WASHINGTON – A group of 26 community and faith leaders from around the world arrived in the United States to begin an inaugural initiative in the U.S. on interfaith dialogue and religious freedom, including the issue of antisemitism.

While in the Washington, the delegation “met with representatives of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and discussed their educational initiatives, civic programs, an initiative on Holocaust denial and antisemitism. The participants will continue this dialogue on how cooperation between people of faith can lead to peace and prosperity globally with American leaders across the United States,” according to a State Department spokesperson.

Established by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in July, the International Visitor Leadership Program consists of participants from diverse religious and ethnic background, in addition to secular institutions, engaging in conversations with each other and their American counterparts to further interfaith discourse and explore how to protect the rights of religious minorities.

From Washington, participants will travel in smaller groups for meetings and events throughout the U.S. before the program ends in California. Each group will look at the effect of religion on public and political life in the country, examine the purpose of religious heads in communities, and illustrate the U.S. belief in separation of religion and state.

Source:https://www.jns.org/feed/