18 March 21 • 2019
jn
Standing in Solidarity
Jewish community mourns with Muslims after
massacre in Christchurch, New Zealand.
I
n gestures of reciprocal love and
unity that they received from their
Muslim neighbors following the
Pittsburgh Tree of Life massacre last
October, rabbis, leaders and others in
the Jewish community attended area
mosques to mourn the New Zealand
terror attacks that took the lives of 50
innocent Muslims while they prayed
Friday, March 15.
Hundreds gathered for Friday
afternoon prayers at the Muslim
Unity Center (MUC) in Bloomfield
Hills. The parking lot and the men’
s
and women’
s galleries filled to capac-
ity as mourners of all faiths listened
to the words of Imam Mohamed
Almasmari.
The MUC also held a vigil on
Sunday, as did mosques in Dearborn
and Detroit.
Almasmari, who attended and
spoke at a vigil held at Congregation
Beth Shalom after the Pittsburgh
murders, said that within hours of the
New Zealand attack, he and his com-
munity had received an outpouring
of love and solidarity from other faith
and civic groups.
“The most difficult moments bring
out the best in us,” Almasmari said
to a gathering of hundreds at last
Friday’
s afternoon prayers. “Even
when there are disagreements among
our religious leaders, we will always
stand together in solidarity.”
Rabbis from many congregations,
including Adat ShalomSynagogue,
Temple Beth El, Temple Israel and
Kehilat Eytz Chayim, attended the
vigils.
At a Sunday vigil held at the
Islamic Center of America in
Dearborn, Rabbi Asher Lopatin of
Kehillat Eytz Chaim spoke as a repre-
sentative of the larger Jewish commu-
nity. He said that upon entering the
MUC on Friday to give comfort and
support, it was he who felt welcomed
and comforted by those who gathered
there to mourn. After he spoke, he
delivered the El Rachamim prayer,
which he said was very similar to the
Islamic prayer one says when there is
news that someone has been killed.
“We have to stick together from
now on,” he said. “When we see each
other, we must ask each other if we
are OK, how can I help you? The
haters want to separate us from each
other. Instead, let us make a commit-
ment to fill our hearts with love and
support for each other.”
In a statement released on Monday,
Rabbi Aaron Bergman of Adat
Shalom expressed his congregation’
s
devastation to learn of yet another
murder of innocent worshipers at
prayer. Bergman said he reached out
to the Anjumane Najmi Mosque in
Farmington Hills, whose members
were so kind to his congregation
in the fall, and told them that Adat
Shalom will be including them in
their prayers.
“The Muslim community is in
mourning, not just in New Zealand,
but all over the world and in our
own neighborhoods,” he wrote. “I
was so moved by the members of the
Muslim community who reached out
to the Jewish community after the
shootings in Pittsburgh. They not
only offered their condolences, but
also helped the victims financially.
“It is important that we as a syn-
agogue now help those who are in
such pain. Let us all find a way to
be a source of light and comfort for
those who grieve and for those whose
lives were lost.”
Bergman suggested donating to a
crowdfunding site to help families of
the victims at https://givealittle.co.nz/
cause/christchurch-shooting-
victims-fund. ■
MUSLIM UNITY CENTER
jews d
in
the
STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jews and Muslims comfort each other at a
Sunday vigil at the Muslim Unity Center.
Essay Contest for
High School Juniors and Seniors
CHESSED
Compassion and
caring for others
RODEF SHALOM
The pursuit of understanding,
empathy and mutual respect
SHALOM BAYIT
Harmony in
the home
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STRONGER COMMUNITY
The
heart of a
100 MENSCHES is an initiative of JCADA,
the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse,
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Visit 100mensches.org for judging criteria,
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Please make sure your name isn’t on your
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Winners will be notified May 6th and
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These Jewish values may help guide your thinking:
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In the past couple of years, the #metoo movement
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