In episode two, Imam Nasser Kurdy and Rabbi Dovid Lewis explore the roots of their personal and religious connections to the land at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The episode explores the personal, religious and cultural connections that Dovid and Nasser feel toward Israel and Palestine, questioning whether attachment to a land is about ownership, heritage, religion or spiritual longing.

They discuss what it means to care so deeply about a place neither was born in, and how faith and religion have shaped their perspectives as a pro-Palestine Muslim and a pro-Israel Jew - both living in Manchester.

They explain what it truly means to belong to a land, and ask how a sense of belonging can be shared by different peoples with overlapping histories.

Throughout, Nasser and Dovid try to model the power of open, respectful dialogue, even when discussing the most sensitive of topics.

This is a Mark Schweiger and Larchmont Productions co-production, supported by the Cardinal Partnership Foundation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first episode we get to know Imam Nasser Kurdy and Rabbi Dovid Lewis; how they met, whether Kosher food is also Halal, how Nasser’s stabbing changed their relationship and why October 7th changed everything in their lives.

Background to podcast

In the very best of times, it’s rare for an Orthodox Rabbi and Imam to become such good friends - but how much more so since October 7th?

Since that day, Muslims and Jews the world over have stopped talking to each other, and in some cases turned on each other - leaving communities worldwide heartbroken.

Yet Nasser and Dovid, religious neighbours in south Manchester, England, not only choose to keep their friendship alive but are trying to use it as a force for good.

This is how our podcast came about.

This bi-weekly series (every two weeks) will explore how a 'pro-Palestine' Muslim and a 'pro-Israel' Jew, have maintained a friendship through open and honest dialogue, even as war rages thousands of miles away and is affecting relationships within their local communities.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about the podcast please email mark@schweigers.uk or philip@larchmontfilms.com

This is a Mark Schweiger and Larchmont Productions co-production, supported by the Cardinal Partnership Foundation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trail for a new podcast series about The Rabbi, The Imam and the Power of Dialogue.

This is a Mark Schweiger and Larchmont Productions co-production, supported by the Cardinal Partnership Foundation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.