Across centuries of Jewish and Muslim history—particularly in Andalusia, North Africa, and the Levant—Jews and Muslims lived, studied, and worshiped in close proximity. Scholars exchanged ideas. Mystics shared devotional practices. Communities built bonds that endured for generations.
The Hashlamah Project exists to revive that tradition of cooperation.
Hashlamah Project Study Circles (HPSCs) are local gatherings where Jews and Muslims come together to study, pray, and build relationships rooted in our shared spiritual heritage.
These circles are not abstract academic conversations. They are living spaces where real people sit together, learn from one another, and rediscover the historical models of coexistence that once flourished across the Islamic world.
Why Study Circles?
Many interfaith initiatives attempt to address every religious tradition at once. While admirable, broad approaches often lack the focus necessary to resolve the specific tensions between particular communities.
The Hashlamah Project takes a different approach.
Rather than reinventing the wheel, HPSCs rebuild a model that history already proved can work: structured interaction and shared spiritual life between Jews and Muslims.
The goal is not theological uniformity. The goal is mutual recognition, dialogue, and shared reverence for the One God of Abraham.
Who Can Participate?
Everyone is welcome to attend a Hashlamah Study Circle.
However, the circles are intentionally led jointly by Jewish and Muslim facilitators, because the project focuses specifically on rebuilding trust between these two communities.
Participants may include:
Jews
Muslims
Sufis
Students of religion
People interested in interfaith dialogue
Observers from other traditions
The leadership model ensures that both traditions are present and honored equally.
What Happens in a Study Circle?
Each circle develops its own rhythm, but most meetings include three core elements.
1. Prayer
Meetings typically begin with a short prayer offered in either Jewish or Muslim tradition. If the gathering opens with Jewish prayer, it closes with Muslim prayer—and vice versa.
These prayers are intentionally brief. The goal is shared reverence, not a full formal service.
2. Study and Discussion
Participants study historical sources describing Jewish–Muslim interaction and cooperation throughout history.
Topics often include:
Andalusian Jewish philosophy
Medieval Jewish–Muslim mysticism
Shared devotional traditions
Historical examples of coexistence
3. Dialogue
Participants discuss theological questions, historical issues, and contemporary challenges facing Jewish and Muslim communities.
Some groups set aside a short timed period for structured debate. These conversations are conducted respectfully and grounded in primary sources.
Leadership Structure
Every HPSC chapter ideally has two co-chairs:
• One Jewish facilitator
• One Muslim facilitator
If a Jew starts the circle in their city, they should actively seek a Muslim co-chair.
If a Muslim begins the circle, they should seek a Jewish co-chair.
This shared leadership ensures that both traditions remain fully represented.
How to Start a Chapter
Launching a Hashlamah Study Circle is simple.
1. Create Local Contact Information
Set up a local contact point for your chapter.
This typically includes:
• A Gmail address (example: HashlamahNYC@gmail.com)
• A local phone number
• A small P.O. Box if possible
A P.O. Box is recommended for privacy and professionalism, though some early chapters began using personal addresses.
2. Register Your Chapter
Send your contact information to:
Use the subject line:
NEW CHAPTER CONTACT INFORMATION
Your chapter will be added to the official chapter list and you will receive launch materials.
3. Receive Facilitator Resources
New facilitators receive downloadable materials including:
• outreach flyers
• facilitator guidance
• historical reading lists
• study resources
These materials help ensure that each circle begins with a strong intellectual and historical foundation.
4. Begin Local Outreach
Print and distribute flyers throughout your community.
Good locations include:
Synagogues
Mosques
Sufi centers
Community bookstores
Cafes and cultural centers
Look for spaces where dialogue and learning are welcomed.
5. Schedule Regular Meetings
Choose a consistent meeting place and time.
Small groups are perfectly fine. Many circles begin with only a handful of participants and grow organically.
Consistency is far more important than size.
Rules for Respectful Dialogue
To maintain a productive atmosphere, all study circles follow several basic principles.
No proselytizing.
The purpose is not conversion to any given path, but understanding.
No personal attacks.
Debate may occur, but it must focus on ideas—not individuals.
Document sources.
When claims are made about Judaism or Islam, participants should be prepared to provide textual sources.
This approach encourages intellectual honesty and ensures discussions remain grounded in authentic traditions.
Building the Future from the Past
The Hashlamah Project does not claim to invent a new model of interfaith dialogue.
Instead, it seeks to recover a historical reality: centuries in which Jews and Muslims learned from one another and shared spiritual space.
Study circles are the first step toward rebuilding that world.
If you believe Jewish and Muslim communities can once again learn, pray, and grow together—then consider starting a Hashlamah Project Study Circle in your city.
