with Israel but this doesn鈥檛 make Jews here accountable for the actions of the Israeli Government.

Similarly, yesterday, many of my Muslim friends were uncomfortable that they felt they are held to account for what does not belong to them, for what is wrongly done in their name - whether here or abroad.

It鈥檚 often the narratives about different groups such as Jews or Muslims that can themselves create reality. The key is in the stories we tell about each other. One narrative of Jews and Muslims for instance, portrays us as enemies - the biblical brothers, Isaac and Ishmael fighting from birth. This is a narrative of inherent, unconquerable differences.

The other narrative, one that I believe in, describes how Jews and Muslims are deeply connected. We've been intertwined for millennia - tracing ourselves back to those same brothers, Isaac and Ishmael. We share similar layers of land, literature and languages. Our identities and practices have been mutually defining.

In Britain, we need to create a bold grassroots narrative to energise us. This should be a narrative that can hold together our differences. A narrative in which different identities are validated and not seen as frightening or divisive but rather as deepening and enriching. We need inspirational narratives that infuse and enthuse us with the joys of being British.

When the Torah describes Ishmael鈥檚 mother, Hagar, weeping, the angel of God turns to her and reassures her, "Don't be afraid - God has heard the voice of Ishmael." If we鈥檙e guided by confidence and not by fear, we can build a Britain that flourishes through trust and diversity. Then, as Abraham himself said, 鈥渨e will all be blessed鈥�.

First broadcast 21 July 2015

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