Saudi Arabian King Abdullah just threw an interfaith party and was kind enough to invite a few Jews, including representatives from the World Jewish Congress, the Latin American Jewish Congress, the Jewish-started Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and a handful of others.

The bash was the Madrid-hosted July 16-18 Inter-Faith Conference, which was hosted by the Muslim World League.

According to the invitation letter sent by Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United States, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, the objective was “to bring together representatives from the three monotheistic faiths, as well as other major religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism, and to focus on the universal values handed down to mankind by our Creator, that all faiths share.”

It’s both fascinating and sad to me that Spain hosted this event. The Iberian Peninsula is the site of both tragedy and triumph for interfaith relations, and Jews in particular. Some 10 centuries ago, great Jewish philosophers such as Maimonides and Yehuda HaLevi were shaped by Spain’s truly multi-cultural society. Meanwhile, great Kaballists (Jewish mystics) made a name for themselves in Gerona in the 13th century.

Yet, a little earlier the Almohades, fanatic Muslims, drove out Jews and Christians from much of Spain in the mid-12th century. Then, of course, the Catholic-led Spanish Inquisition led to the great expulsion from Spain in 1492, creating great upheaval throughout Europe. Thus, there are many positive and negative episodes to reflect upon in the land of this gathering.

However, if King Abdullah really wanted to make a statement of interfaith understanding, he would have held the meeting in Saudi Arabia itself. After all, that country still officially discriminates against non-Muslims and is the scene of some vicious anti-Semitic writings in newspapers and broadcasts.

Still, it’s a start and while we should keep perspective, we should welcome it.