On May 7, Bar-Ilan University proudly hosted the 11th Jewish-Asian Conference, an annual gathering dedicated to exploring the rich intersections of Jewish and Asian thought. This year’s event, held under the auspices of the Sir Naim Dangoor Centre for Universal Monotheism and Dangoor Education, offered fresh insights into comparative philosophy, interreligious dialogue, and cross-cultural exchange.
The opening session, titled “Martin Buber in Asian Contexts,” unveiled previously overlooked connections between Buber’s philosophy and classical Chinese thought. Scholars presented compelling evidence that the Daoist concept of Wu-Wei (non-action) significantly influenced Buber’s dialogical philosophy. They argued that the Buberian dialogue, which emphasizes presence and openness over outcomes, echoes the Daoist ethos of detachment from the fruits of action. Furthermore, Buber’s vision of Zionism was discussed not as a Western or Eastern project, but as a cultural bridge between the two—a theme highly relevant to the conference’s broader mission.
The second session explored devotional practices in Hinduism and Judaism, focusing on the chanting of divine names. While direct repetition of God’s names is more central in Hindu traditions, the session highlighted parallel, albeit more implicit, practices within Jewish liturgy. The discussion illuminated shared spiritual expressions that transcend cultural boundaries.
In the third session, three contributors to the recent volume “Prophecy and Mysticism – Judaism and Hinduism in Encounter” engaged in a rich dialogue about the theological and ethical intersections between Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Buber. The panel proposed a potential Gandhian-Buberian synthesis, grounded in a shared commitment to spiritual activism. The session also offered a critical engagement with Robert Zehner’s theory of religion and concluded with the introduction of an innovative concept—Talmudu-Mimamsa—which posits a deep methodological affinity between Talmudic interpretation and the Hindu Mimamsa tradition.
The final session, conducted online, focused on a newly published comparative volume on Jewish-Hindu thought. Esteemed scholars from Israel and the United States participated in this international dialogue, which examined divergent approaches to the sanctity of land in both traditions and proposed new avenues for comparative analysis.
The Dangoor Centre is honored to have supported this intellectually vibrant and culturally significant event. Prof. Ithamar theodor, The conference director concluded the event with kind words of gratitude: “We extend our deepest gratitude to Dangoor Education and the Sir Naim Dangoor Centre for Universal Monotheism for their generous sponsorship, which continues to make such scholarly exchange possible”.
