Forest Hills Center to Host Talk on Issues That Divide, Unite Jews and Muslims

The Central Queens Y will host a discussion next month on the issues that divide and unite Jews and Muslims.

Rabbi Marc Schneier and Imam Shamsi Ali will take part in Sons of Abraham, which acts as the 17th annual authors café event for the Y.

The talk will take place at 2 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the Forest Hills Jewish Center, located at 106-06 Queens Blvd.

Schneier, who is Orthodox, and Ali, the son of an Indonesian farmer, became friends following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.

During next month’s talk, the two men will candidly confront theological and political issues that divide their two religions and ask Jews and Muslims to step out of their comfort zones and reconnect on common ground.

Schneier serves as vice president of the World Jewish Congress and is the founder and president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. He has been honored by the U.S. Congress and the State of Israel as an advocate for human and civil rights.

Ali is the spiritual leader of Jamaica Muslim Center, which is the city’s largest Islamic center. He also serves on the boards of the Tanenbaum Center, Federation for Middle East Peace and the Muslim Foundation of America.

The event will include kosher desserts and coffee.

There will be a minimum donation of $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Call 718-268-5011, ext. 151, for more information or tickets.