In a moment when Israel is often portrayed solely through the lens of polarization and conflict, this webinar offered a different, rarely seen perspective – one focused on how interfaith dialogue and coexistence are actively taking place on the ground.

American Friends of the University of Haifa was pleased to host a timely conversation moderated by Prof. Uriel Simonsohn, Founding Director of the Haifa Laboratory for Religious Studies (HLRS) and the Frieze Center for Shared Society at the University of Haifa. The discussion featured three community leaders and graduates of the University’s MA program in Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation – representing Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities.

Housed within HLRS, this pioneering, first-of-its-kind MA program in Israel is designed specifically for religious leaders. It brings together Druze, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish participants for sustained academic study and practical engagement focused on interfaith dialogue, cooperation, and shared society.

Through personal reflection and lived experience, the panel explored how interfaith dialogue functions in practice, why Haifa offers a uniquely fertile environment for coexistence, and how the University of Haifa is helping shape a more nuanced and hopeful reality – one that is often absent from international media coverage.