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Good morning.

One small human act gave me reason to hope this week. A Jewish colleague told me how three of her Muslim female friends accompanied her to Friday night prayers at her Synagogue in London. She’d been concerned about a rise in anti-semitic attacks in the UK because of events in Israel and Gaza. Figures show reports of incidents have gone up five fold in the UK in two weeks. But she said that gesture of accompaniment, which she felt was not without risk for her companions, made her feel ‘held and loved - a statement of support not of our political sides, but of our friendship.’

As a researcher on race hate crimes against the Sikh community, I am all too aware how major geopolitical events, as well as accompanying inflammatory political rhetoric, can result in hate crimes. They can have a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities. It’s brought into sharp focus when it involves children.

I was shocked to read the story of the 6 year old Muslim boy Wadea Al Fayoume , stabbed to death in his home in Chicago, allegedly because of his religion. His last words to his mother, Mom I’m fine, sent shivers down my spine. Police believe his attacker had been upset by the Israel-Hamas war. Present at his funeral at the mosque was a Rabbi, Ari Hart showing friendship in the midst of hatred.

Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru actively sought to engage with other religious communities and traditions, to learn and to share his universal teachings, and mostly to emphasise the oneness of God and humanity. Accounts of his life discuss his meetings with Hindus, Yogis, Muslims and Buddhists, while on his extensive travels, sometimes at risk to himself. . The dialogue was never to subjugate, dominate, convert or degrade the ‘other’ but to understand and learn. The holy scripture of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Shaib, is an epitome of inter-religious cooperation and harmony, it contains the words not just of Sikh Gurus, but also of medieval saints and mystics belonging to diverse social, religious and cultural traditions, again emphasising that no one tradition has a monopoly on truth.

Thankfully we are seeing steps taken by individuals and communities to engage and unify against hatred. It was heartening to see the image of 3 faith leaders, a Christian, a Muslim and a Jew outside Lambeth Palace coming together to condemn hatred and discrimination. Building and strengthening bridges is never easy and often takes bravery and compromise.. As Rabbi Ari Hart said on attending Wadea’s funeral “I can’t say that it was simple to be there. These are not simple times.’

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