A New York Jewish community invited nearly 600 Muslims to pray in their synagogue after fire damaged a neighbouring mosque. The invitation extended by the congregation of the Central Synagogue, Manhattan, last Friday has been hailed as an important moment of interfaith solidarity.
Daniel Mutlu, senior clergy member at the historic synagogue told HuffPost: “We talk a lot about the unity of people and the unity of love and that was so apparent on that day.” Muslim worshippers arrived at the Islamic Society of Mid-Manhattan for Friday prayers on March 22. The service was to mark the one-week anniversary of the New Zealand mosque attacks in which 50 people were killed. However, a fire in a next-door restaurant two days before had damaged the worship space rendering it unsafe for use. A rabbi from Central Synagogue noticed the crowd of people waiting outside the building, and told their imam that all were welcome to worship in their space, just a block away. In a sermon posted online, the imam of the Islamic Society addressed his congregation, saying: “The most blessed moment maybe in my life in New York, I’m witnessing it right now. I feel very good for all of you. You were able to be a part of this historic moment. To witness the love and the care of our neighbours, who show us their love and solidarity. And this is for real and faithful people what they should do.” Rabbi Mutlu said that the synagogue would welcome the Islamic Society back this Friday “with open arms” as they await repairs to their worship space. “One person can cause a lot of damage and cause a lot of pain,” the cantor said, referring to the Christchurch shootings. “But we can come together and we can heal.”
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