Menachem Froman was an Israeli rabbi who worked closely with Palestinian leaders such as Yasser Arafat and attempted to negotiate peace between Israel and Palestine. He is known for giving away copies of the Koran to Muslim leaders and attempting to build bridges between Muslims and Jews by holding interfaith dialogues.
He claimed the Holy Land was for Christians, Muslims and Jews and ought to be shared by all faiths, not something that endeared him to many of his countrymen. Rabbi Froman wrote a letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas about his last conversation with Yasser Arafat:
“I remember my last conversation with him, close to his death, when he answered me with emotion: "You are my brother!" and of course it is possible to explain his emotion, that he wanted to tell me, close to his death, that the two nations – the Israelis and the Palestinians – are brothers, that if the fate of one improves so does the fate of its double.”
Rabbi Froman attempted to draw up a ceasefire agreement between Israeli and Palestinian leaders during the siege of Gaza in 2008. He negotiated an agreement with Palestinian journalist Khaled Amayreh who was close to Hamas leaders and Khaled Amayreh passed on the proposal to Hamas. The agreement called for the immediate cease of all attacks on Israeli citizens and the return of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and the end the Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip. Hamas leaders endorsed it but Israeli leaders would not respond when offered the proposal.
Before he died of cancer in 2013, he was interviewed and the following is a transcript of the interview:
Historically, the majority of wars have been grounded in religious conflict. Why should religion play a constructive role now?
“Religious energy is like nuclear energy. It can either destroy the world or build it. Politics and religion is like gunpowder and matches. In the Middle East, the energy and the motivation come from religion, on both sides. If politics and religion can be separated, religion can fulfill a positive role.”
It is widely accepted that the main stumbling block in the peace process is Jerusalem. What solution do you propose?
“Jerusalem is the easiest problem to tackle. Material issues such as water and land are much more difficult. I have always said that peace cannot be achieved in the Holy Land without taking religion into account first. You cannot ask either side to give up, since both sides feel that Jerusalem belongs to God and therefore cannot be given away. So I say: give Jerusalem to God.”
What does that mean in practical terms?
“The Temple Mount has no oil, no gold and no water. It contains the deepest emotions of Christians, Jews and Muslims. It contains holy faith. The religious committee that I propose will be responsible for removing the Temple Mount from the politicians’ jurisdiction. It is forbidden to enter a holy site with arms. Let us take arms out of all holy areas.”
How would you describe your role as religious leader?
“I am a rabbi and as such I strive to attain the correct spiritual atmosphere. I don’t solve problems but I try to improve the basis upon which issues may be settled. I’m not a political person nor am I a subcontractor of politicians. I have pure religious interests in learning together with Muslims. This is the whole secret of religion – to meet the other side. “Love your neighbor” is the key to religion.”
After being diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2010, Rabbi Froman decided to add “Hai Shalom” (living peace) to his last name and re-dedicated his life to peace and coexistence between Jews and Arabs in Israel. Despite treatment by both conventional and natural means, he passed away on the evening of 4 March 2013, at the age of 68.
His funeral in Tekoa on 5 March 2013 was attended by thousands of people of all political and religious ideologies and was filled with music and poetry.
- from the Urban Joshua, available on Amazon:
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