I guess some Muslims who are Anti-Semitic can learn a lesson from this.
On Friday afternoons, the people coming to pray at this building take off their shoes, unfurl rugs to kneel on and pray in Arabic. The ones who come Friday evenings put on yarmulkes, light candles and pray in Hebrew.
The building is a synagogue on a tree-lined street in Northern Virginia, but for the past few weeks – during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan – it has also been doubling daily as a mosque. Synagogue members suggested their building after hearing the Muslim congregation was planning to rent a place for overflow crowds.
“People look to the Jewish-Muslim relationship as conflict,” said All Dulles Area Muslim Society Imam Mohamed Magid, adding it’s usually disputes between the two groups in the Middle East that make news. “Here is a story that shatters the stereotype.”
Mr. Magid, who grew up in Sudan, said he did not meet someone who was Jewish until after he had moved to the United States in his 20s, and he never imagined having such a close relationship with a rabbi. But he said the relationship with the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation has affected him and his members. Beyond being tolerant, the synagogue and its members have been welcoming.
He said one member of the mosque told him, “Next time I see a Jewish person I will not look at them the same.”
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There was a mosque/synagogue that was near my apartment in Boston, very interesting. I regret not going to observe during the time I was there.