•

Esther Allweiss

Jeremy Rosenberg,

second from left,

was among the

contest winners.

Season Of Twinning

Jews, Muslims share thoughts of peace and
celebrate creative teen contest winners.

YEAR

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0

A Y*

Esther Allweiss Ingber I Contributing Writer

ews and Muslims spontaneously
in Dearborn. Junior Jeremy Rosenberg
line dancing to the jazzy sounds
at Frankel Jewish Academy in West
of the Kidz Klez Band of Michigan
Bloomfield tied for first place in poetry.
provided affirmation for why "We Refuse
West Bloomfield student Hannah Marit's
to Be Enemies" was more than just the
winning artwork will be on the cover of a
name of the interfaith program they
booklet containing the top 20 entries.
attended on Nov. 19.
Speakers from WSU were President Dr.
The local Muslims and Jews assembled
M. Roy Wilson, Dean of Students Dr. David
at Wayne State University in Detroit were
J. Strauss and Professor Howard Lupovitch,
choosing friendship over fear less than a
director of the Cohn-Haddow Center for
week after the horrific terrorist attacks in
Judaic Studies.
Paris.
"Jews and Muslims lived together in har-
The evening began with a moment of
mony for 1,000 years," Lupovitch said. "The
silence for worldwide victims of terrorism.
20th century was a rough patch, but we can
More than 100 guests in the WSU Student
see a way out of it:'
Union Ballroom listened respectfully to
Wilson said, "The terrorist events and
community leaders, and took pride in two
the reaction with bias toward a whole
young men, Isaac Smith and Mohamed
group of people has the potential to destroy
Algahmi, offering prayers for peace from
our society:' Reassuring him, however, is
their respective Jewish and Muslim faith
the diverse, collegial student body at WSU.
traditions.
Ruby called it "magical to see" Eviatar
Rabbi Norman Roman of Temple
Baksis, Israel shaliach at Hillel, and
Kol Ami in West Bloomfield and Imam
Achmed Sabbagh, president of the Arab
Mohammad Mardini of the American
Student Union, trading remarks on stage.
Muslim Center in Dearborn provided
"There are not too many campuses
words of inspiration.
where that could happen right now," Ruby
Founded in April, the nonprofit Greater
said.
Detroit Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Council
Besides the klezmer group, enter-
(GDMJSC) organized the uplifting pro-
tainment came via Muslim poet Omar
gram in association with Foundation for
AbuRashed, rapping a message of peace.
Ethnic Understanding's annual Season of
Friendships blossomed as GDMJSC
Twinning. FFEU, based in New York, has
founders Rabbi Dorit Edut, Siham Awada
worked to strengthen Muslim-Jewish rela-
Jaafar and Jeremy Salinger developed
tions across the U.S. and around the world
the program and contest with members
since 2007.
Samantha "Sam" Won, Arif Huskic, Esther
Walter Ruby, the organization's director
Ingber, Sumaiya Ahmed, Syma Echeandia
of Muslim-Jewish programs, said meetings
and Tarek Baydoun.
under the Season of Twinning (SOT) ban-
Event co-sponsors were Ameinu
ner are happening in nearly 20 countries
Detroit; Ben N. Teitel Charitable Trust,
during November and December.
Gerald S. Cook, trustee; Michigan Muslim
Each SOT program takes its own form.
Community Council; Jewish Community
For the all-volunteer GDMJSC, the idea of
Relations Council; Isaac Agree Downtown
sponsoring a high school literary and art
Synagogue; Congregation T'chiyah; Islamic
contest was appealing, with an awards cere- Organization of North America; Interfaith
mony highlighting Detroit's
Leadership Council of Metro
Twinning event.
Detroit; WISDOM; and several
Contest guidelines invit-
individuals.
ed students to express their
Reflecting on the Twinning
hopes, visions, challenges
events, Edut said, "It is important
and experiences with
at this perilous moment of ter-
Jewish or Muslim coun-
rorism in Paris and violence in
terparts. Winners in four
the Middle East to demonstrate
categories were awarded
that Jews and Muslims in Metro
cash prizes; other students
Detroit are standing up for each
Imam Mardini and
received certificates.
other and working together to
Multiple winning entries Rabbi Roman o ffered
revitalize this great city we all
words of inspi ration.
came from Fordson High
love *

j

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