The Greater Washington Muslim-Jewish Forum is an umbrella organization of nonprofits that work to improve Muslim-Jewish relations based in the Washington, D.C. area. ¹

Members

The organization’s member organizations include the Jewish-Islamic Dialogue Society; Jews and Muslims of Washington, D.C.; the Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center, All Dulles Area Muslim Society; Temple Rodef Shalom; Islamic Society of North America; and the American Jewish Committee. ² The group was “created under the auspices of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding,” and its core values are “standing up for each other, educating ourselves about each other, and organizing cultural, social service and festive events.” ^{3 4}

Activities

The organization sponsored a bus tour for several years in the Washington, D.C. called “Spread Hummus, not Hate.” During the tour, the Greater Washington Muslim-Jewish Forum gave out pita bread and hummus and to students and community members to improve Muslim-Jewish relations. ⁵

Walter Ruby, the chairman of the Greater Washington Muslim-Jewish Forum, appeared on a forum with controversial radical-left scholar Ibram X. Kendi to discuss the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding’s Islamophobia Index. ⁶

The organization is a member of the Global Network, a grassroots initiative started by the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU), an advocacy group that claims to support increased relations between Muslim and Jewish communities. The Global Network is made from Muslim-Jewish conferences and forums based in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. ^{7 8}

1. “About Greater Washington Muslim-Jewish Forum.” Greater Washington Muslim-Jewish Forum. Facebook. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/gwmjf/about_details.
2. “About Greater Washington Muslim-Jewish Forum.” Greater Washington Muslim-Jewish Forum. Facebook. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/gwmjf/about_details.
3. Markoe, Lauren. “‘Spread hummus, not hate’ campaign unites Muslims, Jews.” Religion News Service. October 14, 2014. https://religionnews.com/2014/10/14/spread-hummus-hate-campaign-bonds-muslims-jews/.
4. “About Greater Washington Muslim-Jewish Forum.” Greater Washington Muslim-Jewish Forum. Facebook. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/gwmjf/about_details.
5. Markoe, Lauren. “‘Spread hummus, not hate’ campaign unites Muslims, Jews.” Religion News Service. October 14, 2014. https://religionnews.com/2014/10/14/spread-hummus-hate-campaign-bonds-muslims-jews/.
6. “American Muslim Poll 2019: Predicting and Preventing Islamophobia.” New York University. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://www.nyu.edu/washington-dc/dc-dialogues/events-by-year/2019/american-muslim-poll-2019–predicting-and-preventing-islamophobi.html.
7. “Global Network.” Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, Accessed November 28, 2023. https://ffeu.org/muslim-jewish/grassroots-initiatives/global-network/
8. “Grassroots Initiatives.” Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, Accessed November 28, 2023. https://ffeu.org/muslim-jewish/grassroots-initiatives/