Anyone who has read Amity here would think that the letter was sarcasm in the extreme.

Here's the letter again:

End of 'dialogue'

Originally published August 24, 2006

Rabbi Morris Kosman is entirely correct in summarily rejecting the demands of the Frederick Imam for a "dialogue."

By blood and faith, Jews are God's chosen, and have no need for "dialogue" with any gentile. End of "dialogue."

Here's the original article: (search for Kosman in the FrederickNewsPost.com archives for 2006 if the link does not work, link in signature):

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/archives/display_detail.htm?StoryID=60219

Local Muslim leader talks peace

Originally published August 18, 2006

By Geoffrey D. Brown

News-Post Staff

Local Muslim leader talks peace

Photo by Skip Lawrence

Imam Yahya Hendi called for Muslims and Jews to bridge their differences.

Bill Baisey KIA

FREDERICK -- The spiritual leader of Frederick County's Islamic community has issued a challenge to Frederick's Jewish community to open a dialogue on peace.

In an interview last week, Imam Yahya Hendi called for Muslims and Jews in Frederick County to get together and try to bridge differences that are at the heart of conflicts over land and resources in the Middle East.

"I call upon the Jewish community to open its doors to me as I open my doors to them," Imam Hendi said. "The Jews and Muslims of Frederick County are full brothers and sisters. Maybe opening doors here can help open them in the Holy Land."

Imam Hendi is the spiritual leader of Islamic Society of Frederick and Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University.

Imam Hendi, 40, emphasized common ground for Muslims, Jews and Christians. He quoted from the New Testament, the Quran and, in Hebrew, from the Tenach, or Hebrew bible.

Christianity, Islam and Judaism have much in common, he said, especially an emphasis on social justice and the Golden Rule. He spoke of his own faith as being one very connected to Judaism and Christianity. He argued that pointing fingers of blame will never achieve peace.

"We all have blood on our hands. Christians do, Muslims do, and Jews do, too," he said.

Dan Sikowitz, student rabbi at Congregation Kol Ami Frederick, said he would be interested in engaging Imam Hendi in dialogue, "at least from his and my perspective."

"Take it one little baby step at a time," Mr. Sikowitz said. "I think, really, that's the only way you can go about these things."

Each congregation should measure members' responses to dialogue, he said.

Rabbi Morris Kosman of Beth Sholom Congregation rejected Imam Hendi's invitation and questioned his motives.

"It's obvious that no truth is going to come out of this," Rabbi Kosman said. "I don't want to put him in a public forum."

Imam Hendi's forum is already very public. He speaks regularly at churches, teaches classes at Georgetown and Johns Hopkins universities, and recently returned from a speaking tour of Australia.

Imam Hendi stressed the importance of understanding and dialogue.

"This dialogue needs to be part of the culture. It needs to be the topic discussed everywhere," he said. "Muslims need to sit back and listen to the passionate stories of Jews and the Holocaust."

At the same time, Jews have to consider the plight of Muslims, Imam Hendi said.

"Jews and Arabs are absolute partners on the path to peace," he said. "We must not let the bitterness of the past 50 years shape the future. Peace can't happen with suicide bombings or air strikes."

He called for a separation of religion and politics -- and a greater effort by clergy to engage in peaceful solutions. He said clergy of all faiths should work toward peace.

"Maybe our clergy have been part of the problem," he said. "We have violated that concept of peace in our religions."

It's up to religious leaders to bring back the message of peace, Imam Hendi said.

"Every Jew counts, every Christian counts, every Muslim counts," he said. "The blood of every (person) is holy."

Mr. Sikowitz said he would want to discuss Imam Hendi's invitation with the synagogue.

"I would not want to get too far ahead of my congregation," he said.

Rabbi Kosman said he believes any door Imam Hendi opens for Jews will be slammed shut. He believes much of the world has a slanted opinion of Israel, and that Israeli victims of Arab violence are ignored.

He objects to international intervention in Israel's war with Hezbollah because he believes Hezbollah and other Arab groups will continue to attack Israel. And he said he doesn't trust Imam Hendi.

"This guy, and Islam, they want to kill us. There's nothing new about that for Jews. Now they want to kill Christians, too," he said. "You'll find out that Islam is out to get you. I promise you that. And I'm not a pessimist."

Rabbi Kosman said he believes Imam Hendi is looking to rehabilitate Islam's image.

"Islam is very unpopular, and he needs something," he said.

Imam Hendi said he is used to being criticized by Muslims and Jews alike. After one speech, he said, he got a letter from a Muslim condemning him as a puppet, and one from a Jew accusing him of deception.

Born in Nablus on what is now the occupied West Bank, Imam Hendi has lived in the United States for 15 years, the past six in Frederick, which he said is his favorite city in the United States.