Jewish Scene
UK synagogue saved by Muslims
Tali Farkash
Published: 23.12.13, 07:33
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31 Talkbacks for this article
1. No, actually I won't comment...
tom ,   tel aviv   (12.23.13)
2. a long term view.
tiki ,   belgium   (12.23.13)
'Moslim donations'. Wow! They know they will take it over and turn it into a Mosque. It's called shrewd business.
3. # 2 got there before me so nothing else to add
Harvey ,   London   (12.23.13)
4. Muslims contributed as when they buy it for a few£s it will
Alan ,   SA   (12.23.13)
be in first class state of repair. Most synagogues in UK have been taken over by the "new generation" of newcomers .Mostly for "Cultural Centres" (ie. Masjids/Mosques) but also for commercial buildings. Except for Islam and Eastern religions,, religion in UK in general, is finished..
5. Bradford Synagogue
Rabbi Dr. Brandt ,   Augsburg, germany   (12.23.13)
I congratulate the Bradford Moslem and Jewish Communities for their magnificent lead in showing in practice what real religiosity is all about. More power to them and may their example find many imitators. A glimpse of the future perhaps ?
6. sad
nadav ,   tlv   (12.23.13)
What said is that Jews in the UK, Europe- and the Diaspora in general, are rapidly disappearing across millenia old communities. This a nice, fluff article, but the sad part is that there are TENS OF THOUSANDS of Muslims in little Bradford, and only a few dozen Jews. This speaks volumes about why both anti-semitism and hatred of Israel by the media, academia, governments, political parties, and people in general has sky rocketed in (Western) Europe in the last 20-30 years. It's just sad. All the more reason that Diaspora Jews should settle or send there kids to Israel to preserve future generations.
7. This finally proves
Moncef el Saif   (12.23.13)
that our God Allah is the true and only God. All others are false and will become outdated, Allah weakened the hands of the Jews in this town but strengthened the hands of his true followers and caused them to act with the compassion he instilled in the Prophet. Allah shall prevail.
8. Kol hakavot!
JGedalov   (12.23.13)
Blessings for this Jewish-Muslim cooperativo. I love this kind of stories.
9. (7) Monced el Saif
tiki ,   belgium   (12.23.13)
Is Bradford becoming another holy and therefore 'only for Muslims' territory?
10. A wonderful example of Humanity.
David Clarke ,   Liverpool, England   (12.23.13)
Stories like this warm the heart and restore faith in Humanity. Kol Kavod to the generous Muslim benefactors in Bradford for assisting their Jewish compatriots at a time of trouble and showing how peace and reconciliation can well and truly be achieved between the Children of Abraham, their Jewish and Muslim co-religionists in the Holy Land could learn a thing or two from their example. Shame on the usual band of Ynet racist religious fanatics for using this article to express their Islamaphobic bile.
11. to #10 muslims are not children of Abraham
lili   (12.23.13)
they are not related to him at all Many converted to Islam and are not semitic. they came from different bloodline. you want to find lost Hebrew people travel to portugal. Phonetians offsprings are much closer to Hebrew/Israelis that would explain why they are so humain.
12. To No. 11
Bertram ,   London, UK   (12.23.13)
Silly lili. I don't think you are meant to take David's phrase literally. I am not religious but David's point is that both Muslims and Jews have narratives where Abraham is the major patriarchal figure.
13. Bradford
aaron ,   toronto,canada   (12.23.13)
Bradford the forth holiest place in the world for moslims. HA HA HA what a joke.
14. What it proves # 7
Eaglebeak ,   Left Coast, USA   (12.23.13)
It proves that there are nice Muslims in the world in spite of the fact that Islam shows so little compassion in the world. What usually comes to mind is teddy bears, cartoons, bombs, and honor killings. In short, violence and disrespect for all other people. This story is refreshing and remind us (and myself) that there are usually good people everywhere and that it can be a big mistake to tar everyone in a group with the same brush. God bless these Muslims for reaching out and helping.
15. to #12 the Arabs didn't exist when Abraham
lili   (12.23.13)
was alive they are not even mentioned in any ancient source. Arab in Hebrew means east, the people from the east. from where dark falles Erev, same writing. the only narative was when arabs expelled jews or tried to kill them. even in 1001 Arabian nights the Sultan wanted to kill the jewish woman unless she tell him stories. very long history and not for the better.
16. Whose fault is that?
Kathleen ,   New York   (12.23.13)
I do not fault the Muslims for buying a vacant temple. Who abandoned it in the first place? The Jewish people chose not to remain with their congregation. Anyway...I don't think these people have ulterior motives, and I think that there needs to be more behavior like this in the world.
17. Some of comments remind me of
USA   (12.24.13)
an old Polish proverb " a Jew will cry out in pain as he slaps you in the face". It is just a neighborly thing to do. Something everyone should celebrate and bless them for kindness.
18. Now Muslims will claim they own synagogue & turn into mosque
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (12.24.13)
19. Muslim's help support Jewish neighbor's synagogue
gloria schlosberg ,   philadelphia, pa, US   (12.24.13)
At Christmas time, when Christians celebrate hope and love and tolerance, the Muslim community's generosity toward Jews and their holy place is a well-timed, wonderful gesture toward unity and respect for one another that is long in coming. May 2014 mark the beginning of the end of all hostility.
20. This proves?
Jon ,   Montreal Canada   (12.24.13)
To that devout Muslim who sees the shrinking of the Jewish community of Bradford as proof of Allah's allegiance to the Muslims. How do you view the prosperity and success of Israel ?
21. to #11
Joan ,   Haifa   (12.23.13)
First of all, I think David's calling Jews and Muslims the Children of Abraham means simply that Abraham plays an important role in both the Jewish and Muslim religions. As in "Abrahamic faiths." In any case, of course there are always converts - in Judaism too. Besides, I've always heard that Abraham *was* the progenitor of the Muslims through Hagar.
22. Number 15. Arabs versus Muslims
Sherlock Holmes ,   London England   (12.24.13)
Jewish tradition connects Abraham's son Ishmael to the Arab nation, and Islam much later took on many Jewish traditions. Judaism and Islam are communities based on faith, not on 'race'. The third Abrahamic community, Christianity, is also based on faith.
23. to #21 that is because when Mohamad run away
lili   (12.24.13)
from his pagan family he ended up living among jews and he absorbed his "new" faith from judaism. About Judaism convertion, it isn't like in other religions, Judaism do not take people to its faith just for resite some verses, people dedicate life time and most of the time that is not good enough. Hagar was not semitic she was Nubian not Arab. She wasn't marriade to Abraham, Ha-gar, wasn't her real name, her name in Hebrew means The forigner, Gar means forign.
24. to #22 how can Ismael be father to the arabs when
lili   (12.24.13)
his mother was nubian not semitic, Arabs are semitic, not africans. And all faiths determine the faith of a child by the mother, Islam is the only faith that ignore that women right, and that is why women are treated badly in Islam.
25. To No. 24
Bertram ,   London, UK   (12.24.13)
Let's try again, lily. Forget the Nubian, Semitic, biological stuff. This is about religious traditions where Abraham has a significant place in both Judaism and Islam. Have you got that?
26. 5 Rabbi,you are full of love and trust.Bless you
Alan ,   SA   (12.25.13)
Unfortunately I cant say the same about myself regarding the generous gestures. I just know that UK Jewish structures are being taken over left ,right and centre by fast, fast growing third world religions(mainly Islamic) because of dwindling Jewish populations in UK towns Recently Leicester sold its beautiful Community Centre to a mainly Somali Population
27. to #25 is that mean you would invite jews to
lili   (12.25.13)
the mosqe in jerusalem without trouble, some how I doubt it.
28. to "USA" at 17: it must be an old Polish proverb
jdc   (12.25.13)
Poland's Jewish problem has been solved. Indeed this is a generous and welcome gesture from the Moslem community of Bradford. Jewish heritage is treasured best when actual Jews are gone. Pretty common around the world (e.g. Iraq and Russia were in the news insisting on keeping their Jewish libraries). Museum of a vanished race ? No doubt that the 87-year old Mr. Leavor will be grateful for the rest of his life.
29. UK Synagogue Saved by Muslims - Well done!
Jamie ,   Atlanta, USA   (12.25.13)
I am so happy to see that Jewish people and Muslim people are acting like the close relatives in faith that they are. This is heartening to read on the Christians most sacred holiday. I hope that the good relationships between Muslims and Jews continue to deepen and grow. One day, God willing, we will be closer to allies than enemies all over the world.
30. To #10 - Well said!
Jamie ,   Atlanta, USA   (12.25.13)
I was delighted to read this story, and as you, I am sad to read the venom spewed by those whose hearts seem unchanging. God bless you for your great attitude. :)
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