Cover Story/War On Terrorism

Coming Together

Local Jews and Muslims aim to strengthen bridges of understanding.

RONELLE GRIER
Special to the Jewish News

T

he gymnasium at Andover
High School in Bloomfield
Hills has seen many oppos-
ing teams vie for victory.
On Sunday, Oct. 14, Detroit-area Jews
and Muslims came together for a very
different purpose: unity, communica-
tion and the mutual desire to find and
celebrate their common ground.
The Metro Detroit Chapter of the
American Jewish Committee (AJC)
and the Bloomfield Hills Muslim
Unity Center jointly sponsored the
program, "Remembering the Victims
of the Sept. 11 Tragedy and
Rebuilding Community." Shelly
Komer Jackier of the AJC and Victor
Begg of the Unity Center worked
together as co-chairs.
The event evolved from an AJC-
sponsored three-part study series
designed to help Jews learn about
Islam. The last session, held at the

10/19
2001

14

Bloomfield Hills home of Islamic reli-
gious leader Imam Sayed Salman, took
place shortly after the September ter-
rorist attacks. The group decided they
needed to do more in the wake of the
tragedy, so the Oct. 14 program was
quickly pulled together.
For the first hour, people circulated
around the gym, collecting literature
on Islam and Judaism, talking in small
groups and feasting on platters of
Middle Eastern delicacies donated by
the Sheik and La Shish restaurants.
Children colored paper American flags
for Toys `R' Us, which will donate $1 to
the American Red Cross for each flag.
Tables were set up to accept Red
Cross donations and non-perishable
food items. The food will be put in
baskets and distributed to Yad Ezra,
the Oak Park-based kosher food
pantry, and local Muslim food banks
by Muslim and Jewish teens.
Gary Doyle, superintendent of
Bloomfield Hills Schools, welcomed
the audience.

Imam Salman and Rabbi Herbert
Yoskowitz of Adat Shalom Synagogue
in Farmington Hills led the group in
memorial prayers for the victims of
the Sept. 11 tragedy.
"We are all children of Abraham,"
said Imam Salman, after chanting a
memorial prayer in Arabic.
Rabbi Yoskowitz compared the
United States to a large tree, with
branches emanating in many direc-
tions.
"The real challenge is to learn how
to express our disagreements agreeably
and with respect, to live amicably with
our religious and cultural differences
even when each of us thinks ours is
the best view," he said. "We're all
Americans; we all come from the same
tree, and every branch is precious."

People Uniting

Rafael Narbez, a Muslim activist and
frequent speaker on Islam from an
American perspective, said, "People of

faith must join together to promote
good. We must organize just as the
enemy has organized."
He added that any tragedy prompts
people to find out "who and why."
"Once we determine who did it, we
no longer care about the why," he said.
While he did not condone the Sept.
11 attacks, he urged the audience to
have some compassion for the children
and loved ones of the terrorists.
"I was a little taken aback by that
statement," said Bob Benyas, a West
Bloomfield resident and member of
the AJC Board of Directors. Benyas
also was surprised that the Jewish
turnout was not greater.
Of the approximately 200 people
who attended, about 25 percent were
Jewish, according to Ruth Beitner,
local AJC assistant director. She was
not discouraged by the lower Jewish
turnout.
"It's very valuable for members of
the Muslim community to have the
chance to learn about Jewish culture