This bonus episode of Behind the Bima addresses a question many people asked — and some criticized:

Why invite an Arab Muslim to speak at a synagogue?

Rabbi Efrem Goldberg is joined by Loay Alshareef, an Arab Muslim educator who speaks openly about antisemitism within the Arab and Muslim world, the narratives he was raised with, and the personal consequences of challenging them publicly.

Rather than aiming for comfort or consensus, this conversation focuses on truth, moral responsibility, and the cost of silence. Loay discusses what it means to speak honestly within his own community, why clarity matters more than approval, and how real dialogue differs from performative gestures.

This season of Behind the Bima is sponsored by Julie Charlestein & Darryl Benjamin in honor of their grandparents, Morton & Malvina Charlestein, and their children, Ruby and Maccabi Benjamin.

This Episode Discusses:

• Growing up in the Arab world and the narratives taught about Jews
• Antisemitism within Arab and Muslim societies
• The personal cost of publicly challenging one’s own community
• Truth-telling versus performative interfaith dialogue
• When avoiding discomfort becomes a moral failure
• The difference between honesty and coexistence slogans
• Speaking with clarity even when it risks backlash
• Why some conversations must happen publicly, not privately

This is not a conversation about interfaith optics. It’s about values, courage, and the responsibility to say difficult things out loud.