AND HERE’S MODI
AND HERE’S MODI is an inside look at the man behind the microphone. Hosted by comedian, Modi (@modi_live), AHM features a raw and unfiltered side of the comedian rarely seen on stage. He always finds the funny as he navigates the worlds of comedy, trending topics, his personal life and spirituality. AHM is co-hosted by Periel Aschenbrand (@perielaschenbrand) and Leo Veiga (@leo_veiga_).
AND HERE’S MODI
Sharaka
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Episode 107: Modi and Periel are joined by Dan Feferman and Loay Alshareef of SHARAKA ("partnership in Arabic") - a non profit organization working to shape a New Middle East, built on dialogue, understanding, cooperation and friendship between Arabs/Muslims and Jews.
Modi's special "Know Your Audience" is available now.
For all upcoming shows visit www.modilive.com.
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Former Islamist to Peace Activist
Speaker 1Welcome to and here's Modi . And welcome to and here's Modi . Wow , I haven't been in the studio in a while . I forgot how to do this . We want to thank our friends , collaborators , friends , really just friends , friends , really just friends . Weitz and Luxembourg , the law firm that does not only well , they do good , philanthropic and just an amazing law firm . Our friend Arthur from Weitz and Luxembourg , and the website is WeitzLuxcom . Weitzluxcom . Thank you very much . Let's just go right into it . What ?
Speaker 2You forgot to say the name of the show .
Speaker 1Our name , of our show . If they're listening I think they know it's . And here's Modi , and welcome to it , and we have a very , very special guest here today . You'll do the intro . I will , because you've got it all written out there .
Speaker 2I have it all written out . Make it easy .
Speaker 1Don't do like a eulogy .
Speaker 2Don't read it , just improv it a little bit . No , but like , go ahead , go ahead , go ahead . Okay , so we do have a very special guest . We have half of a very special guest duo . One of them is running late .
Speaker 3Louis Al-Sharif .
Speaker 2Al-Sharif .
Speaker 3It's Lou-I Al-Sharif . Lou-i yeah , but Americans butcher my name .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 3So I decided to follow one of my American friends . He told me your name will not be Luai , but Louie . Yeah , that's that's the American name .
Speaker 2That happened to me too , with Perio . Okay , so you were born in the UAE .
Speaker 3I was born in Saudi Arabia and I'm based in the UAE .
Speaker 2I'm based in Abu Dhabi .
Speaker 3Okay .
Speaker 2Yeah , and I'm reading here so that you're .
Speaker 1Maybe you can help us with your intro . How do you want the guests to know who you are Exactly ?
Speaker 3Because , whoever wrote that intro is not doing it right .
Speaker 2We can yell at Dan when he gets here . Tell us .
Speaker 1Tell us , tell us , tell us , tell us who are you .
Speaker 3I'm a content creator of languages and history and peace activist and I create content on social media in support of the Abraham Accords and the reconciliation between Arabs and Israelis , muslims and Jews . This is what I do on social media . That's amazing , but I started social media like 10 years ago or so no , no More than 10 years , 12 years ago with a show to teach people English through Hollywood movies .
Speaker 2Wow , wow .
Speaker 3To the Arab audience .
Speaker 2Yeah , sure .
Speaker 3To the Arab audience . And then I how to say this ? I went to so many ladders . One ladder was languages , and then history , and then the Arab-Israeli reconciliation after living with a Jewish family in 2010 . Israeli reconciliation after living with a Jewish family in 2010 . That was the great life transforming change that really changed my views on Israel and on Judaism .
Speaker 2So the thing that was so interesting to me is that and this might be wrong also that it said that you are a former Islamist anti-Semite and then you became through learning about Judaism , torah , hebrew and languages .
Speaker 3That is correct , okay .
Speaker 2A hundred percent that is the right way .
Speaker 3Exactly , I was a former Islamist , but you know , that was like when I was from the age of 18 to 22 . Okay , so I was so young , yeah , but I was so young , yeah , but I was very influenced by Islamism from school , from the media , from so many things , and I was taking Islam very seriously . I was a very devout religious Muslim , so I took religious texts very seriously , religious texts that tell you you should never take Jews and Christians as friends , the fierce enemies of the believers are the Jews .
Speaker 3Jihad Exactly , oh Jihad , of course there's a whole chapter in there . But Jihad , Jihad , Jihad . As a word , it means struggle . It's a good thing , but now you can never say this because it's a terrible thing . However you try to justify it , it's still a terrible thing , so go ahead , so tell me . Yeah , but I was so faithful .
Speaker 1Is that what it really means In a struggle ? It means struggle yeah . But not to kill other people .
Speaker 3Then that's the broader meaning of the jihad .
Speaker 1So in Torah , whenever we say to fight our enemies and to fight Mitzrayim , which is Egypt . So Mitzrayim is a perimeter and within it , yes , it's Mitzrayim , it's a land , it's people that kept us slaves , but it's also our Mitzrayim , our borders . We have to fight our borders . So are you saying that jihad is your own inner ?
Speaker 3fight . That's my current interpretation .
Speaker 1That's a great one compared to other people's interpretations . Of course it's a very good one .
Speaker 3Of course , but my current interpretation is being opposed by Islamists , and I know how Islamists think because I was thinking the same way .
Speaker 3So the current interpretation that you're saying that , as you say in Judaism , our Mitzrayim is our borders- Exactly that you're saying that , as you say in Judaism , our Mitzrayim is our borders and jihad is the struggle to get the best out of yourself , to get the best out of your obedience to God , is not the same jihad that is being actually broadcasted by Islamists . Jihad now means killing Jews and Christians for the sake of Allah to go to heaven . Right , I'm being very blunt and honest . Which it's ? It's I , I . And , by the way , killing Jews and Christians , even even those who don't have , who don't carry a gun . Right , like October 7th , people call what happened jihad . You see how people ran into the Supernova Music Festival ? Yeah , how people ran into the supernova music festival ? Yeah , raped women , killed the innocent , rammed into the supernova music festival and killed people unarmed . According to their , according to their definition , this is jihad . Right , this is not what I believe in , but I know where that comes from , because when I was young and I was filled with islamic texts , I know that there are some texts that can sorry to say this can justify this .
Speaker 3Islam needs a reform , and I say that in a way that I love . My religion , like so many religions , went through a reform . Islam is the youngest Abrahamic faith and it needs a reform . And a reform I don't mean a reform that excludes God or that makes it very secular , no , no , no . A reform that keeps it religious but keeps it open to other people as well to love the fellow human being without the hate , and to say to those religious texts that exist that incite hate against others , like Jews and Christians , that they should be read in the historical context , without being extended further , without being applied every time and everywhere , like Islamists do . So I love what you say , the former Islamist but yeah , I was even . I was so young , but I had these kind of ideas , and those who are recovered are the best to explain , of course , how to save their fellow Muslims from falling into the same trap .
Speaker 1There is an insane amount of recruiting going on in Islam , and it's with the extremists .
Speaker 3I tell you the steps very , very clear . Yes , so let's take myself as an 18-year-old guy , or an 18-year-old or an 18 year old boy . You love religion , you love god . You are so sincere in your , in your loving , so you feel that you love god . Okay , so the first thing , you have to follow god to the word . Okay , so all the verses of the quran have to be read to the word , right ? No interpretation . Don't listen to those , uh , moderate muslims . No interpretation . So the quran says never take jews , moderate Muslims . So the Quran says never take Jews and Christians as friends . You should never take Jews and Christians as friends . Don't tell me context . It applies every time and everywhere . So you are sincere in that and you think , okay , this is what God wants . So I will never take Jews and Christians as friends . I will incite hate against Jews and Christians . Sorry to say this , but I'm just being honest . Sorry , sorry .
Speaker 1I'm just saying we understand you've changed . You're explaining to my audience right now what is happening in the heads of extreme .
Speaker 3Of those who don't want to change .
Speaker 1Of those who don't want to change . Of those who don't want to change .
Speaker 3So you're being very faithful to this . So you say , okay , I'm not going to take Jews and Christians as friends , I'm going to hate Jews and Christians . I'm going to hate Jews because they worship the golden calf , even though the current , the nowadays Jews , they don't . They have a different .
Speaker 1It's very funny . This is the week of the . This is the week we read in Torah about the golden calf .
Speaker 3But you know how many . But you know how many people send me messages on Instagram . How , how could you befriend people who worship the golden calves ?
Speaker 1And again , the golden calf in the Torah is , yes , the golden calf . They put their , the women . The women actually didn't give their jewelry . The men got the money and they got the gold and they built this calf . But it's really a calf , it's other things . Exactly , it's symbolic . The golden calf is money , capitalism showing off . That's what it really means .
Speaker 3But that's the modern interpretation . This is why I'm telling you it's not that modern .
Speaker 1Even old teachings teach us In Kabbalah . It's symbolic of what a golden calf is but Kabbalah .
Speaker 3to some Jews is considered blasphemy .
Speaker 1No , not blasphemy . It's never considered blasphemy . No , not blasphemy . It's never considered blasphemy . It's considered a teaching . That is , only when you've reached a certain level . But there are things in Kabbalah that we apply all the time , but that's one of them . The golden calf is everything is a golden calf Chasing your ego and chasing I want the Oscar , a big golden calf right there and doing whatever you have to do and destroying people on the way to get there . But when ?
Speaker 3people say this . When people say this to me , they think that the Jews , literally are still worshiping the golden calf , not worshiping God . So when I quote verses from the Bible that says Adonai huha , elohim en'od melvedo , they say but the Jews don't believe in this . The Jews are polytheists . The Jews believe that Ezra is the son of God . We have a verse in the Quran that says that , by the way that the Jews said that the Ezra is the son of God , and this verse is very problematic because no single interpretation fixed it or dealt with it in a way that is very scientific .
Speaker 1It's so funny , first of all , that you're saying that the Adonai Hu Elohim I don't know how many videos I get of the Western Wall the Kotel HaMaravi , you know what I'm talking about on the other side of the mosque and they have the Sephardic Jews screaming that Not screaming singing it and they sound exactly like Arab people , Like Muazzin , but they're saying exactly what you're saying . They're screaming out that God is . And I always remind everybody the main prayer we have is Shema Yisrael , the night of Hindonai , a hero , Israel , the Lord , our God . The Lord is one Right , but the Lord is one . It's not , there's one God , it's one oneness . Is God Me , you , Periel , sitting here ? This is God , this is godliness .
Speaker 3But also God is one , because this is what I like about Judaism . It's what I call the Israelite monotheism that you only worship God . This is what makes Judaism very close to Islam , by the way . In that sense , it's so close . It's so close , yeah .
Speaker 1It's insane , especially Sephardic Jews , the way pray , the nusach , the theme of , not the theme the intonations , it sounds almost the same . You guys pray five times a day . Do you know where that came from ? That came from . Yom Kippur is a five time a day when we pray and go on the floor and we do a Yom Kippur .
Speaker 1Very similar In my act I talk about how , you know , I always try to get things that are similar . I said the one thing I give the Muslims credit for is these are men that can go on the floor and get up every day at least five times . How many Jews can go on the floor and then get back up again , you know as a joke , but it's we do five times , not everybody , only the Orthodox Jews , the real sinners we're all real sinners hello , now the Jews here .
Speaker 1Late the Jews here , but late . Okay . Well , he bought you a coffee you're on Israeli time .
Speaker 2He's on Israeli time . Okay , the first . I brought you a coffee . I brought you a coffee .
Speaker 1You're on Israeli time , not Jewish time . He's on Israeli time , yo Come on . I've never been in New York on a Sunday . Okay , yalla boom .
Speaker 3But the first encounter , I would say the first encounter with a Jewish family in Paris really shifted that view and made it , and made it thank you so much , dan and made it Caness and made the curiosity .
Speaker 1He's getting a lap dance in the middle . He's discussing Islam and Judaism . He's getting a lap dance in the middle of the whole thing . Look how thick your hair is .
Speaker 3And made this curiosity change from hate to knowing more . And this is how you change people change from hate to knowing more . Yeah .
Speaker 4And this is how you change people . Baruch , haba Baruch ha-nimtah , Baruch ha-nimtah .
Speaker 1No , okay , so we're having a conversation here . We are in it To recap for you and anybody who maybe is just popping in right
Comedy for Peace in Middle East
Speaker 1now in the podcast . To recap for you and anybody who maybe is just popping in right now in the podcast we're discussing Islam and how , again , you gave them a wrong bio .
Speaker 3By the way , I was not born in the UAE , I was born in Saudi Arabia . I didn't give them a bio at all . Who gave them the bio ? He lives in the UAE .
Speaker 1That's why I don't do the bios . Okay , I don't do it , so welcome , thank you . Thank you so much . And what's your bio ? What's ?
Speaker 4my bio . I grew up . I grew up . I'm from Israel . I grew up in the marvelous Jewish Mecca of Indiana . You know where there's so many Jews there , right .
Speaker 2In .
Speaker 4India .
Speaker 1Indiana , indiana . Okay , yes , I've heard of Indiana . You fly between your shows in LA and New York I've been into . Yeah , yeah , yeah , yeah .
Speaker 4Okay . So I grew up there Jewish family , Iraqi Ashkenazi Jewish family and I went back to Israel for my whole adult life . I've been living there for 20 years , Served for a long time in the IDF . I was an IDF officer and my dream my dream , really , since I've been a child is how can I bridge between Jews and Arabs , between Israel and the broader region ? And so when the Abraham Accords were launched for me , this is really fulfilling my childhood dream , Amazing and so I was involved . The organization I head now is called Shiraka . It's an NGO . That's why we're here .
Speaker 1What does it mean ?
Speaker 4It means partnership , shutfut , and it's really a joint venture between Israelis and when I say Israelis , I mean Jews and Arabs , and Christians and Jews and everyone working together and the Arabs of the region . And so we're here on a US speaking tour . Luai is with us on the speaking tour . There's six of us . That's a guest From all over the region , and we're going all over the United States trying to . Unfortunately , we in the Middle East are figuring out how to get along , but here trying to , unfortunately , we in the Middle East are figuring out how to get along , but here in the United States people are so divided over the Middle East so we're trying to bring back some .
Speaker 1What do you mean ? They're so divided in the Middle East here .
Speaker 4You see the protests . You see the insane things that people say , the propaganda , the hatred . You see Jewish students , hillel synagogues being attacked Right . It's insane . You see a discussion taking place .
Speaker 1But not the Jews being divided . The Jews are united outside of .
Speaker 4Israel Mostly , yeah , yeah , yeah , you also see divisions within the Jewish people .
Speaker 2There's a lot of Jews who are saying horrible things that are also not true about Israel .
Speaker 1Okay , so the Abraham Accord which was brought to us . Thank you very much from Donald Trump , hey listen , and his son-in-law , jared .
Speaker 4As we say , even a broken clock is accurate twice a day .
Speaker 1A broken clock , okay , but that doesn't fit this anyway . That's like saying two eggs in a hen is better than three in the Abraham .
Speaker 1Accord was what I thought was such a huge move towards Moshiach energy it was unbelievable , you know , and when I performed for the , I performed for the Republican Jewish Coalition only because they called and had a check , not because I have any sides , not because I'm on . If the Democrats would call tomorrow , I've heard of them Only because they called and had a check , not because I have any sides , not because I'm on . If the Democrats would call tomorrow , I'd perform for them also . But the four things that they kept reiterating was the Abraham Accords , the moving of the embassy to Yerushalayim , the Golan and the Iran taking apart the iran thing but the abraham accords . And they kept saying that the one thing the democrats did not do well is continue the abraham accords it's true , they picked it up , but they're not investing enough in it .
Speaker 4Yeah , they backed off , and I get it . You know democrats want to distance from republicans fine , but it is the single greatest achievement in the modern Middle East . Yep , because it's not just the relationship between Israel and the UAE which has been tremendous I've been 10 times , 12 times , how many times have I been now to the UAE it's not just the relationship with Bahrain , it's not just Morocco . It opened the door for this big reconciliation and it gave a place for people like Luai , who really set the trend here , because he was doing it before it was cool and trendy and before he had protection to do it . But those brave voices , those free thinkers around the Middle East who want to have peaceful relations with Israel , who want to move past all the troubles , and it gave them this kind of platform in which they could do this now . And so that's also where our NGO comes in . How do we amplify that ? How do we get people to Israel ? We do , you know , like birthright trips , yeah , yeah , yeah , with Arabs coming to Israel .
Speaker 1I agree with you 100% . Birthright is super important and great . There's nothing more important than getting non-Jews into Israel . That's what we do For my husband's birthday . We brought three of our friends not Jewish over . We went to the West Bank , to the Judean mountains , we went to inside and they understand what's happening there . Now then , when the war broke out , they have an understanding of what's happening . It's so important .
Speaker 4It's something that you can't learn from watching CNN or reading . You can't , you can't .
Speaker 2I think the thing that Westerners don't understand is that and you talk about this a lot also that we are so much more alike . That's the way forward , right .
Speaker 1A hundred percent . I will tell you the way you guys are trying to get the world together and unite is one thing I will tell you through comedy At the shows in Huntington , where she did an amazing job . She was wonderful . I don't know if you saw , but up on the second show in the balcony there were two women wearing the full… .
Speaker 2Hijab .
Speaker 1Yeah , the hijab . Two of them together Dying of laughter . Dying of laughter ? Yeah , of course . Why not Comedy enough ?
Speaker 2You were wonderful also have you played in the Gulf yet .
Speaker 4No , we need to bring him . Can we bring him to Abu Dhabi or Dubai ? You would kill over .
Speaker 1Why not ? Comedy is not the best . You are wonderful also , have you played in the Gulf yet ? No , we need to bring him . Can we bring him to Abu Dhabi or Dubai ? You would kill over there Checking the microphone . That's all we need . It's very easy to bring me anywhere . The Abu Dhabi Republican .
Speaker 4Coalition is famous . We show up . We show up . Andrew Schultz did a show there . Oh , he killed and he learns the nuances , but he can also .
Speaker 1I saw the material he was doing . It was super risky , but he is a white Christian , actually religionless . Probably he's not Jewish . No , he's not Jewish . I've always wondered . It's not . It's Schulz , german name , german name . I think . I don't know what he is . Did you see this guy , his manager , his manager , a complete Israeli guy , like Israeli parents . He's a great guy . He's hilarious . Hilarious , yeah , but he was like really having fun with them . Your comedy would kill them . Your comedy would absolutely kill them ?
Speaker 4I don't know Really . Okay , by the way , every clip you have , you know , doing the Sephardi , the Ashkenazi , all that I send it to all my friends in the UAE . Yeah , they're cracking up Really , and they get it , they all get the heat .
Speaker 1Yes , that microphone could not be closer to your mouth . It's driving me absolutely insane .
Speaker 2Why You're literally sitting like this , because this mic is in your… .
Speaker 4You're going to bite it in a second Listen , you were late . Don't give me shit the coffee .
Speaker 1He's so Israeli . He's supposed to be here at 12 o'clock . I'm in .
Speaker 2Midtown . And also I'm downstairs . Does anybody want coffee ? No , you asked me to get coffee .
Speaker 1No , I want to get back coffee . I don't want to say his name like an American Lu-I . There you go , lu-i .
Speaker 2Yeah I , american lu lu I . There you go . Yeah lu I . Um , yeah , I also . I hate so much the thing . One of the things that's so upsetting , outside of everything since october 7th , is that this idea that , in order to be pro-israel , that you are anti-palestinian right and I been we've been saying that on this show forever .
Speaker 2I hate that idea so much . I think that it , it , it . It can't be like that and um , the future doesn't work like that and I think that , like these , these myths and this hatred and the violence and the bullshit and the propaganda of these American students who have never been to this country , know nothing and are perpetuating , like how so much hate and bullshit .
Speaker 4Isn't that the epitome of white privilege right ?
Speaker 2It is white privilege . That's exactly what it is . It's not just white privilege , but it's also it is a kind of privilege when you don't have any skin in the game . I'm really curious from both of you , like how do you reach those people who are not interested in the truth ? I don't think that's their job .
Speaker 1Their job . In my opinion , from just the vibes we've gotten before you showed up . In my opinion , from just the vibes we've gotten before you showed up , his mission in life to me is to tell people , look , to tell Muslims there's a way to read this Quran which is not deadly , which is not killing Jews and Christians . His thing , from what I'm catching , is the Abraham Accords , which is Moshiach energy on another level , no .
Speaker 2Yes , yes .
Speaker 1They're not here from Hillel .
Speaker 4No , we're going around to campuses .
Speaker 3Yeah , we're hanging at schools .
Speaker 3Yes , but the thing is that what I'm saying , or what I'm doing , is not only reconciling Muslims with their own religion this is something , of course , has to be done but also , as I told you , the reconciliation between Arabs and Israelis , muslims and Jews , not only Muslims and Jews , arabs and Israelis as well the Arab-Israeli conflict . If you study it well , you would understand that Abraham Accords is the answer . And in order to answer your question , when you said that , being pro I don't like to say pro-Israel , I'm pro-peace with Israel . There's a difference . I'm pro-peace with Israel and being pro-peace with Israel could mean you are pro-Israel and pro-Palestine at the same time . So there is a difference between the Palestinian people and PIJ , palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas . So this is what I do on social media is to tell people that there is a difference between the Islamist militants who want to massacre and kill and annihilate the Jews , and Israel and Americans and America , of course .
Speaker 3Unfortunately , we I don't believe the Americans know this right fortunately , and also and the Palestinian people , who the average Palestinian wants to go to work send send his children to a school , get educated , do business , do this and that .
Speaker 3So the normal Palestinians are different from the militant Islamists who really want to bring the Middle East into chaos and anarchy .
Building Interfaith Understanding and Peace
Speaker 3This is how I approach it . I will speak on myself . This is how I approach it and I believe also this is how Dan and other people . So what are your methods ? What are the methods ? Social media I use social media , On social media .
Speaker 1what are you telling them ? I ?
Speaker 3make educational videos to debunk lies and refute claims .
Speaker 1Okay , I will tell you something and I said something I believe . Whenever I say anything near my phone , I get the messages . So I told Leo . I said I want to learn more about the Quran and all that . I get all the videos now . So now I get on my feed rabbis… Don't learn the Quran from me , no no , no , no but .
Speaker 1I get… . First of all , I'm in shock at how the Sephardic rabbis and the imams dress almost alike . It is the same khulta maturis that they're wearing . Do you notice the hats ? They have the hat with the this .
Speaker 4You know where that comes from , right ? No , that was the official uniform in the Ottoman Empire that religious clerics had to wear . Okay , and so the chief Sephardic rabbis of Israel continue to wear okay , and and so the , the chief sephardic rabbis of israel continue to wear that to this day amazing .
Speaker 1Yeah , okay , so that it's where all this . We are all children of abraham .
Speaker 3We really are . We're all cousins and if you look , if you look at it from this angle , uh , the the number of similarities . And then you take a distance and have a bird eye view on the conflict . You would ask yourself a question would Abraham Adin would look down to us , pleased of his children killing each other over their differences or working together on their commonalities ? What would Abraham you think would love to ?
Speaker 1if he looked down now , he would start throwing up for hours for being disappointed the disappointment in his eyes and his life would be so unbelievable that this is where we are .
Speaker 3I told you uh , as long as our message is so clear that we want to save people's lives , yeah , we don't . By the way , I I am also saying that I am I'm not with the war , even the current war . I am with stopping the war , the right way , the right way that would prevent october 7th from happening again . So I always say this to people that who tell me are you pro the war that is happening right now . I said this war is unfortunate , but Israel didn't ask for it , right , and this war can end now .
Speaker 3In a minute , in a minute , if the hostages are released and if Hamas lays down its arms .
Speaker 4Or if the leadership goes into exile or gives itself up . This war is over , it's over .
Speaker 3I go to bed every night . If you ask for a ceasefire , I'm sorry . I go to bed every night , but if you ask for a ceasefire . I'm sorry . If you ask for a ceasefire now , okay , ceasefire . You're asking for a ceasefire that was there on October 6th , and then it means only one thing a pause for people to regroup , yeah , and make another October 7th , and then we would also meet here again and say war is ugly , war is bad , and then we'll ask for a ceasefire , and then that ceasefire will bring another war bring another war , so this time it has to end once and for all yeah
Speaker 3for the sake of the palestinians , first and foremost . I know what's happening right now is an ugly war , but this ugly war , let's remind everyone that it started on october 7th when hamas invaded . By the way , even the parts that Hamas invaded are not disputed lands that , according to the international community , palestinian territories , the disputed land are the West Bank and Gaza . So when Hamas invaded parts inside Israel that is still recognized as Israeli territories in the 1948 or the 1947 partition , that means invading another country . So it's not like you are invading or you are attacking disputed land . No , you attack Israeli sovereign lands on their holiday and you cannot compare it even to the Egyptian war . That happened in 1973 , because Egypt attacked Israeli forces at that time . I always say this I'm really sorry , if I don't want to be misunderstood for this . If the Hamas militants attacked Israeli soldiers on October 7th only , I would say this is a violation , this is war , this is an act of war . This is horrendous . But I would understand that the Israeli soldiers are trained to… .
Speaker 4By the way , as an Israeli I would say that's legitimate .
Speaker 3But what really got me mad is to see them rushing into the Supernova Music Festival , where people are celebrating , dancing , singing .
Speaker 1And the people that are doing that are the people that are the most pro-Palestinians having a better life . The irony of it ? Yeah , there's the irony . It's a different world and this is jihad , and hold on .
Speaker 3This is according to Hamas . This is jihad , and those who say , yeah , real mujahideen would never target innocents . I would love to believe that . I used to believe that when I was young . I would love to still believe that . I didn't believe that when I was young . I would love to still believe that , but I don't think it's factual . I believe that there are texts that justify what happened on October 7th .
Speaker 4They had religious rulings . They had religious rulings from their shaykhs allowing them to do all the stuff they did . No , it's very easy to do that .
Speaker 3And this is why I say to moderate Muslims if you really refuse that , speak up . Don't say I'm afraid . Speak up and say not in our name . And if you're saying that I had this kind of idea before and I changed , speak up again .
Speaker 4That's what we're trying to do , don't be complicit in this crime . To build this broad regional and international momentum . The group we have it's four Muslims , a Jew and a Christian right Walking into a bar and uh , we actually walked into a bar last night , did an event with american muslims , with american christians beautiful and we're doing that all over the country .
Speaker 4This is our 12th to 13th speaking tour and we're trying to kind of bring that energy here to the united states , bring the message and , like lou I said because they won't listen to me- they won't listen to right they'll listen to him .
Speaker 1they me Right .
Speaker 4They'll listen to him . They'll listen to him . They'll listen to our veiled friend who's also coming in , our Moroccan friend . They'll listen to them . And so we're trying to educate them , not in a confrontational manner
Pro-Palestine, Pro-Israel, Radical Moderates
Speaker 4. You can be pro . If you want to be really pro-Palestine , you should be pro-Israel . We should all be anti-Hamas , that's .
Speaker 3This is why I say pro-Abraham Accords , pro-peace .
Speaker 1Are you in touch with Jared Kushner and all that ?
Speaker 4Yeah , with the institute that he founded , right , we were one of their early partners and kind of working with them on trying to build stuff and build frameworks and build partnerships on the ground .
Speaker 1Yeah .
Speaker 3I haven't met him yet but I would love to . He's a great . I met Adi Berkowitz , okay , also in the Trump administration , and I totally agree with what Dan said . That the Democratic Party picked up the Abraham Accords and peace in the Middle East is something very important for the sake of everyone to be solved Having a stable Middle East is the future . It's . I know there are so many conflicts America is looking at , but the Middle East is the most important in my humble opinion .
Speaker 1It's 100 , and it's there is in the broad strokes . It's very's 100 , it's and it's it . There is in the broad strokes . It's very obvious . We're all cousins . We're all cousins . We're sons of abraham and I have cousins that I'm in touch with often , and some not that often often . And there's cousins that we don't talk at all , but I don't wish them bad . I I wish the best for them , for their kids , which I haven't even met , you know , the best for them . I wish it's a cousin . You know our families are together , but killing and kidnapping is not on the table there's been a long brainwashing in the region .
Speaker 4I would like to say only on the Arab side , but also on the Jewish side , let's be honest that the other , that we're not connected , that they're truly evil , that they have these plans and there are extremist elements driving this , and so we need to sideline those and we need to amplify . You know we called it , we did a speaking event the other night and said we need to be radical moderates . You know it's a very hard .
Speaker 2That's great .
Speaker 3Right , but you know I'm walking on yesterday down I have my disagreement on this term because the word radical I hate it Active moderates .
Speaker 4You can't just sit back , like you said , you need to speak up Voco-moderate . I saw the protests , and they were protesting Obama , they were protesting Biden .
Speaker 2I saw that .
Speaker 4Yes , I saw that , and it was . They have such great chants . So it's from the river to the sea . Palestine will be free and have you know , we don't have anything that rhymes . We have a two-hour history lecture that gets into the legal nature of the balfour declaration and land purchases by cacal in this , and so they were saying uh , obama , you can't hide , uh , you're supporting genocide .
Speaker 2It rhymes , it's catchy , yeah hide and you think we just need some catchy slogan I think we just need catchy slogans .
Speaker 4What kind ?
Speaker 2of a response . Are you getting in America ?
Speaker 3Yeah , In America .
Speaker 2Yes .
Speaker 3To be very honest From Muslims . From Muslims .
Speaker 1The broad question you asked .
Speaker 3From the response that we are getting or that I am getting . Dan will speak also about the group , but the response that I am getting on my social media from American Muslims and from Americans overall is super positive . We had an American Muslim group with us last night , spoke with us and we are collaborating more about for peace in the Middle East . So , thank God , the response is positive . We haven't met any extremists yet they're boycotting us .
Speaker 4Yeah , let's be honest , some people are not attending our Let me .
Speaker 1Anybody coming to your lectures already has a foot in .
Speaker 4We've done a few hundred events around the country . We speak at campuses . We try to really get to campuses .
Speaker 2Get to Columbia quickly .
Speaker 4We'll be there on Sunday . We'll be at Columbia on Sunday , but since , get to columbia . We'll be there on sunday . We'll be at columbia on sunday , but since october 7th especially , um , it's mostly jewish students , it's mostly jewish students or it's mostly , you know , people who are interested in a dialogue on this issue . Um , very hard to get the people who are hostile . We've had a few campuses here and there where there have been the the kind of hostile people that we want to engage with and then , but by the time the conversation is over , they're like oh , we didn't think about it that way and we're all hugging and taking pictures together . We had one event in Georgia at a university Quarter of the room you were there , quarter of the room were Muslim students and and they were . It was the most beautiful thing . After the event , they were all taking pictures together and talking . They wouldn't let him go .
Speaker 3That's amazing also to be very honest , the events that I did with other organizations . I haven't met any , to be very honest , any hostility in the US those are Jewish organizations mostly we did others other than Sharaka .
Speaker 3They were not Jewish organizations , they were fine . They were Christians , but they were fine , I christians , but they were fine . I mean like some of them were very how to say this uh , uh , evangelical christians , but they were fine . I mean like , uh , like we don't bad mouth people , yeah , we don't . Uh , we do , we don't do the confrontation , you know , in a very we don't attack the palestinians , um , but we , we , we dismantle , uh , or I dismantle specifically the ideology of radical islamists . That starts with hate . I want to tell you one thing if you expunge hate and you still be religious , that's the great combination that I would wish any religious person would have .
Speaker 3But when I understand religion . When I was young , when I was searching for God , I was religious with hate , because I understood the text wanted to hate , so I had to hate . Expunge hate . Love , god . Love all the human beings who are created on the image of God , regardless of their sexual orientation , of their religion , of their color , of their race . You will become the perfect human being .
Speaker 1The perfect human being , Ve'ahavta le'erach ha'kamoha . Love your neighbor as thyself . First , you have to love yourself . Otherwise , what kind of love are you going to give your neighbor ?
Speaker 3But you should never judge . Also , if you're a masochist , what do you ?
Speaker 1mean .
Speaker 3What do you mean ? Judging mean , uh , who we're being judging ? Judging , there's a .
Speaker 1There's a great verse in , in , in in the bible , in the , in the , in the new testament , not in the new testament , not in the hebrew bible .
Speaker 3Yeah , that jesus said uh , don't judge , so you don't be judged , right ? Uh , why don't you ? Why are you looking at the dirt on your brother's eye while ignoring the the big dirt in your eye , right ? So , uh , never judge people in a way that , uh , as I told you when I was religious , I used to a religious , devout muslim . When I was young , I used to judge people a lot . Oh , he's not doing this . This doesn't , please god , this is right . This is wrong . This is and I wasn't looking at myself . So , uh , I mean , like you should stop judging people for who they are , for what they wear , for what they do , and you should love them for what they be so again for what they are back to my slogans .
Speaker 1My , one of my main slogans in life is when you judge somebody else , you're not defining them . You're defining yourself as somebody who needs to judge .
Speaker 4That's it .
Speaker 1Not mine , dr . Wayne Dyer .
Speaker 4Dr Wayne Dyer , I'll borrow it .
Speaker 1That's what ? That is a judgment . But back to love your neighbor as yourself . Neighbor doesn't mean just Jew , your fellow Jew , it's your neighbor . You're a Palestinian neighbor . It's the love you got to make a love here , and anything I do that's religious .
Speaker 1I try to do things spiritually , not religious . So when I , when I drink something , I make a bracha , I make a blessing before I drink . It's not so I can tell somebody who doesn't . You don't make a blessing before you drink . It's for the . I'm hoping that me making this blessing will somehow make me a better person Exactly Later on today when I'm about to have conflict with somebody .
Speaker 1Hopefully this I put on tefillin every morning . I go to synagogue for Shabbat . It's not for the purpose of telling somebody else . I'm doing it so I can tell you I can't believe you don't do it , okay . So now in Islam , what's the ? I just don't do it , okay . So now in Islam ? In Islam , what's what's the the ? I Just don't know the Quran enough and what I'm getting is I'm getting it from , from super radical people . My feed has become Super radical Islamists screaming and yelling . And this is where I'm a fun . They're unhinged , yeah , unhinged . The guy is this one guy who's just like okay , this is the quran , this is the quran and this is the only text that that , uh god is speaking directly .
Speaker 4Every other bible , every other religion it's an interpretation of god is already a confidence in .
Speaker 1But hold on , let me tell you something else . By the way , we have it too . We have it too . There's one rabbi .
Speaker 4Sure , that's fundamentalism . Yeah , that's fundamentalism .
Speaker 1Mormons have it no but this is how I'm learning , so I realize he's ridiculous , I realize he is this imam screaming at this stuff , but it's . But he showed me okay . So here this is the chapter called jihad . Right , it starts jihad . That's like we say bereshit , you know , this is , this is jihad . And then he explains die over and over and over for the . So now I get it . I understand that somebody , that there are , that there are Louis in the world .
Speaker 4There are many boys .
Speaker 1Now I'm seeing that the jihad is your own inner fight .
Speaker 3Yeah , Go and destroy your inner demons , but the word is honestly smart now . Yeah , oh yeah , it's smart . So you cannot say jihad , the word is done , jihad is smart . Yeah , the word jihad is , to be very honest , had its black day on October 7th , so I wouldn't Shai for the minor , I wouldn't- .
Speaker 1Jihad had its black day on 9-11 . Of . Yes , jihad had its black day on 9-11 . Yes , jihad had its black day way before October 7th . The word jihad here I've been using it as punchlines in my eye way before . So that's October 7th was just a reminder . It's another day .
Speaker 3Jihad , a reminder of the black day .
Speaker 1Of black days , of the darkness of what jihad has become interpreted .
Speaker 3And I hope that those who are still having these kind of ideas to go through the inner battle when they have their first encounters with other people from different faiths and God will guide them . I believe God will guide those who are sincere , even in their hate . If you are so sincere to please God and you are searching for him and for the truth , he will guide you to the right path .
Speaker 4The right path which would Something dawned on me . Something dawned on me .
Speaker 3Elay the right path . Hold on the right path , which would lead to expunging hate .
Speaker 4Something dawned on me . Last week I was in Morocco .
Speaker 1Okay .
Speaker 4We organized . This was unbelievable . We organized in the Shuraka a group of Israeli rabbis , kind of more right-wing rabbis , who are interested in interfaith dialogue , and African-American imams Used to be Nation of Islam and kind of broke off of Nation of Islam and are trying to be kind of mainstream Sunni Muslims , but they're also interested in interfaith dialogue . They don't know much about Jews , they don't… . We brought them together in Morocco because of the long history of real interfaith coexistence there , and so the whole week , you know , we toured Morocco , we meet , we see different sites , heritage sites , this , that , and then we'd have kind of like a , a shiur , like a discussion over something similar , some commonality between judaism and islam , and have a discussion and you know , one imam and one uh rabbi would , would give a drash or something , and then we would discuss it .
Speaker 4And something dawned on us at this is that you know what the word islam means submission submission no but it has other meanings too submission , andmission , and the whole Jewish concept , at least since the beginning of rabbinic Judaism , has been to argue right , even from the beginning of Jacob of Israel right To argue to dispute .
Speaker 2We don't just accept what Hashem says , to wrestle with God , even .
Speaker 4Hashem , even Abraham arguing with God about Sodom and Amorah and destroying so our whole heritage is . We don't just accept . It was never Naseh V'Nishma , it was always . We're going to argue , we're going to debate , we're going to debate amongst ourselves , we're going to have 50 rabbis in a Talmud and the whole book is just arguments .
Speaker 1Well , there is room for Naseh V'Nishma .
Speaker 4Don't , don't , but the spirit of Judaism is one of argument is debate . It's intellectualism .
Speaker 3I think there is . You have no idea what a sevinishma is .
Speaker 3You have no idea , but I think Explain it I think you can still argue while being submissive in a way , in a way that you submit to the will of God , for example , like you accept whatever happening in your life based on your choices , and you accept whatever happening in your life based on your choices and you have to accept the consequences and the outcome and you have to trust God in what he's delivering
Unity and Understanding Through Faith
Speaker 3to you . This is submission . But asking questions or having I don't know if it's .
Speaker 1I'm not crazy about the word submission .
Speaker 3Submission . I'll just simplify it to you , but that's the Muslim mindset .
Speaker 4No , but hold on , is it ?
Speaker 1submission ? Or is it just being openness ? For example , let me just do nasi to do and then we'll listen . Oh , okay .
Speaker 1So we'll do this . So , for example , things are going bad in your life , some health issues , some this I said to you , periel , do you want a mezuzah on your door ? And you say no . And I said , put a mezuzah on your door . And you go , no , what's a mezuzah ? What if they learn about it ? I don't know why am I putting it on my door ? And or you go , okay , let me put the mezuzah on my door and you put on your door and maybe things change and maybe they don't . But you , you gave in . You didn't . I don't have submission , but you opened yourself . It's more you , you're giving in giving in again .
Speaker 3I don't know if it's giving in . So I'll just tell you my interpretation is to being open you're , you're opening your hearts to god , to to do your best , to do what he wants , to the best of your understanding , and by he , by he again .
Speaker 1For me is oneness yeah , of course , shema Yisrael , the Lord of God . The Lord is one . It's oneness . When your flight is delayed , when your this is canceled , when that gig didn't come through , you didn't get it , it's a oneness that made this happen .
Speaker 2It's not she .
Speaker 1It's only one , it's only . It's not he , because it's . It's in the male in the Torah , but it's .
Speaker 4I think it's genderless . No , no , no , we don't have gender neutral , genderless if you think about it it's oneness , but he addressed Echad .
Speaker 3He addressed himself as he . Huh he , but he addressed himself as he . He addressed himself as he .
Speaker 1Yeah .
Speaker 3I accept that .
Speaker 1I'm okay with that . Whatever , yeah , whatever .
Speaker 2Sure , of course you guys are .
Speaker 3That's so not where we need to make the fight , but he's not like us .
Speaker 2So when God says I'm kidding , I know he has hands , he has ears , he has this .
Speaker 3That's so we can comprehend human beings ?
Speaker 4yes , how ? But ?
Speaker 1it's not like five fingers , like this .
Speaker 3I want to come back to something , but it is , but it is in fingers and in hands , and it's it's sometimes , but not like ours sometimes somebody comes into your life out of nowhere and that's something that's god .
Speaker 1God showed up to , to yes , to align this , to align this , that god showed up . You never see this person again . Yes , it's come on .
Speaker 3You see God in the presence , that's the one that's Mashiach energy .
Speaker 1Amen , that's Mashiach , energy .
Speaker 3I like the religious thoughts .
Speaker 1Always I can discuss this stuff .
Speaker 2It's my favorite thing to talk about . I was going to say he could do this for hours , for hours , for hours .
Speaker 4We've been going all over the US and I can tell you , overwhelmingly , everyone says we needed this . We needed this message of hope , hope in the Middle East , that to see Jews and Muslims and Christians and Israelis and Arabs coming together and talking about a brighter future , every single audience . He's been on two tours . We've done 12 , 13 of these . They said we needed this . Thank you , thank you . How do we make 20 of these ? That's what , overwhelmingly , I think , americans want and they just don't know . And so you know when we sit down the world , not americans , the whole world , europe .
Speaker 3Europe could use europe also , I was in london , uh , a month ago . I was in london a month ago and I spoke with , uh , some jewish organizations , some non-jewish organizations , and unfortunately , I love London so much , but it's like London , it's like a London stand . London is . Is London a stand now I ?
Speaker 1don't know . I was in London too . I was in London before the war and it was uh , it was a uh . You didn't , you didn't get that in there and just . But I , over 2,000 Jews , came to see the show and it was Moshiach energy for them . Anywhere I perform in Europe , anywhere I perform in Europe , they are in shock , never mind that the material is genius , but they are in shock that there is a guy on stage screaming I'm a Jew . I'm a Jew Because they're used to Jew . We control the money , we control government . I'm a Jew . We have this . I'm a Jew . They are in shock . In Paris , they were like this , like that .
Speaker 1After the war , I performed in Frankfurt , düsseldorf , vienna , brussels . I performed in Frankfurt , düsseldorf , vienna , Brussels . You think London is that Brussels has areas where the actual police and government are not allowed in . They don't go , and the amount of money we have to spend for security is insane , insane . And we had to cancel one of the shows in Paris because there was a huge protest across the street . But Europe needs this more than anything .
Speaker 2And America too .
Speaker 1I'm with you . Everybody needs this .
Speaker 2Everybody needs this . Okay , so what can people do to get involved in Sharaka and to make themselves useful in this world , instead of just complaining on social media .
Speaker 1We have the studio . You guys have anywhere to go , we have the studio .
Speaker 2We do , we do . So let's just maybe do two . Yeah , but I want them to get that in before the end .
Speaker 1Before the end of this Okay .
Speaker 4We're trying to build a positive movement here that brings people together . So first go to our website , go to our social media . Sharaka , ngo , sharaka , ngo , sharaka . What a difficult name . Like Shakira , just Sharaka , sharika . We get that so much the dad joke . People say Shakira . Okay so how do they reach you Social media ?
Speaker 1Sharaka NGO Spell Sharaka NGO on all the social media platforms .
Speaker 4Spell Sharaka who in my audience knows how to spell Sharaka S-H-A-R-A-K-A NGO , and we're trying to amplify , we're trying to take wonderful voices like Luai . He's really one of the big stars in this .
Speaker 1No , he's my favorite , one of my favorite guests so far . You and Rabbi Manis Friedman . You and Rabbi Manis Friedman , big company . That's a big company , eyal and no , you and Rabbi Manas Friedman . Yeah , yeah , no , I knew , but I knew that that was there . I knew that there is a way to read the Quran in a positive way . Yes , love , okay , go on the floor five times a day , don't eat during , but it's just to become a better person .
Speaker 3But I am being very honest with you . I am not the majority of Muslims .
Speaker 1Oh , absolutely Sorry , Of course you're not .
Speaker 3I'm being very honest and blunt . The majority of Muslims think that I'm a crazy Because , first of all , you believe in the right of Israel to exist . You believe you are friends with the Jewish people , even though the Quran , by the way , talks about the Holy Land given to the Jewish people , people , even though the Quran , by the way , talks about the Holy Land given to the Jewish people . But I'm just saying that I don't want to disappoint you , but I'm not the majority of Muslims ?
Speaker 1I know you're not , but thank God you're there to even just if you make a but I care about my fellow Muslims and the young generation .
Speaker 3I don't want them , I sincerely don't want them to go through Lu'ay when he was 18 to 23 . Right , when he was so extreme , when he hated Jews , when he would never sit with Jews and Christians like this , because God doesn't want you to become friends with Jews and Christians . Right , and the fierce enemies of the . Can you believe that a verse that says the fierce enemies of the believers are the Jews ? But if you are reforming that and if you understand that there was something happening in Medina at that time , so two or three , four Jews tripled the prophet Muhammad . That doesn't mean that Dan , david , michael or anyone in the 21st century should have the same consequence . You see , this is the idea . You cannot hate the Egyptians because the Torah says , for example , that you should never . There is a verse that says your neighbor should never be an Egyptian , or something like that , but that couldn't be cascaded to all Egyptians , but I understand at the time .
Speaker 1But we've moved on . Now , it's as long as your neighbor can cover his mortgage .
Speaker 3Exactly , we've moved on , we've moved on , and if Rambam would understood it this way , he would never move to Egypt . If Rambam understood that the enmity between the Jews and the Egyptians is eternal , he would never accept the offer by Saladin to move to Egypt .
Speaker 4You ever think you'd be sitting here with a guy from Abu Dhabi quoting to you Rambam ? I'm so happy , but let's just cut this .
Speaker 1So what's the ? How do they reach you ?
Speaker 4People reach out to us . Sharaka NGO . You can find me online , dan , at Sharaka S-H-A-R-A-K-A-N-G-O . We want people around the country reach out , host events , invite our delegations . Last night , we brought Jews , muslims , christians together . We speak all over the country . And what's your Instagram account , dan Pfefferman ? It's mostly me just lifting weights , so that's not going to help a lot . Oh yeah , those of you who aren't watching , let me tell you what's happening in the studio .
Speaker 1So Dan's sitting here . He looks like a young Theodor Herzl , right With the little beard all black without dye on it , the gorgeous like Leo hair . The role of Leo is playing , paid by Dan Buffed out . He's wearing a shirt that is at least one or two sizes too small just to show off the muscles .
Speaker 1And he's a vibe . And Louis here is ready for Christmas . I don't know where this shirt came from , but Merry Christmas , louis , merry Christmas those of you . Just go post a clip . Make sure you get a good clip . Open the scarf for a minute . Open the scarf . He's sitting here with a cold , the poor guy . Okay , I didn't expect that for spring . Let me just cut this . I'm at modilivecom . I have no idea when this is airing anymore . We are out of control . The tour will probably be over by now , or if not . This is modilivecom for the Know , your Audience tour , if anything's left . And then there's a whole bunch of shows we are announcing at the end of April , beginning of May . And Periel , what's happening in your life ?
Speaker 2Oh my God . So much , but you can just follow me on Instagram . It's all there .
Speaker 1Did you change your name yet ?
Speaker 2or no . My name's Periel .
Name Change and Instagram Account
Speaker 2It's P-E-R-I-E-L . Modi has advised me to completely get rid of my old name . Why , why would you change ?
Speaker 1it , so you changed it on Instagram ? Yes , no , I didn't oh god , okay , see , it's so hard to get people to change and people should follow Luai no , but look , I , I'm leaving my Aharon , aharon . Khabib .
Speaker 3No , that's right . How do they find you ? They find me . Go to your camera .
Speaker 1Tell them where .
Speaker 3Just write on Instagram L-O-A-Y . L-o-a-y Al Sharif , you will find me there . You will find content related to the Abraham Accords , the model of the UAE for tolerance and coexistence and this is the model of Islam that I believe in , by the way and also you will find many educational content on how to bring Arabs and Israelis , Muslims and Jews , debunking lies , refuting misinformation , and I hope you find it useful .
Speaker 1But again , your Instagram is .
Speaker 3It's okay . Instagram is very simple , useful . But again , your Instagram is it's okay , instagram is very simple . L-l-a-l-s-h-a-r-e-e-f , l-l-sharif .
Speaker 1L-L-Sharif . If you spell that wrong , the FBI shows up .
Speaker 4If you spell that wrong , you'll get one of those firebrand preachers .
Speaker 1Thank you , very much for listening everybody .