EJP:

Rabbi Michel Serfaty has strengthened his battle for inter-religious dialogue with a first Jewish-Muslim friendship tour of the infamous inner-city suburbs of Paris. The friendship bus started its route on Friday in Corbeil-Essones and reached two other Paris suburbs in the afternoon. Rabbi Serfaty, and some Jewish and Muslim volunteers set up their big cardboard sign calling on passers-by to help them �build the Jewish-Muslim friendship� while handing out leaflets. �I was surprised when I read the sign, but it was a good surprise,� said Farihane Larabi, a young Muslim student, wearing a headscarf who came across the friendship bus in Corbeil. �I support the rabbi�s initiative, which I just discovered. I think this is exactly what we need today, when �Islamophobia� and anti-Semitism are on a rise.� Although the initiative struck a chord with many people, several young Muslim men were seen criticising the friendship tour, saying Muslims shouldn�t collaborate with the �Zionists�. But Larabi disagreed. �The part that surprised me most,� she said, �is when I convinced some of the young men that dialogue with Jews was a good thing. I made a difference. I think that�s the best part of my day…….