How can reading sacred texts side by side deepen our understanding of both traditions?

Join the Center for Jewish History and the American Sephardi Federation for a timely conversation marking the publication of Illuminating Scriptural Connections: A Qur'anic Commentary on the Torah, an ambitious new work by interfaith leaders and scholars Rick Sopher and Abdulla Galadari. Drawing on all fifty-four weekly Torah portions, the book places the Torah and the Qur'an in dialogue, illuminating shared narratives, prophetic traditions, ethical teachings, and theological questions while thoughtfully exploring where the two texts converge and diverge. 

Sopher, a leading figure in Jewish-Muslim dialogue, and Galadari, a scholar of Qur'anic hermeneutics, invite readers to encounter these foundational scriptures not as isolated traditions but as texts that have long spoken to many of the same questions about faith, justice, prophecy, and human responsibility. Their collaboration demonstrates how close reading and rigorous scholarship can open new pathways for understanding across religious communities. 

Moderated by Mehnaz M. Afridi, Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Interfaith Education Center at Manhattan University, this conversation will explore the origins of the project, the interpretive methods behind the book, and the enduring significance of scriptural study in fostering meaningful interfaith dialogue. Together, the panelists will consider how sacred texts can serve not only as objects of scholarship but also as bridges between communities in an increasingly interconnected world.

Whether you are interested in Jewish studies, Islamic studies, comparative religion, or the power of shared intellectual inquiry, this program offers a rare opportunity to hear from scholars working at the intersection of two of the world's great scriptural traditions.

A reception and book sales will follow the program. The book can be preordered at a discount; information will be sent to all registrants when the book is available.

About the Speakers
Rick Sopher is an interfaith leader, educator, and author dedicated to advancing Jewish-Muslim understanding through scriptural dialogue and collaborative learning. Based in London, he has spent decades building relationships across faith communities and is a Fellow of the Woolf Institute at the University of Cambridge, where his work focuses on interreligious engagement among Jews, Christians, and Muslims. He is the co-author of Illuminating Scriptural Connections: A Qur'anic Commentary on the Torah, an innovative study that explores the Torah through the interpretive lens of the Qur'an. 

Abdulla Galadari is Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi and an internationally recognized scholar of Qur'anic hermeneutics. His research examines the Qur'an through literary, historical, and comparative approaches, with particular attention to its relationship to biblical and rabbinic traditions. He is the author of several books on Qur'anic interpretation and co-author of Illuminating Scriptural Connections: A Qur'anic Commentary on the Torah. Dr. Galadari will join the program virtually. 

Mehnaz M. Afridi (Moderator) is Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Interfaith Education Center at Manhattan University. An internationally respected scholar of Islam, Holocaust studies, and interfaith relations, her work explores the intersections of religion, memory, ethics, and genocide. Through her scholarship and public engagement, she has worked extensively to foster dialogue and understanding among Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities.