WASHINGTON—A group of 26 community and faith leaders from around the world arrived in the United States to begin an inaugural initiative on interfaith dialogue and religious freedom, including the issue of anti-Semitism.
While in the Washington, the delegation met “with representatives of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and discussed their educational initiatives, civic programs, and initiative on Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism. The participants will continue this dialogue on how cooperation between people of faith can lead to peace and prosperity globally with American leaders across the United States,” according to a State Department spokesperson.
Established by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in July, the International Visitor Leadership Program consists of participants from diverse religious and ethnic background, in addition to secular institutions. The goal is to engage in conversation with each other and their American counterparts to further interfaith discourse and explore how to protect the rights of religious minorities.
From Washington, participants will travel in smaller groups for meetings and events throughout the United States before the program ends in California.
Groups will examine the effects of religion on public and political life, and the purpose of religious leaders in individual communities, as well as illustrate the long-held American belief in separation of religion and state.
