The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States hosted a presentation ceremony for the Azerbaijani translation of the book Sons of Abraham: A Candid Conversation About the Issues That Divide and Unite Jews and Muslims, co-authored by Rabbi Mark Schneier and Imam Shamsi Ali.

The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps accredited in the United States, prominent representatives of the Jewish and Muslim communities, and scholars.

In his opening speech, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States, Khazar Ibrahim, emphasized that the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, always treated all religions with respect and actively promoted these values on the global stage. He noted that President Ilham Aliyev has successfully continued this tradition. The Ambassador underlined that in an era marked by rising Islamophobia and antisemitism, Azerbaijan has consistently played a unifying role—bringing diverse communities together, encouraging dialogue, and avoiding confrontation.

Rabbi Mark Schneier, co-author of the book and President of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, described Sons of Abraham as one of the foundational texts in the field of Jewish-Muslim relations. He noted that the book has been translated into several languages and highlighted that the Azerbaijani edition was made possible through the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev. Rabbi Schneier praised Azerbaijan as a unique example of interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence:

“I remember, in December, I wrote an article about the rise of antisemitism. It was published in the largest Jewish newspaper in Europe. During the interview, they asked me, ‘If you did not live in the United States, where would you like to live?’ I answered, ‘In Baku. I would like to live in Baku. Because there is no antisemitism there. The model of coexistence in this country is one that other nations should learn from.’”

Co-author Imam Shamsi Ali remarked that Jews and Muslims share not only a common faith but also a shared destiny. He pointed out that various misunderstandings have developed between the two communities over time:

“If you study the history of the Jewish people who came to this country—the United States—you will see the difficulties they faced. Today, Muslims here are struggling with Islamophobia in a similar way. But the person who helped me gain this perspective is Rabbi Mark Schneier. He has been on the front lines of the fight against Islamophobia and antisemitism in the United States since 2005—nearly 20 years. If I feel safer and more comfortable as a Muslim in this country, it is because of him.”

Imam Ali noted that the translation of the book into Azerbaijani holds special significance, as it demonstrates Azerbaijan's commitment to embracing religious diversity and promoting inclusion.

Speaking at the event, Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United States, stated that the Azerbaijani translation of the book is an important contribution not only to interfaith understanding but also to broader cooperation among ethnic groups, countries, and peoples. He added that the values and perspectives presented in the book align closely with Kazakhstan’s stance.

Other guests also shared their reflections on the book's contributions to interfaith dialogue, mutual respect among religions, and the promotion of tolerance.

At the conclusion of the event, the authors signed copies of the book and presented them to the attendees.

It should be noted that the translation of the book into Azerbaijani was supported by the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.