Breakfast with Prof. Simonsohn

Prof Simonsohn is an incredibly brave and determined leader: In September 2024, at the height of the war that has devastated intercommunal relations across Israel, Uriel convened a remarkable gathering at Haifa’s City Hall. Over 100 religious leaders, educators, and civic figures—Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze—came together for the launch of Haifa’s first Multifaith Council. The event was endorsed by the mayor and religious leadership alike, but it was Simonsohn who had quietly laid the groundwork.

This moment was more than symbolic. It was the product of years of work navigating political sensitivities, building trust between communities, and reimagining the role of religion in public life. Prof Simonsohn believed that even in the midst of war, peacebuilding could not wait. He worked from the conviction that the city’s religious leaders—often the only remaining trusted figures in their communities—could be agents of healing.

What followed was extraordinary. The Council met again in November, this time to address the role of religious education. Together, the leaders proposed a plan to bring religious figures into each other’s schools—to teach students about traditions not their own, to speak of shared values, and to model mutual respect. This initiative, in a country where schools are often religiously and ethnically segregated, was radical. And it was driven by local actors, guided by Simonsohn’s vision and facilitation.

But he didn’t stop there. Seeing the model’s success, Simonsohn expanded it to the cities of Acre and Ramle—places marked by historical violence and distrust. He met with mayors, coordinated with the Ministry of Interior, and supported grassroots sessions where religious leaders met behind closed doors to speak frankly, often for the first time, about how to prevent the next eruption of violence. These were not easy conversations. They required courage, honesty, and deep humility.

Throughout, Simonsohn risked not only professional backlash, but personal safety. In a political climate where interreligious work is often framed as betrayal, and where religious leaders face intense scrutiny, he stood firm. He remained locally embedded, personally invested, and deeply respectful of the communities he served.

What makes this story so powerful is not just that it happened during war, or that it fostered real institutional change. It’s that it shows a different kind of leadership: one rooted in religious empathy, local knowledge, and quiet courage. Simonsohn didn’t impose peace from above; he nurtured it from within. 

I know how important faith leadership, dialogue and peace building is to you and your community so I really hope we can make this work.