A delegation of rabbis representing Jewish communities across Muslim-majority nations met Monday with Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at Lusail Palace to express condolences following the death of the emir's father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The delegation was led by Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, president of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States (ARIS), an organization representing rabbis serving Jewish communities in Muslim-majority countries. The emir's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, also attended.
Following the meeting, Chitrik characterized the reception as warm and described the visit as an expression of friendship, mutual respect and interfaith cooperation. He noted the delegation had an opportunity to thank Qatari authorities for their support of the country's Jewish community.
"Times of war and conflict test the strength of friendships," Chitrik said, noting that the visit underscored the importance of maintaining dialogue between Muslim and Jewish communities, particularly during periods of regional tension.
According to Chitrik, ARIS represents rabbis serving approximately 110,000 Jews across 18 Muslim-majority countries. He characterized those communities as examples of coexistence and tolerance between Jews and Muslims despite ongoing geopolitical challenges. While acknowledging that Jewish populations in many Muslim-majority countries have declined significantly over the past century, he said their continued presence remains meaningful.
Chitrik stated that lasting peace requires diplomatic efforts between governments as well as stronger relationships among individuals, neighbors and religious communities.