CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en-US" > <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=1024"> <title>'The silence is deafening' – The Australian Jewish News</title> <link rel="amphtml" href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/the-silence-is-deafening/amp/"> <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' />  <script data-cfasync="false" data-pagespeed-no-defer> var gtm4wp_datalayer_name = "dataLayer"; var dataLayer = dataLayer || []; </script>   <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/the-silence-is-deafening/" />  <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//ajax.googleapis.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//static.timesofisrael.com' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='tribe-common-skeleton-style-css' href='https://www.australianjewishnews.com/wp-content/plugins/the-events-calendar/common/src/resources/css/common-skeleton.min.css?ver=4.13.0.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='tribe-tooltip-css' href='https://www.australianjewishnews.com/wp-content/plugins/the-events-calendar/common/src/resources/css/tooltip.min.css?ver=4.13.0.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp_featherlight_css-css' href='https://static.timesofisrael.com/css/wp-featherlight.min.css?ver=1660032348' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='accessibility-css' href='https://static.timesofisrael.com/css/accessibility.css?ver=1710415012' type='text/css' media='all' /> <meta name="tec-api-version" content="v1"><meta name="tec-api-origin" content="https://www.australianjewishnews.com"><link rel="https://theeventscalendar.com/" href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/wp-json/tribe/events/v1/" />   <script data-cfasync="false" data-pagespeed-no-defer> var dataLayer_content = {"pageTitle":"'The silence is deafening' – The Australian Jewish News","pagePostAuthor":"William Khoeun","pagePostTerms":{"post_tag":["TBI","Temple Beth Israel","Interfaith","Multifaith","Australia","Israel","JCCV","Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV)","News"],"writers":["Peter Kohn"],"meta":{"article_media_icon":1,"post_title":"'The silence is deafening'","article_feature_media":1,"article_label":"DEEP DISMAY AT MUSLIM STANCE","article_main_image_caption":"In 2014, Abdul Aziz gives a Muslim call to prayer at Temple Beth Israel's Sacred Music Concert – An Interfaith Celebration. \bPhoto: Peter Haskin","article_feature_type":"normal","article_template":"news","pongrass_image":"PKinterfaith2710_P1","article_featured_media":1}},"postID":1277096}; dataLayer.push( dataLayer_content ); </script> <script data-cfasync="false"> (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-PDHTZLL'); </script> <style type="text/css">html { margin-top: 0 !important; }</style> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=PT+Serif:400,400i,700,700i|Roboto+Condensed:300,300i,400,400i,700,700i|Roboto:100,100i,300,300i,400,400i,500,500i,700,700i,900,900i|Roboto+Slab:100,300,400,700"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/css/style.css?ver=1740661829"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/css/style.css?ver=1740038073"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/css/colors.css?ver=1652593048"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://use.typekit.net/dkn5hcv.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/css/sidebar.css?ver=1740661829">  <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="57x57" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/apple-icon-57x57.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="60x60" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/apple-icon-60x60.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="72x72" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/apple-icon-72x72.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/apple-icon-76x76.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="114x114" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/apple-icon-114x114.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/apple-icon-120x120.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="144x144" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/apple-icon-144x144.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/apple-icon-152x152.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/apple-icon-180x180.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="192x192" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/android-icon-192x192.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="196x196" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/favicon-196x196.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/favicon-32x32.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="96x96" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/favicon-96x96.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/favicon-16x16.png"> <link rel="manifest" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/manifest.json"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#ffffff"> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/images/mstile-144x144.png"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"> <script type="text/javascript" async="async" src="//widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain.js"></script> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="930332940415304"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/the-silence-is-deafening/"> <meta property="og:type" content="article"> <meta property="og:title" content="‘The silence is deafening’"> <meta property="og:description" content=""When you don't differentiate between those [identities] and when you don't condemn the terrorists, you leave us assuming that you stand behind them," he said."> <meta property="og:image" content="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/uploads/2023/10/TBIinterfaithconc_37232.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="600"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="383"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="aus_jewishnews"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="‘The silence is deafening’"> <meta name="twitter:description" content=""When you don't differentiate between those [identities] and when you don't condemn the terrorists, you leave us assuming that you stand behind them," he said."> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/uploads/2023/10/TBIinterfaithconc_37232.jpg"> <meta itemprop="description" content=""When you don't differentiate between those [identities] and when you don't condemn the terrorists, you leave us assuming that you stand behind them," he said."> <meta itemprop="inLanguage" content="en-US"> <meta itemprop="thumbnailUrl" content="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/uploads/2023/10/TBIinterfaithconc_37232.jpg"> <meta name="description" content=""When you don't differentiate between those [identities] and when you don't condemn the terrorists, you leave us assuming that you stand behind them," he said."> <link rel="original-source" href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/the-silence-is-deafening/"> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large"> <script type='text/javascript'> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.pubads().setTargeting("advelvet", (Math.floor(Math.random() * 20) + 1) + ""); }); (function() { var gads = document.createElement('script'); gads.async = true; gads.type = 'text/javascript'; var useSSL = 'https:' == document.location.protocol; gads.src = (useSSL ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js'; var node = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node); })(); </script> <script type='text/javascript'> var ad_website = 'TOI_AJN'; var ad_page = 'Other/'; var ad_page_type = 'Artl/'; googletag.cmd.push(function() { // Top banner (below header) 970x250/320x50 (mobile/desktop) (header_mobile_banner,header_billboard) window.adSlot_ATF_LB_1 = googletag.defineSlot('/178876888/TOI_AJN/Other//Artl//header_billboard', [[970, 250], [728, 90]], 'div-gpt-ad-ATF_LB_1').addService(googletag.pubads()); // (inline article) 250 x 300 after the 3rd paragraph / HP Sidebar (mobile/desktop) (article_mrec_inline,home_mrec_sidebar) window.adSlot_BTF_MPU_1 = googletag.defineSlot('/178876888/TOI_AJN/Other//Artl//article_mrec_inline', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-BTF_MPU_1').addService(googletag.pubads()); // sidebar window.adSlot_BTF_SKY_1 = googletag.defineSlot('/178876888/TOI_AJN/Other//Artl//article_half_page_sidebar', [300, 600], 'div-gpt-ad-BTF_SKY_1').addService(googletag.pubads()); // sidebar window.adSlot_BTF_MPU_2 = googletag.defineSlot('/178876888/TOI_AJN/Other//Artl//article_mrec_sidebar', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-BTF_MPU_2').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.pubads().setTargeting('TOI_articleID', '1277096'); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ fetchMarginPercent: 200, renderMarginPercent: 100, mobileScaling: 2.0 }); }); </script> <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({ google_ad_client: "ca-pub-7063392206232206", enable_page_level_ads: true }); </script>  <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-28398079-1', 'auto', {'allowLinker': true}); ga('require', 'linker'); ga('linker:autoLink', ['ajn.timesofisrael.com', 'www.australianjewishnews.com'] ); ga('create', 'UA-24289530-1', 'auto', 'privatePartnerTracker'); ga('create', 'UA-28398079-11', 'auto', 'partnerTracker'); ga('send', 'pageview'); ga('privatePartnerTracker.send', 'pageview'); ga('partnerTracker.send', 'pageview'); </script>     <script> !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script', 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '3665340873519259'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); </script> <noscript><img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=3665340873519259&ev=PageView&noscript=1" /></noscript>  </head> <body class="post-template-default single single-post postid-1277096 single-format-standard sticky-header small-header AJN tribe-no-js" data-google_analytics_partner_id="UA-28398079-11" data-private_google_analytics_partner_id="UA-28398079-11"> <header class="header"> <div class="menu-control"></div> <div class="container"> <div class="header-top"> <ul class="pages-menu"> <li> <div class="has-children"> <a class="dropdown-btn">About Us</a> <ul class="sub-menu sub-menu-dropdown"> <li><a href="/about/">History</a></li> <li><a href="/staff/">Staff</a></li> </ul> </div> </li> <li><a target="_blank" href="https://advertise.jewishnews.net.au">Advertise with us</a></li>   <li><a href="https://subscribe.jewishnews.net.au/signup">Subscribe</a></li>  </ul> <ul class="social-header social"> <li class="facebook"><a class="popup" data-width="670" data-height="546" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianjewishnews.com%2Fthe-silence-is-deafening%2F"><span>Facebook</span></a></li> <li class="twitter"><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%98The+silence+is+deafening%E2%80%99&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianjewishnews.com%2Fthe-silence-is-deafening%2F&via=aus_jewishnews"><span>X (Twitter)</span></a></li> <li class="whatsapp"><a target="_blank" href="https://wa.me?text=The Australian Jewish News: %26%238216%3BThe+silence+is+deafening%26%238217%3B https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianjewishnews.com%2Fthe-silence-is-deafening%2F"><span>Whatsapp</span></a></li> <li class="email open_mailto" data-article="1277096" data-lang="eng" data-site="The Australian Jewish News" data-title="‘The silence is deafening’"><a target="_blank" href="mailto:?subject=The Australian Jewish News: ‘The silence is deafening’&body=I found this on The Australian Jewish News and thought it might interest you: https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianjewishnews.com%2Fthe-silence-is-deafening%2F" onclick="return false;"><span>email</span></a></li> <li class="print"><a href="javascript:window.print();"><span>Print</span></a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="header-middle"> <div class="header-middle-logo"> <a class="logo has-tagline" href="/"> <img src="https://static.australianjewishnews.com/ajn/images/AJN_logo_main-NEW.svg?v=2"> <div class="israel-war"><p>ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 514</p></div> <span class="tagline">Voice of the Australian Jewish community since 1895</span> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="search-btn" role="button" aria-controls="header-search" aria-expanded="false"> <a href="/search/"><span class="v-hidden">Open Search form</span></a></div> <div class="header-bottom"> <div class="container"> <ul class="main-menu"> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/">Home</a></li> <li class="has-children" ><a href="#" class="dropdown-btn" >News</a> <ul class="sub-menu sub-menu-dropdown more-menu"> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/melbourne">Melbourne </a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/sydney">Sydney</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/australia">Australia </a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/international">international</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/feature-stories/">FEATURES</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/community/">Community</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/education/">Education</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="has-children" ><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/judasim/" class="dropdown-btn" >JUDAISM</a> <ul class="sub-menu sub-menu-dropdown more-menu"> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/shabbatshalom/">Shabbat Shalom</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/wedding/">Wedding</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/barandbatmitzvah/">Bar & Bat Mitzvah</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/yomhaatzmaut/">Yom Ha Atzmaut</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/kosherguide/">Kosher Guide</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/roshhashanah/">Rosh Hashanah</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/simchaguide/">Simcha Guide</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/chanukah/">Chanukah</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="has-children" ><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/arts-entertainment/" class="dropdown-btn" >ARTS & LIFESTYLE</a> <ul class="sub-menu sub-menu-dropdown more-menu"> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/cartoons/">Cartoons</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/fineart/">Fine Art</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/books/">Books</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/tv-and-film/">TV & Film</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/music/">Music</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/theatre/">Theatre</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/homeandliving/">Home & Living</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/foodandrecipies/">Food & Recipes</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/healthandwellness/">Health & Wellness</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/celebrations/">Celebrations</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/travel/">Travel</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/technology/">Technology</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/seniors/">Seniors</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/sport/">Sport</a></li> <li><a href="https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-australian-jewish-news/">Blogs</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/podcasts/">Podcasts</a></li> <li><a href="https://shop.jewishnews.net.au" target="_blank">Photos</a></li> <li class="has-children" ><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/specialprojects/" class="dropdown-btn" >SPECIAL PROJECTS</a> <ul class="sub-menu sub-menu-dropdown more-menu"> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/future-jews/">Future Jews</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/inspired-series/">Inspired</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/changemakers/">Changemakers</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/competitions/">Competitions</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/thetentproject/">The Tent Project</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="has-children ajd-partners"><a href="#" class="dropdown-btn">Partners</a> <ul class="sub-menu sub-menu-dropdown">  <li><a data-id="4" href="https://www.atlantajewishtimes.com">Atlanta<br/><span>Atlanta Jewish Times</span></a></li>  <li><a data-id="1" href="http://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com">North New Jersey<br/><span>The Jewish Standard</span></a></li> <li><a data-id="5" href="https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com">Pittsburgh<br/><span>Jewish Chronicle</span></a></li> <li><a data-id="2" href="https://www.jewishnews.co.uk">United Kingdom<br/><span>The Jewish News</span></a></li> <li><a data-id="7" href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/">Australia<br/><span>The Australian Jewish News</span></a></li> <li><a data-id="0" href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/local/">For Publishers<br/><span>Become a Partner</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="search-btn"> <a href="/search/"><span class="v-hidden">search</span></a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="header-search"> <div class="container"> <form class="search-form" method="get" action="/search/"> <div class="wrap-input"> <input type="text" autocomplete="off" name="q" placeholder="Type here to search" value="" class="search-input" /> <div class="clear-text"></div> </div> <input type="submit" value="search" name="submit" /> </form> </div> </div> </header> <div class="main"> <div class="wrap-article"> <article id="article_1277096" class="article sticky-sidebar-parent news" data-next_article_id="1277050" data-article_id="1277096" data-article_url_http="http://www.australianjewishnews.com/the-silence-is-deafening/" data-article_url="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/the-silence-is-deafening/" data-article_title_full="‘The silence is deafening’ | The Australian Jewish News" data-article_title="‘The silence is deafening’" data-article_description=""When you don't differentiate between those [identities] and when you don't condemn the terrorists, you leave us assuming that you stand behind them," he said." data-image_url="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/uploads/2023/10/TBIinterfaithconc_37232.jpg" data-image_width="600" data-image_height="383"> <div class="banner-placeholder-ajn"> <div id="div-gpt-ad-ATF_LB_1" class="banner b728x90 ATF_LB_1" data-class=".banner.b728x90.ATF_LB_1" data-old-name="ATF_LB_1" data-name="header_billboard" data-size="[[970, 250], [728, 90]]" data-account="178876888" > <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-ATF_LB_1"); }); </script> </div></div> <div class="sidebar-control">home page</div> <div class="article-content-container sticky-sidebar-relative"> <div class="article-wrap"> <header> <div class="above-headline"><span class="label"><span class="label" data-text="DEEP DISMAY AT MUSLIM STANCE">DEEP DISMAY AT MUSLIM STANCE</span></span><span class="overline empty"></span></div> <h1 class="headline">‘The silence is deafening’</h1> <h2 class="underline">"When you don't differentiate between those [identities] and when you don't condemn the terrorists, you leave us assuming that you stand behind them," he said.</h2> <div class="under-headline"> <div class="wrap-byline"> <span class="byline"> By <a title="Peter Kohn" href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/writers/peter-kohn/">Peter Kohn</a> </span> <span class="date">October 30, 2023, 6:37 am</span> <span class="comments"> <a href="#comments"></a> </span> <span class="edit empty"> <a data-id="1277096" href="/wp-admin/post.php?post=1277096&action=edit">Edit</a> </span> </div> <ul class="social"> <li class="facebook"> <a class="popup" data-width="670" data-height="546" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianjewishnews.com%2Fthe-silence-is-deafening%2F"> <span>Facebook</span> </a> </li><li class="twitter"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%98The+silence+is+deafening%E2%80%99&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianjewishnews.com%2Fthe-silence-is-deafening%2F&via=aus_jewishnews"> <span>Twitter</span> </a> </li><li class="whatsapp"><a target="_blank" href="https://wa.me?text=The Australian Jewish News: %26%238216%3BThe+silence+is+deafening%26%238217%3B https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianjewishnews.com%2Fthe-silence-is-deafening%2F"><span></span></a></li><li class="email open_mailto" data-article="1277096" data-lang="eng" data-site="The Australian Jewish News" data-title="‘The silence is deafening’"> <a target="_blank" href="mailto:?subject=The Australian Jewish News: ‘The silence is deafening’&body=I found this on The Australian Jewish News and thought it might interest you: https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianjewishnews.com%2Fthe-silence-is-deafening%2F" onclick="return false;"> <span>email</span> </a> </li><li class="print"><a href="javascript:window.print();"><span>Print</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </header> <div class="media"><a rel="lightbox" href="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/uploads/2023/10/TBIinterfaithconc_37232.jpg"><img width="600" height="375" src="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/uploads/2023/10/TBIinterfaithconc_37232-640x400.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="In 2014, Abdul Aziz gives a Muslim call to prayer at Temple Beth Israel's Sacred Music Concert – An Interfaith Celebration. Photo: Peter Haskin" decoding="async" title="In 2014, Abdul Aziz gives a Muslim call to prayer at Temple Beth Israel's Sacred Music Concert – An Interfaith Celebration. Photo: Peter Haskin" /></a><div class="caption">In 2014, Abdul Aziz gives a Muslim call to prayer at Temple Beth Israel's Sacred Music Concert – An Interfaith Celebration. Photo: Peter Haskin</div></div> <div class="article-content"> <div class="the-content"> <p>“THE silence is deafening.” That’s the sombre impression of Temple Beth Israel (TBI) chazan Michel Laloum, a Victorian Jewish interfaith leader, about his long wait – and that of his colleagues in Melbourne’s Progressive Jewish community – for an elusive local Muslim response to the anti-Jewish atrocities in Israel on October 7. <p>Laloum, who represents TBI in the Port Phillip Multifaith Network, said he has had many messages of support from representatives of Christian, Buddhist and other faith communities since October 7, but so far, there has been no response from the network’s Muslim representatives. <div id="div-gpt-ad-BTF_MPU_1" class="banner b300x250 BTF_MPU_1" data-class=".banner.b300x250.BTF_MPU_1" data-old-name="BTF_MPU_1" data-name="article_mrec_inline" data-size="[300, 250]" data-account="178876888" > <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-BTF_MPU_1"); }); </script> </div> <p>An avowed believer in fostering close and productive interfaith ties, Laloum spearheaded TBI’s interfaith concerts of 2014 and 2016, which brought the music and the cultures of Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities to the shule. <p>He has conducted training in interfaith relations, particularly in pastoral care, and has trained hospital carers about cultural sensitivities in various faith communities.</p> <p>Laloum told The AJN that when it comes to the October 7 bloodshed, Muslim community representatives have not differentiated “between Arab, Muslim and Hamas” in withholding what had been widely anticipated messages of compassion for the Jewish community in Melbourne at this dark time, as families in Australia and Israel share their grief and fear.</p> <p>“When you don’t differentiate between those [identities] and when you don’t condemn the terrorists, you leave us assuming that you stand behind them,” he said.</p> <p>Laloum said that at present TBI does not intend to withdraw from the Port Phillip Multifaith Network after last week’s widely publicised announcement by the Jewish Community Council of Victoria that it has suspended its membership in the Jewish, Christian & Muslim Association (JCMA), as well as withdrawals from JCMA chair Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann and past president Rabbi Ralph Genende.</p> <p>But he is deeply dismayed at the inaction from Muslim leaders within the Port Phillip group.</p> <p>“In all the work that we’ve done over the many years as friends, we’ve stood next to each other.</p> <p>“I recognise also they have a community that they represent, however forward thinking they might be as individuals.</p> <p>“[But] their role as leaders is to lead – and we’re not seeing a lot of that leadership come out. The silence is deafening at the moment,” said Laloum.</p> <p>“They haven’t followed up with any expression of horror at what is being done to those who were kidnapped, including 80-year-old women, grandmas and babies. It’s a war crime, it’s terrorism. It’s not going to achieve anything.”</p> <p class="newsletter-promo moveto-p2"> <a href="/signup/?utm_source=ajn-articles&utm_medium=middle-link&utm_campaign=signup-buttons"> Get The AJN Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories </a> <a href="/signup/?utm_source=ajn-articles&utm_medium=middle-link&utm_campaign=signup-buttons"> Free Sign Up </a> </p> </div> <div class="article-topics"> <div>read more:</div> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/tbi/">TBI</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/temple-beth-israel/">Temple Beth Israel</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/interfaith/">Interfaith</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/multifaith/">Multifaith</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/australia/">Australia</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/israel/">Israel</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/jccv/">JCCV</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/jewish-community-council-of-victoria/">Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV)</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.australianjewishnews.com/topic/news/">News</a> </li> </ul> </div> <ul class="social bottom"> <li class="facebook"> <a class="popup" data-width="670" data-height="546" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianjewishnews.com%2Fthe-silence-is-deafening%2F"> <span>Facebook</span> </a> </li><li class="twitter"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%98The+silence+is+deafening%E2%80%99&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianjewishnews.com%2Fthe-silence-is-deafening%2F&via=aus_jewishnews"> <span>Twitter</span> </a> </li><li class="whatsapp"><a target="_blank" href="https://wa.me?text=The Australian Jewish News: %26%238216%3BThe+silence+is+deafening%26%238217%3B https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianjewishnews.com%2Fthe-silence-is-deafening%2F"><span></span></a></li><li class="email open_mailto" data-article="1277096" data-lang="eng" data-site="The Australian Jewish News" data-title="‘The silence is deafening’"> <a target="_blank" href="mailto:?subject=The Australian Jewish News: ‘The silence is deafening’&body=I found this on The Australian Jewish News and thought it might interest you: https%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianjewishnews.com%2Fthe-silence-is-deafening%2F" onclick="return false;"> <span>email</span> </a> </li><li class="print"><a href="javascript:window.print();"><span>Print</span></a></li> </ul>   <div id="comments" class="comments"> <h5>comments </h5> <div class="fb-comments" data-href="http://www.australianjewishnews.com/the-silence-is-deafening/" data-numposts="5"></div> </div>  </div> </div> <aside class="sidebar sticky-sidebar"> <div class="sticky-sidebar-wrap"> <div id="div-gpt-ad-BTF_SKY_1" class="banner b300x250 BTF_SKY_1" data-class=".banner.b300x250.BTF_SKY_1" data-old-name="BTF_SKY_1" data-name="article_half_page_sidebar" data-size="[300, 250]" data-account="178876888" > <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-BTF_SKY_1"); }); </script> </div>    <div id="div-gpt-ad-BTF_MPU_2" class="banner b300x250 BTF_MPU_2" data-class=".banner.b300x250.BTF_MPU_2" data-old-name="BTF_MPU_2" data-name="article_mrec_sidebar" data-size="[300, 250]" data-account="178876888" > <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-BTF_MPU_2"); }); </script> </div> </div> </aside> </div> </article> </div> <div class="ajax-sidebar main"></div> </div> <script> ( function ( body ) { 'use strict'; body.className = body.className.replace( /\btribe-no-js\b/, 'tribe-js' ); } )( document.body ); </script>   <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-PDHTZLL" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden" aria-hidden="true"></iframe></noscript> <script> /* <![CDATA[ */var tribe_l10n_datatables = {"aria":{"sort_ascending":": activate to sort column ascending","sort_descending":": activate to sort column descending"},"length_menu":"Show _MENU_ entries","empty_table":"No data available in table","info":"Showing _START_ to _END_ of _TOTAL_ entries","info_empty":"Showing 0 to 0 of 0 entries","info_filtered":"(filtered from _MAX_ total entries)","zero_records":"No matching records found","search":"Search:","all_selected_text":"All items on this page were selected. ","select_all_link":"Select all pages","clear_selection":"Clear Selection.","pagination":{"all":"All","next":"Next","previous":"Previous"},"select":{"rows":{"0":"","_":": Selected %d rows","1":": Selected 1 row"}},"datepicker":{"dayNames":["Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday"],"dayNamesShort":["Sun","Mon","Tue","Wed","Thu","Fri","Sat"],"dayNamesMin":["S","M","T","W","T","F","S"],"monthNames":["January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"monthNamesShort":["January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"monthNamesMin":["Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"],"nextText":"Next","prevText":"Prev","currentText":"Today","closeText":"Done","today":"Today","clear":"Clear"}};/* ]]> */ </script><script type="text/javascript" src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.4.1/jquery.min.js?ver=3.4.1" id="jquery-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://static.timesofisrael.com/js/jquery.fitvids.js?ver=1740661829" id="fitvids-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://static.timesofisrael.com/js/responsiveslides.min.js?ver=1.55" id="responsiveslides-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://static.timesofisrael.com/js/global_functions.js?ver=1740661829" id="global_functions-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://static.timesofisrael.com/js/dev-wpFeatherlight.pkgd.js?ver=1740661830-3" id="wp_featherlight_js-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://static.timesofisrael.com/ajn/js/functions.js?ver=1740038073" id="local_functions-js"></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://static.timesofisrael.com/js/popup_functions.js?ver=1740661829'></script> <script src='https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js'></script>  <link rel="stylesheet" id="widget-calendar-pro-style-css" href="https://ajn.timesofisrael.com/wp-content/plugins/events-calendar-pro/src/resources/css/widget-calendar-full.css?ver=4.4.7" type="text/css" media="all"> <link rel="stylesheet" id="tribe_events-widget-calendar-pro-style-css" href="https://ajn.timesofisrael.com/wp-content/plugins/events-calendar-pro/src/resources/css/widget-calendar-theme.css?ver=4.4.7" type="text/css" media="all"> <link rel="stylesheet" id="tribe_events--widget-calendar-pro-override-style-css" href="https://ajn.timesofisrael.com/wp-content/plugins/events-calendar-pro/src/resources/css/widget-calendar-theme.css?ver=4.4.7" type="text/css" media="all"> <script type='text/javascript'> /* <![CDATA[ */ var TribeMiniCalendar = {"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/ajn.timesofisrael.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://ajn.timesofisrael.com/wp-content/plugins/events-calendar-pro/src/resources/js/widget-calendar.js?ver=4.4.7"></script>  <div id="fb-root"></div> <script> window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId : '930332940415304', xfbml : true, version : 'v5.0' }); FB.AppEvents.logPageView(); FB.Event.subscribe('comment.create', function (response) { jQuery.ajax({ type: "POST", url: "/wp-content/themes/rgb/functions/facebook.php", data: { p: "1277096", c: response.commentID, a: "add" } }); }); FB.Event.subscribe('comment.remove', function (response) { jQuery.ajax({ type: "POST", url: "/wp-content/themes/rgb/functions/facebook.php", data: { p: "1277096", c: response.commentID, a: "rem" } }); }); }; (function(d, s, id){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); </script>  <script> window.twttr = (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], t = window.twttr || {}; if (d.getElementById(id)) return t; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); t._e = []; t.ready = function(f) { t._e.push(f); }; return t; }(document, "script", "twitter-wjs")); </script> </body> </html>