Blickle Institute Jerusalem

Fifteen fellows from Ohr Torah Stone’s Blickle Institute for Interfaith Dialogue recently spent four packed days in the UAE meeting religious leaders, public figures, and diverse communities, while exploring how direct encounters can build bridges of understanding across cultures.

Against the backdrop of ongoing regional tensions, a delegation of 15 fellows from this year’s cohort of Ohr Torah Stone’s Blickle Institute for Interfaith Dialogue — principals, educators, and professional staff members from across the network — traveled to the United Arab Emirates for a four-day visit. The Institute seeks to cultivate Torah-rooted approaches to Israel’s engagement with other faiths and peoples, empowering OTS leaders to develop new perspectives, foster dialogue, and bring those insights back to the educational environments they shape and the students they inspire.

During the four-day visit, the delegation explored the many layers of Emirati society, visiting both iconic landmarks and lesser-known cultural institutions that offered insight into the country’s history, values, and leadership. Alongside visits to the Dubai Mall, the Burj Khalifa, and the presidential palace Qasr Al Watan, participants toured museums and cultural sites that provided a deeper understanding of the UAE’s unique identity, while creating opportunities for reflection on the importance of encounter, dialogue, and mutual respect.

As part of the visit, the delegation toured the Crossroads of Civilizations Museum in Dubai, a unique project dedicated to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Founded by historian and antiquities collector Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, the museum highlights the ways in which these civilizations have influenced one another throughout history. “The visit gave us the feeling that we come from shared roots and that we all worship the same God,” said Rabbi Yoni Hollander, principal of OTS’s Derech Avot High School, who participated in the delegation. The group also visited the first Holocaust museum in the Arab world, an experience that left a lasting impression on participants.

Throughout the visit, participants met with a range of key figures, including public and religious leaders Abdullah and Fatima Galadari. Abdullah, a researcher and historian who studies connections between the Qur’an and parallel Jewish and Christian writings from the seventh century, shared his findings regarding the links between rabbinic literature and Islam. He emphasized that the true meaning of jihad, contrary to common perceptions, refers to devotion and sacrifice, quoting the words of the Sages: “even to the point of giving one’s life.” His wife, Fatima, shared her personal interest in Judaism and her dream of one day reciting Selichot at the Western Wall.

Another notable encounter was with Elizabeth (last name forthcoming), a ba’alat teshuva who previously taught girls at the Chabad Center in Crown Heights, New York, and now lives and teaches in the UAE. Elizabeth spoke with the delegation about education in the Emirates, the similarities and differences compared to Israel, the challenges she encounters, and the country’s investment and involvement in education as it seeks to promote religious tolerance.

The delegation concluded its visit with a moving meeting with Yosef, one of the last remaining Jews of Yemen. Yosef and three other Jewish families were rescued from Sana’a in a covert operation with the assistance of the UAE, which provided them refuge. Since their arrival, they have received housing, a monthly stipend, and access to education and medical care at no cost.

Yosef shared his powerful personal story, describing how he was held by the Houthis for eight months before he and his family were rescued from Sana’a and brought to the UAE. He described the profound relief he felt after his release and expressed deep gratitude to the country that provided him and his family with refuge and the opportunity to begin a new chapter of their lives. His mother welcomed the delegation with a traditional Yemenite meal, and his sons moved participants by reciting Psalms in the traditional Yemenite pronunciation. Six members of the Mormon community in Abu Dhabi also joined the gathering, sharing about their faith, way of life, and experiences living in the UAE.

For the members of the delegation, this visit was far more than an educational or cultural journey. It demonstrated how direct human encounters — grounded in curiosity, listening, and mutual respect — can break down barriers, replace preconceived notions with genuine connection, and foster deeper understanding between peoples and cultures. As educators and leaders across the Ohr Torah Stone network, the fellows will carry these experiences back to their schools and communities, enriching the conversations they lead with their students and colleagues.