How ‘Interfaith' deletes Palestinians

A Palestinian tatreez (Image provided by author)

Palestinian tatreez symbolizes harmony among religious differences that have traditionally existed in Palestine. Tatreez is a form of Palestinian embroidery.

‘If talk is cheap, how much is interfaith dialogue worth?’ I thought to myself after I attended September’s ‘Interfaith Service’ co-hosted by Columbia University Religious Life, Jewish Theological Seminary, Union Theological Seminary, and the Interfaith Center of New York.

On its face, the program touted an ‘evening of music and reflection to welcome students, faculty, staff and community members in Morningside Heights.’ There would be a recitation from the Holy Qur’an, followed by Christian Hymns, a Buddhist poetry reading, and a song in Hebrew.

A fellow Seminarian who has been involved in taking a stand against genocide said we should protest the event. ‘Why on earth would we do that?’ I responded. I know full well why. ‘They are trying to gaslight us into thinking everything is fine, when there is an active genocide in Palestine!,’ The Seminarian insisted. ‘Of course not, darling boy!’ I told him. 

I assured the Seminarian that there was no way that an institution with the high caliber and reputation of Columbia University would ever do such a thing. A well-known and landmark institution such as Columbia was held in high regard. ‘Of course I will attend the interfaith event,’ I told the Seminarian.

In my heart, I prayed: If I play the role of hypocrite, does that still make me one? 

I contained myself at the hummus table as a man jeered, ‘Better in Israel,’ then stared me dead in the face. Of course it is. I remembered my cousin’s “mom-management” advice: “Smile and nod, cousin. Just smile and nod.” 

Back at my table, I explained how much I related to the lyrics as the choir sang a rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” True to our God, true to our native land.  ‘It is such a lovely evening, isn’t it?’ I asked politely. ‘This song strikes me as an anthem of liberation, very close to my heart, you know? Did I mention I was a Palestinian Christian?’

Multiple people have a claim to Palestine/Israel, obviously. ‘It is about collective liberation, and transcendence, isn’t it?’ I mused as I listened to another song about the Hebrews crossing the River Jordan. ‘That was the river my family crossed during the Palestinian Exile of 1948AD, known to us as the Nakba,’ I explained. 'Did you know in Arabic, the word Hebrew means, 'those who crossed?'‘

The recitation from the Holy Qur’an brought back memories of the years I had spent in the Middle East/Southwest Asia. ‘Isn’t that recitation of the Qu’ran so beautiful?’ I told the poor souls who had the great fortune of sitting with me. I remembered the years I spent visiting mosques in Amman, Cairo, Damascus, Beirut, and Islamabad. 

‘This recitation reminds me just how important prayer is, in all its different contexts.’ I recalled a stinking hot day in downtown Amman, Jordan, just after eating Knafeh, as I heard the call to prayer. I joined Muslim Palestinians and Jordanians in their pre-prayer washing ritual. ‘I’m Christian, boys, so I join you in twadda; but only in the summertime!’ I joked with them. We laughed together. 

Did you know laughing is a Palestinian Human Right? 

Meanwhile, a smiley photographer walked around, seemingly more preoccupied with a photo opportunity than the genocide/plausible case of genocide in Palestine/State of Israel.

Did you know laughing is a Palestinian Human Right? 

‘Would you believe some people thought this Interfaith Event was an attempt to silence and gaslight everyone given what happened with the encampment at Columbia University last year!’ I told her. Yes, I know, we know, and nonetheless, I am here and I am smiling.

Did you know smiling is a Palestinian Human Right? 

‘If we are truly going to live together, this is how it must start,’ I thought before I read the first line of the Episcopal News Service Press Release, entitled: New York’s Interfaith Center hosts service of music, conversation for Columbia students and seminarians. It read:

“The final weeks of the spring semester at Columbia University were disrupted by Pro-Palestinian protests and tense negotiations between university administrators and student leaders. The clashes, which involved law enforcement clearing an on-campus encampment, caused the university to cancel its main graduation ceremony.”

Why on earth would students from Columbia University want to cancel the University's main graduation ceremony?

Odd, I thought, given there was no mention of Palestine/State of Israel or the genocide/plausible case of genocide at the Interfaith Event, whatsoever. It seemed to me to be a genuine attempt at pulling together persons of all faiths, to conduct ‘Interfaith,’ which was why I had suggested not protesting the event

I read on, as the press release clarified things even further for me. It noted that the event was an “agenda-free event,” an allegation denied three times, twice in the article by non-indigenous Christian priests and a third, by me earlier, to the Seminarian. The release ended with a quote, from a non-indigenous Christian priest, he said:

“We have resources to lead this conversation if only we can find the courage.”