Interfaith Harmony: A Jewish-Muslim Woman's Inspiring Journey

While there are ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, there is an assumption, based on a degree of reality and history, that Jews and Muslims can’t get along; unfortunately, in most of the Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa, that is true. However, Israel is a different story, as anyone who has been there can attest. There are 1.8 million Muslims in Israel who are citizens of that country. Israel is the only democratic country in that region. Walking around Israeli cities like Jaffa, you will see Muslim families with women walking about in hijabs. They are free to do so and can attend mosques of their choice.

Chama Mechtaly is a Moroccan woman who is somewhat unique, being of both Muslim and Jewish parentage. Growing up in Morocco, Chama came to the realization that if she tried to express any Jewishness, she would suffer discrimination not because of anything she had done but because of her ethnicity.

Watch Chama’s interview below to learn why she feels at home in Israel.