The Jewish philanthropist on a mission to tackle ‘Qur’anophobia’
Rick Sopher tells a JW3 crowd that 'The Qur’an reveres the Torah very clearly'
A leading Jewish philanthropist argued last night that the Qur’an “does not call for the complete destruction of all Jewish people”.
Rick Sopher, a former CEO of Edmond de Rothschild Capital Holdings who has become a prominent figure in interfaith scriptural dialogue, told a packed JW3 audience:
“The Qur’an reveres the Torah very clearly. There is no statement in the Qur’an stating that Islam is the new religion and (Judaism) is done for.
There were “some cryptic statements… critical of some Jews,” he noted.
“However, the key point is that the Qur’an does not require perpetual enmity against Jews or against Judaism.”
Hosted in partnership with the Jewish News, the evening’s discussion was the first time the community centre had ever initiated an event focused on the Qur’an.
Joining Mr Sopher was Dr Abdulla Galadari, an Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at Khalifa University who holds a PhD in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the University of Aberdeen.
Throughout the evening, attended by over 100 guests, Dr Galadari presented numerous examples of alignment between the Torah and Qur’an, stressing the need to place potentially problematic verses in their historical context.
He argued: “The Qur’an is very explicit that it accepts the Jews for who they are and it accepts the Torah. It is very pluralistic.
“The Qur’an wants the Jews to be better Jews, otherwise it wouldn’t have said that ‘people of the book have no basis unless they uphold the Torah’. It wants them to adhere to Judaism and follow the Bible.
“In fact, the Torah and the Hebrew prophets criticise the Israelites far more harshly than the Qur’an. The Hebrew prophets often admonish the Israelites for not obeying them, whereas in comparison the Qur’an is very mellow.
“The real question is, is there a text more anti-Jewish than the Hebrew bible itself?”
Outlining misinterpretations of the Qur’an, Dr Galadari highlighted points of ongoing, extensive debate within Islamic scholarship but added:
“I have seen how the Qur’an is sometimes misused for political ends, unfortunately. This not just in social media but in actuality is also being taught. This has changed quite dramatically in more recent years, especially since the foundation of Israel.
“You will always find people who want to misconstrue the Qur’an for their own political games and polemics. This is very unfortunate.”
Concluding the evening with a rallying call, Mr Sopher added: “My final word is that people talk a lot currently about Islamophobia. Perhaps a part of this is Qur’anophobia- a fear of what the Qur’an contains.
“We hope tonight to have demonstrated that there is no need for Qur’anophobia.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
