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The Rabbi, The Imam and The Power of Dialogue

The Rabbi, The Imam and The Power of Dialogue

De: Mark Schweiger and Larchmont Productions
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Since October 7th many Muslims and Jews the world over have stopped talking and in some cases turned on each other.


Amid this turmoil a Rabbi and an Imam managed to keep their friendship alive and have launched this podcast to show the power of dialogue in bridging divides between the two communities.

This bi-weekly podcast will explore how Imam Nasser Kurdy and Rabbi Dovid Lewis have, despite their many disagreements, managed to stay friends while war rages thousands of miles away.


They are two men of faith who speak to each other in 'good faith.'


Imam Nasser Kurdy, originally from Jordan, is a Manchester-based surgeon and lay Imam.

Rabbi Dovid Lewis, is a native Mancunion and has led the south Manchester Jewish Community since 2011.


They’ve been friends since 2012, but became closer after Nasser was stabbed in his neck outside his mosque (as reported in The Guardian) in South Manchester in 2017.


Together, they’ve championed dozens of interfaith initiatives across schools and premiership football clubs in the north west of England since October 7th. For example, they recently co-led an assembly for teenagers on navigating difficult conversations about Israel-Palestine.


Imam Nasser Kurdy: "The Israeli-Palestinian conflict affects relationships within our local communities. Jews and Muslims are having great difficulty speaking to each other. There's no dialogue. Hence this podcast, it's about dialogue."


Rabbi Dovid Lewis: "In our own communities, we might like to think we are influential: Nasser leads the mosque, I lead the synagogue. However, neither of us are able to make a direct difference to what's happening in Israel, Palestine, Gaza, the West Bank. But what is our responsibility? It is to make sure that it doesn't spill over into our communities, into the friendships that we have made with one another."


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This is a Mark Schweiger and Larchmont Productions co-production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Schweiger and Larchmont Productions Espiritualidad Islam Judaísmo
Episodios
  • What does the Quran Actually Says About Jews? A Rabbi and an Imam Break It Down

    What does the Quran Actually Says About Jews? A Rabbi and an Imam Break It Down
    Mar 29 2026

    In the last episode Imam Nasser Kurdy and Rabbi Dovid Lewis discussed a specific ‘Hadith,’ a narration cited by extremists that suggests Muslims and Jews are destined to be enemies.


    The response from listeners raised more questions than it answered.


    So in this episode, they go deeper and examine what mainstream Islam actually teaches about how Muslims should relate to non-Muslims - particularly Jews - in times of both peace and conflict, and the answers may surprise you.

    This is a Mark Schweiger and Larchmont Productions co-production.


    If you have any comments or suggestions about the podcast please email: mark@schweigers.uk or philip@larchmontfilms.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  • Can a Rabbi and an Imam Ever Be True Friends?

    Can a Rabbi and an Imam Ever Be True Friends?
    Mar 13 2026

    When a newspaper article about the Rabbi and the Imam's interfaith work and friendship went public, most of the response was positive.


    But buried in the Facebook comments was something darker: a stranger claiming that the Imam could not wait to take the Rabbi somewhere to be butchered, with the remark followed by a smiley face.​


    Rabbi Dovid shared the comment with his wife. She stopped what she was doing, looked up at him, and said:​


    "So you're now going to go and sit in a studio with this guy? With a man whose faith, honestly and theologically, believes you have a responsibility to kill him?"​


    That question sits at the heart of this episode.​


    Does one religion really mandate the death of the other?


    If so, what does it mean for their friendship?


    Rather than brushing the comment aside, the Rabbi and the Imam use it as a chance to examine one of the most misunderstood and weaponised narrations.​


    What We Get Into:


    The Comment Itself


    The exact words, the immediate emotional reaction, and why Dovid says: "It only takes one. And the person is still dead. It does not matter whether or not he was misrepresenting his faith."​


    The Hadith That Extremists Love to Quote


    Nasser traces the origin of the quote, its context as an end‑of‑times prophecy, and delivers a direct verdict on its relevance today.


    Al‑Wala Wal‑Bara, Allegiance & Disassociation


    Nasser clarifies the distinction between friendship and total allegiance, and why the two are not the same thing.


    Judaism's Red Lines


    Dovid explains which theological positions would constitute a genuine barrier in Jewish law.


    Politics Poisoning Religion


    They examine how the conflict in the Middle East does not just colour geopolitics; it colours how people read their own scripture, and how dangerous that is.​


    This podcast was filmed in a studio in south Manchester and is now available to watch here on our new Youtube channel


    This is a Mark Schweiger and Larchmont Productions co-production.


    If you have any comments or suggestions about the podcast please email: mark@schweigers.uk or philip@larchmontfilms.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    49 m
  • Policing Protests and Hate Crime in Manchester: The Chief Constable Unfiltered

    Policing Protests and Hate Crime in Manchester: The Chief Constable Unfiltered
    Feb 27 2026

    In this exclusive episode, Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) joins Rabbi Dovid Lewis and Imam Nasser Kurdy to discuss the major way in how UK forces are policing protests related to the Israel-Hamas war.


    Following a pivotal joint statement issued with Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley in December 2025, police strategy has shifted.


    Sir Stephen explains why certain chants and slogans - previously tolerated at pro-Palestinian marches - may now cross the threshold into hate crime or public order offences.


    They explore how this new approach aims to balance the democratic right to protest, with the urgent need for community safety, specifically addressing the rising fear of antisemitism within the Jewish community and maintaining community cohesion for all, including the Muslim community.


    This conversation dives into the "why" behind the change:


    How police now assess the context and intent of language like "globalise the intifada".


    The warning that enforcement will be more "decisive" against hate speech.


    The reality of policing London and Manchester during a time of heightened terrorist threat.


    Key Topics Discussed:


    00:00 - Introduction: Policing protests in a time of global conflict.

    05:12 - Hate Crime Legislation: How police determine if language is criminal.

    12:45 - Community Safety: Is the fear in the Jewish community justified?

    18:30 - Free Speech vs. Hate Speech: Where is the legal line?

    24:10 - Context and Intent: Why it matters when policing marches.

    31:00 - Extremism: How a small minority hijacks legitimate causes.

    40:15 - Community Cohesion: Are we losing the middle ground?


    This podcast was recorded in a studio in south Manchester and is now available to watch here on our new Youtube channel

    This is a Mark Schweiger and Larchmont Productions co-production.


    If you have any comments or suggestions about the podcast please email: mark@schweigers.uk or philip@larchmontfilms.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    50 m
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