While Rep. Pete King was getting ready to launch his congressional hearings today – which seem designed to stoke the flames of prejudice and fear – young Muslims and Jews gathered together in Manhattan on Monday evening in a demonstration of mutual respect and solidarity.
“Tonight, we can begin to establish a relation,” said Batya Schwarts Ehrens, 32, a youth leader and member of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. “Through interfaith cooperation we, as communities with similar interests, have an opportunity tonight to forge resources.”
The meeting, called Building Interfaith Coalitions for Immigration Advocacy, took place at the impressive Islamic Cultural Center of New York, located at 1711 Third Ave. It was hosted by the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, HIAS, the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Islamic Cultural Center of New York.
It was the first step in what leaders of both groups hope will be a lasting effort to establish a real cooperation around immigration, an issue that profoundly affects both communities.
“There are common issues we can come together on,” said Dalia Mahmoud, 35, an articulate New York-born Egyptian-American who is director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. “We can learn a lot from the Jewish community.”
Tags: interfaith action, interfaith dialogue, muslim jewish relations, peter king hearings, protests
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