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Spirituality

Twinning Weekend

M

any adjectives come to mind
when describing the weekend
of Nov. 21-23. It was remark-
able; it was historic; it was meaningful for
all involved, and it was certainly memo-
rable.
On this particular weekend, Temple Kol
Ami and the American Muslim Center
in Dearborn were just one of 50 pairs of
synagogues and mosques in 20 states and
Canada (and the only ones in Michigan)
to participate in the inaugural "Weekend
of Twinning," an effort to bring together
America's Muslim and Jewish communi-
ties.
Seeds for this project were planted
one year ago when the Foundation for
Ethnic Understanding convened a meet-
ing of imams and rabbis in New York.
Temple Kol Ami Rabbi Norman T. Roman
and American Muslim Center Imam
Mohammad Mardini were two of the
participants working to build a cohesive
platform embracing mutual understand-
ing and respect between the Jewish and
Muslim American communities.
On the meeting's final day, a resolution
was passed calling for a "national weekend
of twinning" to take place the third week
of November 2008, prior to Thanksgiving.
On this weekend, mosques and syna-
gogues across the country would be
encouraged to host events in their home
communities to further strengthen the
relationships between Jews and Muslims
in America.
Our weekend began Friday evening
when a group from the American Muslim
Center came to West Bloomfield and
attended Shabbat services at Temple
Kol Ami. For most of our guests, it was
the first time they had ever stepped foot
inside a synagogue.
Rabbi Roman spoke about the project
in his sermon and then invited Imam
Mardini to speak. Watching the imam
deliver his most gracious remarks from
our bimah created a warm, optimistic feel-
ing between these two groups that I have
since learned have so much in common
historically. Following the service, we all
gathered for food and conversation at the
oneg Shabbat.

At The ,Mosque
Our guests then became our hosts, as a

Photo by Bren da Naom i Rosen berg

Temple Kol Ami and American Muslim Center build a special relationship.

Moses. Rabbi Roman then presented
Imam Mardini with a modern commen-
tary of the Torah, which Imam Mardini
proudly announced that he would put in
the mosque's library for everybody to have
access to.
We then found yet another wonder-
ful thing in common between our two
cultures: an appreciation for great food
after services. We all feasted on fabulous
Middle Eastern fare (including some of
the best hummus I have ever had); and it
was an amazing site: Jews and Muslims
sitting together, breaking bread, talking
and laughing.

Temple Kol Ami Founding Rabbi Emeritus Ernst Conrad, American Muslim Center
Imam Mohammad Mardini and Temple Kol Ami Rabbi Norman T. Roman on the
bimah at Temple Kol Ami before Friday night's Shabbat service.

Common Themes
I learned even more here, such as the
similarities and differences between the
Jewish and Islamic calendars: Both are
based upon a lunar calendar but, unlike
the Jewish calendar which periodically
has a "leap month" (Adar 2), there is
no leap month in the Islamic calendar.
Rather, the calendar has a 36-year cycle
where dates come full circle. So, this is
why Islamic holidays such as Ramadan
occur in different seasons over time,
while Jewish holidays stay in the same
season (can you imagine Passover in
November?).
I asked Imam Mardini how long he had
known Temple Kol Ami Founding Rabbi
Emeritus Ernst Conrad, and he said they
have worked together on various interfaith

large group from Temple Kol
Imam Mardini introduced
Ami drove to Dearborn Sunday
Rabbi Roman, who spoke about
evening to visit their mosque.
the many similarities between
"We are not here to build
Islam and Judaism, including
bridges; the bridges have
the belief in one God, belief in a
already been built," Imam
sacred literature (the Koran and
Mardini said in his opening
Torah), our belief in the moral-
remarks. "We're here to main-
ity of society, our desire to add
tain them."
holiness to life, and the moral
He then took us upstairs
laws that we live our lives by.
Paul Gross
to the sanctuary to observe
In fact, Rabbi Roman added,
Special to the
the nighttime prayer session
"Many of the early commen-
Twinning on page A31
Jewish News
(Muslims pray five times a
taries about the Torah were
day: sunrise, noon, afternoon,
originally
sunset and at night). We had
written in
.4 11r Ilt Wia Scut To Jurham
.%I..tmukia. 1hr Penitte Of
to remove our shoes before entering the
Joseph
Arabic."
rsst u
t
)roam aE OthrrArlh Tribm
sanctuary, and all women had to wear
At this point, Imam
scarves over their heads. Men prayed from Mardini and Rabbi
the front of the room, and women from
Roman exchanged
Jacob
„ tut it
4 A D
the back; and everybody faced northeast
gifts. Imam Mardini
toward Mecca.
presented Rabbi
The entire service was in Arabic but,
Roman with a beauti-
even without understanding a single word, ful poster showing
Abraham
there was no mistaking the deep sincerity
the Muslim "family
Aeis•
Het
?BUR)Are Was
of their prayers. As I looked around the
tree" of prophets; and
simple, beautiful room with 11th-century
you may be very sur-
Moorish decor, I saw many passages from
t
prised at the names of
Vanished
the Koran on the walls (both in English
some of those Muslim
and Arabic) — all of which spoke about
prophets: Adam, Noah,
the importance of respect, peace and fam- Abraham, Isaac, Lot,
ily.
Jacob, Job, Joseph,
An excerpt of the Muslim "family tree" of prophets that
We then went back downstairs, where
David, Aaron, and
Imam Mardini presented to Rabbi Roman.

PHI H

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December 4 • 2008

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