HOW MOSQUES AND SYNAGOGUES CAN WORK TOGETHER
TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS IN OUR COMMUNITIES

The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding recommends that mosques and synagogues, as well as Jewish and Muslim student groups participating in the Weekend of Twinning of Mosques and Synagogues Across North America and Europe, should dedicate time during their twinning programs on November 13-15 to a discussion of the following questions; 'Would we like to work together going forward on a societal issue of importance to Jews, Muslims and society as a whole?' 'If so, which issue would we choose to focus on?'

The FFEU has identified four issues which we believe will be fruitful for mosques and synagogues to work together. These are Saving the Environment, Fighting Poverty, Immigration Reform and Confronting Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. Please see below presentations on these issues by Muslim and Jewish leaders who spoke before participants on our Mission of European Imams and Rabbis to the United States in July, 2009. Included are practical suggestions for actions synagogues and mosques can take together in each of these fields.

As noted, twinned congregations are urged to begin a discussion during their Weekend of Twinning programs on a societal issue on which they can work together. They should agree to appoint a joint committee to continue the discussion after the Weekend of Twinning to determine not only which issue the two congregations will focus their efforts on, but specific actions they wish to take on that issue. For example, if the twinned congregations decide to work together on Saving The Environment, they may choose to do a tree planting event together during National Arbor Day, join together to clean up a blighted area, or to take some other action together that will tangibly improve the environment in their area.

Our recommendation of these four issues is only that - a recommendation. Synagogues and mosques may decide to choose a different topic altogether. The issue they choose to focus on together may be national or international in character or it may be local. We recognize that issues of concern in one part of North America or Europe may be very different than in others. That is why we leave this decision up to the twinned congregations.

Why are we urging twinned congregations to settle on a societal issue on which they can work together? First, because both of our faiths enjoin us to dedicate ourselves to improving conditions in the societies in which we live and reaching out a hand of mercy to those who are most in need. Secondly, because undertaking this effort will help to ensure continuity in the relationship between the twinned congregations. Not only will they hold programs together once a year during the Weekend of Twinning, but will begin working together on an ongoing and sustained basis on an issue of concern to both.

Thirdly, we believe that having twinned mosques and synagogues take on a societal issue together will amount to a win-win for both congregations, for Jews and Muslims in general and for society as a whole. We are convinced that by working together constructively and harmoniously on a societal issue, mosques and synagogues can impart to our own communities and to our fellow citizens of all backgrounds the message that Jews and Muslims can indeed cooperate in order to improve conditions for all members of society. We believe that taking this step will have a transformative impact on both of our communities and on the larger society as well. Let us therefore resolve to take this important step forward together.