Hijab meets kippa as faiths say hello

By Linda Morris, Religious Affairs Reporter
November 25, 2005

When 120 students of Muslim, Christian and Jewish faiths came together yesterday, the talk was not just about religion but Australia's soccer success against Uruguay and Australian Idol.

At lunchtime, 40 year 11 students, wearing hijabs (Muslim headscarves), Christian crosses and the kippa (Jewish skullcap), formed themselves into a circle to play ball.

Coming so soon after police raids on suspected Muslim terrorist cells, the encounter was a delight to behold, said Vic Aldaheff, the chief executive officer of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.

At a time when there was so much tension and mistrust, "what this program does is dispel racial and ethnic stereotypes", he said. "The students see each other as people and get to know each other as people.

"They are Australian kids proud of their religious identity. Most have never met someone of a different faith, let alone had a chance to know one."

The Youth Encounter's program is in only its second year. Last year, 60 year 11 students from three schools were brought together for a day of classroom interaction.

The program is organised by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the Affinity Intercultural Foundation. Before coming together, the students spent six weeks learning about each other's faiths, as well as their own.

Next year it is hoped the program will grow by another three schools and 60 students.

Mehmet Ozalp, the president of the Affinity Intercultural Foundation, said a website was under construction so students could help stay in touch and take the message of tolerance and harmony to university.

Dialogue between the faiths needed to be an integral part of state education policies, he said.

"The world is moving from a multicultural to a multifaith society where faith is becoming a more of factor in how we identity ourselves.

"We hope we are planting the seeds of something that will grow in influence in society."