Senior rabbis from Jewish communities across the Muslim world convened in Brussels with European Commissioners, Members of the European Parliament, ambassadors, and diplomatic leaders for the annual ARIS Alliance (Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States) Board Meeting and Diplomatic Dinner.
The event was chaired by Turkey's Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, Chairman of the ARIS Alliance, and included the Chief Rabbis of Iran, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, and Albania. Rabbi Levi Matusof, Chabad representative to the European institutions, organized the gathering and coordinated attendance of senior European officials and diplomatic representatives.
The evening featured the presentation of the Maimonides Award for Tolerance to former UN Special Coordinator Nikolay Mladenov, recognizing his efforts to advance peace and regional cooperation. Ari Lightstone also participated; both serve on President Donald Trump's Abraham Accords Peace Institute Board.
A significant moment occurred when Rabbi Levi Banon of Casablanca offered a prayer for His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco alongside the Ambassadors of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates to the European Union. Chief Rabbi Albert Guigui of Brussels subsequently led a prayer for peace and harmony among nations.
Throughout the event, participants discussed the importance of strengthening cooperation between Jewish communities, European institutions, and the Muslim world, with emphasis on religious freedom, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence. The gathering included discussions with European Commissioners, Members of Parliament, ambassadors, and senior EU officials on matters affecting Jewish communities, interfaith relations, and regional stability.
The organizers acknowledged Mrs. Nechama Tawil of the European Jewish Community Centre for coordinating the event's logistics.