Who we are

The Martin Buber Group, founded in Rome in 1988, is named after the Viennese Jewish philosopher and teacher who emigrated to Palestine in 1938. The group took Buber's name because, like him, is committed to constructive dialogue between Jews and Arabs in Israel and Palestine

The Martin Buber Group maintains two core beliefs:

1. The rights of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples to their respective national existences, each with equal rights and dignity
2. The necessity of a negotiated solution to the conflict based on the principle of Two Peoples-Two States.

Guided by these convictions, the Martin Buber Group promotes discussion groups, cultural and educational exchange, as well as meetings between Israelis and Palestinians within the Italian-Jewish community and among the general public. The objectives of these initiatives are twofold: (1) to spread the idea of peace through dialogue and mutual understanding and (2) to support those in Israel and Palestine who struggle for co-existence against the destructive force of fanaticism.

The Martin Buber Group also fights against anti-Semitism and others forms of discrimination that corrode civic life. The most effective weapon against prejudice that feeds on ignorance and mistrust is knowledge of the other. Thus, it is a priority of the group to educate the general public - in schools, the media, and cultural associations - about Jewish culture in its diverse expressions in Israel and the Diaspora.

The Martin Buber Group’s third field of activity is the promotion of dialogue between different cultures and communities in Italy. While Italy is behind other European nations in its embrace of diversity, evident in the persistence of acute forms of xenophobia, a multi-cultural society is emerging in the country. The group is committed to the belief that different religious and ethnic groups can only live together in harmony when there is open exchange and shared respect, and where the state is secular and guarantees pluralism as well as the protection of all peoples regardless of race, religion, or creed.