Jews And Muslims Pray Together

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Jews and Muslims pray together Nov 25, 2010
Some uplifting news from the West Bank, showing that Muslims, Jews and Christians can and do along - even in a region where land and politics causes strife between populations:

Holy Land Jews, Muslims and Christians Pray for Rain
BY JUDITH SUDILOVSKY (Ecumenical News Wire)

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Unseasonably dry weather in the Holy Land region, with no predictions of rain in the near future, has led a group of about 60 local Jewish and Muslim religious leaders, plus one Christian, to join in praying for rain.
Rabbi Yehuda Stolov of the Interfaith Encounter Association, which helped organize the gathering, said that the prayers on Nov. 11 were not only a plea to God for much-needed rain but also showed the commonality that the residents of the region shared.

The Christian involved was a Roman Catholic priest from Bethlehem.

“They are joint needs. They [the people] need the same things, and they ask for them from the same God,” Stolov told ENInews.

The prayers were said at a natural spring in a valley between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, which lie close to one another, and near the village of Wallajah, whose land is under threat during the expansion of an Israeli-built separation barrier, which juts into Palestinian-held land.

The joint prayer occurred after a group of rabbis had visited the West Bank village of Beit Fajjar, where they met Bethlehem governor Abd Al Fattah Hamayel several weeks ago, after Israeli settler were accused of vandalizing a village mosque.

“It [the joint prayer session] was a very emotional experience,” said Rabbi Elchanan Nir, coordinator of the Abraham’s Tent group, which brings together rabbis and Muslim sheiks for monthly meetings.
Nir said it was the first time such a joint prayer for rain had been held in the Holy Land with rabbis and sheiks, and added, “It was a very strong prayer. We saw them pray, and they saw us pray. I hope it will bring rain, and that it will bring unity.”

Stolov commented that the presence of media representatives prevented a true meeting between the worshippers, which was one goal of the event, but they were able to witness each others’ prayer, “which is something to be valued.”

A speech by Bethlehem governor Al Fattah began the proceedings. Then, a Jewish prayer for rain was recited, after which the sheiks recited their regular afternoon Islamic prayers, plus a prayer for rain.
“The purpose of this joint prayer gathering was to break the boundaries between Jews and Muslims,” Ibrahim Embawi, the Muslim coordinator for Abraham’s Tent, told ENInews. “We both inhabit the same land, and need the same water. We all pray to the same God. If it does not rain, we both will be in trouble.”

http://www.pcusa.org/news/2010/11/17/ho ... ther-rain/

shafique
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Re: Jews and Muslims pray together Nov 25, 2010
Well it's nice to see. United for a common cause. I just wish it would happen more often.
Chocoholic
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Re: Jews and Muslims pray together Nov 26, 2010
Absolutely. Jews and muslims lived in harmony side by side for 100s of years until the crusades and more recently due to palestine. Ultimately nobody can deny that of the 3 monothesic religions they have are the ones that have the most in common - lets hope they see it that way as well in years to come.
JoeTGF
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Re: Jews and Muslims pray together Dec 10, 2010
More positive news - this time from the USA where the Jewish community supports the construction of a Muslim house of worship:

Another Mosque Project Seeks Support, This Time With Jewish Help
By Rex Weiner

TEMECULA, CALIF. — Asked why his group decided to spend the first night of Hanukkah with a Syrian-born imam and his flock to support their bid to build a mosque in the rolling hills of the Temecula Valley in California’s Southwestern Riverside County, Eric Greene replied, “We remember when there were protests in this country against synagogues being built.”

Given that Hanukkah marks the Maccabees’ defeat of a Syrian despot, it may be an irony, but Greene, regional director of the Los Angeles-based Progressive Jewish Alliance, sees the project and his group’s support of it as “a rededication of religious faith and freedom.”
..

http://www.forward.com/articles/133569/#ixzz17dt0O6x2

Cheers,
Shafique
shafique
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Re: Jews And Muslims Pray Together Dec 10, 2010
This brings tears to my eyes...If only the world could apply this, we would all live in harmony...

"Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one"
- Imagine, John Lennon, The Beatles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCX3ZNDZAwY
Icenic
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Re: Jews And Muslims Pray Together Dec 10, 2010
WPOBA - World People Of the Book Association - I'd like to see this organization materialize
zubber
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