For the first time, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the American Jewish Committee and the World Council of Religious Leaders, will hold a conference between the spiritual leaders of the major eastern faith traditions and Judaism – religious and intellectual leadership. The conference is intended to provide a framework of dialogue on the growing strategic, political and economic ties between Israel and Asia.

The conference, which will take place between 11-15 September, will be attended by 20 spiritual leaders of the major East Asian faiths (Hindu, Buddhist, Taoism, Sikh, Jain, Shinto, Zoroastrianism), among them some of the most senior spiritual personalities in Asia. The Israeli participants include rabbis from all the streams of Judaism and leading intellectuals in the fields of interfaith dialogue and Jewish thought.

The conference will address issues of shared concern to the spiritual leadership of Israel and the Eastern faiths: The purpose of religion in modern society, safeguarding the planet, the rights of the individual and a just society, the place of religious leadership in advancing peace and the global welfare. Moreover, the Eastern spiritual leaders will meet with the Muslim, Druze and Christian leadership of Israel, and will visit the sites holy to Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

The list of senior spiritual leaders who will be participating includes Venerable Misan, Master Sangdo Seon Center of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Swami Paramatmanandaji, General Secretary and Convener of Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, Rev. Tanenori Terai, Shinto, Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht and others.

The conference will be held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem and at the Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem. The conference schedule also includes tours of the holy sites in Jerusalem and in northern Israel.