There is a Moroccan proverb that says that the more spices you add to the food, the more you enhance the flavor.
This was told to President Isaac Herzog on Monday by a member of a delegation of imams from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK. All of them engage in interfaith work; at least half have a Moroccan background, but all reside in Europe.
Herzog interpreted the proverb in its Israeli context, saying that Israel’s citizens include immigrants from most countries in the Arab world, each bringing with them some of the customs and traditions of the places from which they came.
The president greeted his guests in Arabic and then continued in Hebrew, “We are all the children of Abraham.” He added that when he had visited the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba on the day following Hamas’s October 7 massacre, Jewish and Arab staff were working together in treating the wounded and the injured.
Led by imam Hassen Chalghoumi, the chairman of the Conference of Imams of France and the chair of People for Peace, the group is in Israel under the auspices of ELNET, a European, pro-Israel NGO advocacy group, which, through its activities, helps its partners in Europe to become more active and confident in countering anti-Israel sentiments.
The meeting at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem was conducted in Hebrew, Arabic, and English, with simultaneous translations.
Chalghoumi said that the imams prayed for the innocent people still being held as hostages in Gaza and expressed the wish for their speedy return to Israel.
He introduced each of the members of the delegation to Herzog and explained that they all love, respect, and admire Israel, believe in its right to defend itself, applaud its resilience, and are opposed to terrorism, violence, and the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas and Iran.
“We are living in a changing world,” he said as he spoke of the imams’ efforts to promote interfaith dialogue, democracy, and peaceful coexistence.
Herzog was confident that there would eventually be peace and coexistence between Israel and its neighbors.
He asked each of his guests to share something about themselves and what they do. Those who were born in Morocco said that there were no problems between Muslims and Jews in Morocco and credited this mainly to the policies of the late King Hassan II, whom Chalghoumi said had been one of the leaders of change in the region.
Among the more gregarious members of the delegation was Youssef Masbeh, who, for the past twenty years, has served as an imam in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway. He was trained at the Mohammed VI Institute for Imams and Morchidines in Rabat.
A new style of Israel's national anthem
He chanted a song of praise and love for Herzog and the State of Israel and suggested that everyone stand up and sing Hatikvah.
Herzog was somewhat taken aback because Israeli Muslims do not sing Hatikvah, the national anthem of the Jewish people.
But the song of hope that Masbeh sang was not the song with the familiar tune and lyrics. It was a Middle Eastern melody, and the lyrics spoke of hope for a better world for all.
Although they did not stand up, his colleagues enthusiastically joined in, clapping as they sang.
When they finished, they all rose and individually and collectively embraced Herzog.
The image and the ambiance were vastly different from those prevailing at anti-Israel rallies worldwide.