Jewish groups step up efforts to combat anti-Muslim bigotry

[sabra]

Source: JTA

SAN FRANCISCO (JTA) -- Jewish groups have stepped up efforts to combat anti-Muslim bigotry, with several national initiatives announced this week and supporting statements coming in from a range of Jewish voices.

In Washington, officials from several Jewish organizations took part Tuesday in an emergency summit of Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders that denounced anti-Muslim bigotry and called for a united effort by believers of all faiths to reach out to Muslim Americans.

Also Tuesday, the Anti-Defamation League announced the creation of an Interfaith Coalition on Mosques, which will monitor and respond to instances of anti-Muslim bias surrounding attempts to build new mosques in the United States.

Meanwhile, six rabbis and scholars representing the Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative and Orthodox streams have launched an online campaign urging rabbis to devote part of their sermons this Shabbat to educating their congregations about Islam.

The efforts come in response to what organizers describe as a wave of anti-Muslim sentiment resulting from the impending ninth anniversary of 9/11 and the controversy surrounding efforts to build a Muslim community center and mosque near Ground Zero in Manhattan. Jewish bloggers and pundits, mostly on the right, have become more vocal in opposing the center and calling for greater scrutiny of American mosques.

Read more: http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/09/07/2740841/jewish-groups-step-up-efforts-to-combat-anti-muslim-bigotry

[babylonsister]

1. Rec'd! nt

[Taverner]

2. I think its cool that many American Jews and Jewish group have taken up the cause

:)

[roguevalley]

12. this is what religion is and does, not the others

[PatrynXX]

28. Jews don't hate Christians either, despite Mel Gibson

Won't actually forget seeing my first torah either. $10,000 Torah. those things are not cheap.

Incidently... my uncle didn't seem to give much floo when he a Christian married a Jew in 1981 I think I was 6 at the time. Only remember that it was in one of those plant conservatories. All this was to the dismay of my dad.

I really need to buy that Ghandi bumper sticker sometime :)

[whosinpower]

3. That is wonderful! nt

[Turborama]

4. K&R Good news. They have been making some powerful statements that need to go viral

Several of which I have posted in the videos forum.

Thanks for sharing, sabra.

[sabra]

5. and thank you for posting all those videos!

:hi:

[Turborama]

9. My pleasure!

I hope you find them as powerful as I do. StartLoving3 has http://www.youtube.com/user/StartLoving3#g/u">a lot more clips and I found it hard to choose which ones to pick so I went for as much of a cross section as I could without completely overtaking the Videos Forum.

I'm going to watch the full 1 hour long vid when I get the time later.

:hi:

[David Zephyr]

22. And thank you, too.

:)

[Turborama]

32. Thanks for the thanks

Sorry I missed your reply and didn't respond earlier.

Gives me a good excuse to do this as well :kick:

:hi:

[Uncle Joe]

6. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, sabra.:thumbsup:

[corpseratemedia]

7. I know a holocaust survivor who has spoken out vehemently against the rabid-right

growing hysteria and attacks against muslims and mosques in this country.

I bet the rabid-right is surprised.

[awoke_in_2003]

20. a holocaust survivor...

would fully understand what all this anti-muslim hatred is leading to. Given time, and our poisonous media, it could happen here.

[PatrynXX]

29. There is also this Holocaust survivor that...

says the Govt of Israel is acting like the Nazi's did before he got a number. (against the Palestinians) and has a history of saying so. Almost reminds me of Serbia. Serbia withstood alot abuse before they turned bad. and well we let them have it. I can't exactly say why.. or exactly say Israel is jewish state if so many Jews don't like what Israel is doing. The Jews in this country are more tolerant of other religions than the Govt of Israel. (don't forget Ariel Sharon is not dead.. he's still basically brain dead but he is still living per se)

[Rebubula]

8. Good for them!!

It is nice to see this sort of attempt at understanding and reconciliation.


I HIGHLY doubt that you will have much reciprocation...

[pennylane100]

10. That is certainly good news.

[keith the dem]

11. The local ADL came out strongly

in support of a Mosque I was involved in a few years ago when some nasty idiots opposed it. Many church leaders also came out in support

A documentary, shown on PBS, was made about that coming together:

http://www.upf.tv/films-menu/talking-through-walls.html

[EFerrari]

13. Well done!

K&R

[jwirr]

14. Good for them. Of all nations they understand where hate leads. nt

[fascisthunter]

15. Admirable! (nt)

[No Elephants]

16. I'd like to see these joint groups coming out against terrorist attacks, too.

[Forkboy]

17. Good on them.

:thumbsup:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

18. I think if we denounce anti-Islam bigotry then the GOP will run with their tails between their legs

The GOP thinks that it has our support in this but it doesn't.

[Joanne98]

19. Good for them!

[David Zephyr]

21. Jews rock!

:) K&R.

[pettypace]

23. Bigotry towards American Muslims is overstated

I can walk around in shalwar kameez and never even get a second glance.

[JI7]

27. many people associate Shalwar Kameez with Indians/Hindus more than Muslims

try a Hijab and see what happens.

[Jefferson23]

24. Excellent! n/t

[Bette Noir]

25. Good on them.

[pink-o]

26. Jews have always been at the forefront of civil rights fights.

In the 60s, and still today, working with the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center. "Liberal" Hollywood, as the RW love to tell us, is run by a bunch of Jews, and supposedly we own bloody everything. (still waiting for my share, though!)

Okay, there are Bank CEOs, Obama Chiefs-of-Staff and Israeli Prime Ministers who are to the right of what I believe to be the real Jewish spirit, but no one should be surprised to see us on the side of persecuted Muslims. And personally, I have more in common with the average Muslim than I do with crazy rabid Xians who blow up Women's Clinics, half of Oklahoma City or threaten to start a World War by burning holy books!

[indimuse]

30. KNR!

Good!

[earcandle]

31. This is good. Now lets see what kind of impact is made in the sermon halls of each denomination.

Less people will rage, for sure. 

[Vehl]

33. Great news!

Thanks for posting this sabra! :)