Clockwise from top:

Brenda Rosenberg
and Ismath Khan,
both of Bloomfield Hills,
chat during a
discussion group.

Rabbi Herbert Yoskowitz
speaks at an event that
brought Jews and
Muslims together.

Salah Aboubkr of
Sterling Heights,
Dr. Allen Berlin and
Shaan Baig, 13, both
of Bloomfield Hills,
Osama Hadid, 12,
and Fayiz Hadid,
both of West Bloomfield,
participate in a
discussion.

Victor Be,o- is a
Bloomfield Hills Board
of Education member.

Opposite page:
Two women, a Jew and
a Muslim, listen intently.

and beliefs," she said.
After the speakers, participants were
asked to break up into smaller discus-
sion groups. For the next hour, using
pre-printed "Conversation Starters"
as a guide, Jews and Muslims engaged
in discussion — some lively, some
heated.
Many Muslims expressed dismay at
the way the Sept. 11 attacks have dis-
torted the world view of the Islamic
religion
"I came here today because I'm frus-
trated that there haven't been enough
Muslims speaking out about what an
anti-Islamic act this was," said Angela
Salva of Bloomfield Hills.
Hassan Eolibi, an engineer from
Bloomfield Hills, agreed. "This was
beyond criminal; it was crazy," he said.
"Islam is a way of life; it means loving
your neighbor. One of my best friends
was a policeman who was killed trying
to rescue people from the World Trade
Center. This hurts us like it hurts any-
one.

.

"

Zaynalo Salman, a University of
Michigan-Dearborn student, also felt
it was important to clarify that the ter-
rorist attacks were totally against the
teachings of Islam.
"Islam was hijacked on Sept. 11,
using religion as a scapegoat, and now
all Muslims are suffering," she said.
Salman added that Islam sets forth
strict guidelines for war; combat must
take place on a battlefield, and it is
unlawful to destroy mountains or
other landscape.
Jackier asked Muslim members in
her discussion to comment on the
notion that the terrorists believed they
would be rewarded for their acts in an
afterlife.
"There is no way they can be
rewarded for killing innocent people,"
Salva said. "Islam teaches that you
cannot kill innocent people, even in
times of war — no women, no chil-
dren, no elderly. If they were wrongly
told that they'd be rewarded, then I
feel sorry for them."

"A martyr is someone who speaks
out for his beliefs in a very dignified
manner, never someone who kills
innocent people," Salman said.

Looking To Heill

Linda Finkel came to the program
because of her dual roles as a
Bloomfield Hills School Board mem-
ber and a part of the Detroit Jewish
community
"The community is looking for ways
to heal itself, and this is a wonderful
way to do that," said Finkel of
Bloomfield Hills.
"I'd never been to anything like this,
and I wanted to be a part of it," said
Donna Raphael of Bloomfield
Township, who attended with her hus-
band, Steve. "I met and talked with a
lot of people here and realize how lit-
tle I know."
Said Don Silversmith of Southfield,
"What brought me here was the real-
ization that Jews and Muslims share a

closer heritage than Jews and the
majority of the Christian community.
The Jewish community has been
demonizing Muslims because of their
perceived antipathy toward Israel. This
is a rare opportunity to have a one-on-
one dialogue."
Brenda Rosenberg of Bloomfield
Hills, a member of the event planning
committee, said the day gave both cul-
tures the chance to better understand
and honor their differences.
"The world is like a magnificent
quilt; it's the differences that make it
so beautiful," she said.
AJC's Beitner said the Jewish and
Muslim sponsors of the event were
very pleased with the result. In addi-
tion to food donations, 51,845 was
collected for the American Red Cross.
"It was an excellent catalyst for ongo-
ing communication between the two
communities," said co-chair Jackier.
"We're planning many future programs,
including a dialogue between Muslim
and Jewish women."

❑

10/19

2001