Imams and Rabbis in the US and Canada host their first "Weekend of Twinning" event to raise awareness against "the politics of fear", focus on common grounds between Muslims and Jews and set aside their differences. Jews and Muslims are gathering as part of a national effort to breach the barriers of division. The first "Weekend of Twinning" event was held Friday at Temple Kol Ami with another scheduled for Sunday night at the American Muslim Center in Dearborn. The nationwide effort, sponsored by The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, the Islamic Society of North America, the World Jewish Congress and the Muslim Public Affairs Council, includes events this weekend at 50 mosques and 50 synagogues in 20 states and Ontario.
LOS ANGELES (JTA)—There was nothing unusual about some 20 devout Muslims from the King Fahad Mosque bowing and prostrating themselves as they recited the Isha, or night prayer.
Only the site was Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, and the worshipers were outnumbered by about 80 Jews watching the unfamiliar ritual.
At the same time, in another room of the Reform temple, Jewish congregants were participating in the Ma’ariv evening prayer, watched respectfully by a group of Muslims.