Now, more than ever, it is time for all of us to come together

As we begin to emerge from the global COVID-19 pandemic, around the world, and certainly on campus at McMaster and other universities, ethnic and religious tensions have been running high.

In recent weeks, we have borne witness to the painful experiences of Muslims and Jews, members of the Black, Asian and Indigenous communities. The murder of a Muslim family in London, Ont., simply for their religious and cultural affiliation, shook us to our core, raising the spectre of Islamophobia.

The discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children on the site of a former residential school in British Columbia is shocking and horrific. The experiences of those in the Black and Asian communities across North America of late is awful and requires action. And, the antisemitism targeting

Jewish community members in the diaspora is unacceptable and condemnatory.

Unfortunately, this has become a time when far too many among us create and proliferate polarizing divisions, and speak of the world in false (and unhelpful) binaries.

As Spritual Care leaders at McMaster University, we hear from students on a daily basis who feel distressed by these events. These students feel sad, alone and, in many ways, afraid. The unfortunate reality is that we have come to realize that, for far too many, these are incredibly challenging times for this country’s next generation.

Our backgrounds and experiences are diverse, and our religious and political beliefs are varied. McMaster Hillel’s Rabbi Ben is a Jew from the United States. Rev. Andy is an Ecumenical Christian Chaplain at McMaster from Canada. And Imam Hosam is a Muslim serving students at McMaster, from Egpyt.

In many ways, we are an unlikely threesome.

Yet, despite our vast differences in heritage, theology, even age, we value dialogue over demagoguery, compassion over conflict and humanity over hotheadedness. We know that the only way to heal is to come together.

That the best way to overcome the challenges our communities sadly face is to turn to one another in times of need; to extend our hands in peace and in friendship; to identify and build upon shared values; and to teach our children (metaphorically and literally) that the foundation for a brighter tomorrow is built upon the actions we undertake today.

In Deuteronomy 10:19, the Bible states: “You too must befriend the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” In Romans 12:13; 13:8,10, the New Testament states: “extend hospitality to strangers ... Owe no one anything, except to love one another ... Love does no wrong to a neighbour.” In the Qur’an 49:13, it states: “We have made you into peoples and tribes so that you may ‘get to’ know one another.” As faith leaders supporting the next generation of our respective communities, there is no better time than in times of duress to reach outside ourselves and embrace one another.

Now is the time we must come together — to truly listen to each other; to express genuine empathy; and to deepen our relationships through difficult and honest conversations.

With open minds and kindness in our hearts, together, we are listening to the struggles and aspirations of our respective communities. While we may not agree on everything, we acknowledge our shared humanity, our love for one another, and our desire to foster a better and more peaceful future for all.