An organisation which aims to promote greater understanding of the Jewish faith has opened an office in Abu Dhabi, its first in the Arab region.
The Sidney Lerner Centre for Arab-Jewish Understanding, in Abu Dhabi Global Market, will work to strengthen ties between Israel and Arab nations and build relations between Muslim and Jewish people.
The American Jewish Committee’s 13th global office opens after “decades of quiet engagement” between the group and Arab leaders across the region.
It is testament to the growth of UAE-Israeli ties since the signing of the landmark Abraham Accords in 2020, which normalised relations between the nations.
We want to support both the Abraham Accords themselves and the spirit of seeking to expand that circle of peace
David Harris,
chief executive of the American Jewish Committee
“With the Abu Dhabi office we now have 13 posts overseas,” said David Harris, the chief executive of the American Jewish Committee.
“I guess this is our bar mitzvah post. Traditionally Jewish boys have a ceremony at the age of 13. It’s meant to symbolise the transition from childhood to manhood.”
AJC was founded in 1906 with a dual mission – which continues today – to protect Jews wherever they are in danger, and extend and defend democratic values and respect for human dignity.
The global advocacy organisation’s Abu Dhabi branch has three overarching aims, Mr Harris said.
“We want to support both the Abraham Accords themselves and the spirit of seeking to expand that circle of peace. And the UAE is a very good place to explore opportunities, to not just deepen but widen them,” he said.
The organisation also aims to contribute to strengthening understanding in the US and the “revolution” that has taken place in terms of relationships in the region.
“Thirdly, we have set for ourselves a rather ambitious goal of trying to make the 21st century the century of flowering of Muslim-Jewish relations,” Mr Harris said.
“That will not happen overnight but it is occurring and wherever it is occurring it is very exciting to watch, mostly as members of both faith communities come to know each other and realise we have far more in common than we ever could have imagined.
“It has been that separation that has prevented people from seeing the commonalities.”
The AJC office will be led by Marc Sievers, its first director, a retired American foreign service officer who was US ambassador to Oman from 2016 to 2019.
He and his family loved it so much they decided to stay on in the country.
“Initially we started a consulting business as I retired and this came along and I saw the historic opportunity,” he said.
He heard about the office opening up, so contacted AJC to ask who would be running it.
“I got no answer. Several weeks later I received a message which said 'can we talk?'. It went from there. So I joined on June 1.
“The office is also a regional office. We hope to see what opportunities there are to expand the relationship of peace between Israel and countries in the Gulf.
“This week we were in Bahrain for two days. But this is our base, this is our home.”
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Ferrari
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
More on Quran memorisation:
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Two products to make at home
Toilet cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)
Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.
2. Add the essential oil to the mix.
Air Freshener
100ml water
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)
Method:
1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.
2. Shake well before use.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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Test squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan(wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah
Twenty20 squad: Babar Azam (captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs: 2018 GMC Terrain
Price, base / as tested: Dh94,600 / Dh159,700
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 353Nm @ 2,500rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.4L / 100km
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
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Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
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Winner: Samau Xmnsor, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
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7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Jinjal, Fabrice Veron, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Al Sail, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
