Humanity as It Could Be, as It Should Be

India, with a population of nearly 1.5 billion people—more than all of Europe and North America combined—is a nation deeply rooted in spirituality and religious diversity. Recently, the Sikh community marked their most sacred day by hosting an extraordinary event that brought together representatives of world religions. Entitled, “Launching the Wave of Kindness and Love”, the focus of this gathering was a powerful call to make religion a force for unity, connection, and peace among humanity. More than 160, 000 joined in, live or online and the media spread its messages throughout India. The warm camaraderie and mutual respect displayed by the faith leaders present at this event offered a vision of what the world could be—and what it should aspire to become. The event coincided with the release by Maggid Press of my latest book “God Shall be One: Re=envisioning Judaism’s Approach to Other World Religions”

I was privileged to be a keynote speaker representing Judaism, here is my address:

Dear Friends and Fellow Seekers of God and Truth,

It is with great joy, love, and gratitude that I stand before you today.

In Judaism, there is a blessing recited during moments of profound joy. It is said at weddings, at the birth of a child, and at other occasions that bring deep gratitude to the heart. Today, I feel such great joy in being here with you that I would like to begin by offering this blessing.

I will first say it in English, and then in the ancient Hebrew:

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.”

In Hebrew:
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam, Shehecheyanu Vekiymanu Vehigiyanu Lazman Hazeh.

This is my second journey to India, and in this return, I have learned so much more than before. For example, I once referred to the Golden Temple, but now I know, thanks to a wise Sikh woman I met on the plane, that its true name reflects its essence: the Harmandir Sahib. It is not merely about the external gold but the inner spirit that makes it sacred.

Eighteen years ago, I first visited the Harmandir Sahib. As someone who lives in Jerusalem, I was deeply moved by what I found there. In the Bible, it is written that 3,000 years ago, King Solomon built a temple in Jerusalem. This temple was open to all humanity, with its heart being the original copy of the Torah—a holy book that teaches the path of God.

Today, that temple no longer stands in Jerusalem. Yet, my heart rejoiced when I learned of the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, a monotheistic temple open to all humanity. Like Solomon’s Temple, its heart is a sacred book, the Guru Granth Sahib, which offers guidance on the divine path.

I was privileged to witness the openness and hospitality of the Harmandir Sahib. It is not just a place where all are welcome—it is a place where every soul is embraced. On my last visit, I even slept in its dormitories, a testament to the humility and generosity of the Sikh community.

The heart of this temple is a book, reminding us that what is truly essential is not physical objects or external grandeur but the path—the inner spirit—that connects us to God and to one another.

This connection is what truly matters.

Will our religions lead to conflict and division, or will they inspire love and compassion?

The answer lies in how we embody the teachings of our holy books, such as the Torah and the Guru Granth Sahib. If we take these sacred values and use them to forge bonds of understanding and unity, we can transform the world.

By building these connections, we can redeem the world. We can heal the world. We can save the world.

Allow me to share one verse from the Torah that envisions humanity’s future—a vision that resonates deeply with the Sikh faith and its teachings.

The verse speaks of a time when all humanity will “call upon the name of the God, to serve Him with one shoulder.”

Reflecting on this, I find new meaning in the Sikh tradition of honoring the many names of God, as found in the Guru Granth Sahib. Perhaps our calling should not be in the name of God, but in the names of God, recognizing the beautiful diversity of expressions of the divine.

This verse holds personal significance for me.

Two years ago, I was gravely ill. My brain was filled with blood, I left a goodbye message to my family.

In those moments, my wife first turned to our Jewish community for prayers. Then, knowing my heart, my children urged her to reach out to friends of all faiths. People of many religions joined together in prayer. What happened next, miraculously I returned to life.

For me this experience was an expression of the verse’s first part of humanity calling together in the name of God. Ultimately, I uncovered the meaning of the second half of the verse for humanity to serve God with one shoulder:  One day, after a joint study and prayer by Rabbis and Imams, one of the Imam’s embraced me. In that moment, my face met his, my heart met his, and our shoulders became one. To serve God with one shoulder means to unite in love and purpose.

This is the lesson we must carry forward.

Our differences, like the flowers in a bouquet, are not a cause for division but a source of beauty. A single flower is beautiful, but a bouquet is breathtaking because of its diversity. The light of God is diverse. Like a bouquet of flowers, the beauty of God’s creation is in our diversity. We are one. But we are different expressions of the light of the One

Let us honor this diversity, embracing it as a reflection of the divine. Together, as one humanity, let us shoulder the work of love, connection, and compassion.

In this unity, we will heal the world.

Thank you, Bless you.