See below remarks by Shari Golberg of the University of Toronto at an event organized by the Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims(CAJM) at the Jaffari Centre in Toronto after that mosque was desecrated oin July 20 by hateful Islamophobic daubings on its walls that included references to present Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The proactive initiative undertaken by Golberg and CAJM was warmly welcomed by Imam Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi of the Jaffari Centre and is an inspiring demonstration of how Muslims and Jews can stand together when one community or the other is under attack: Shari Golberg’s Remarks at Jaffari Centre (ISIJ) meeting July 24, 2014: Maulana Rizvi and esteemed members of the ISIJ community, Assalaam Aleikum, Shalom Aleichem, Welcome and a Ramadan karim to all of you! Thank you so much for the honour of being able to address your congregation today. Over a decade ago, I attended my first iftar ever. It was at the Jaffari Centre way back when you were still located on Bayview next to Temple Har Zion. I had been invited by my dear friend Shenaz Kermalli, whose family are long-standing members in this community. The event had a significant impact on me and I remember being deeply impressed by your community’s commitment to interfaith engagement, hospitality and fellowship more generally. So in light of that, I was extra saddened and horrified to hear about the hateful words that had been scrawled on your property the other night. Members of my community know all too well what it feels like to have our places of worship and cemeteries defaced in similarly hateful ways. We understand that sense of isolation, of fear, of suddenly feeling like you don’t belong in the very place that you have always considered your safe haven, your home. It is horrible, and no one should be made to feel that way in an area as beautifully diverse and multicultural as the GTA. So when I heard about what happened, I picked up the phone and called my friend Shenaz. We talked about how awful this crime was, and how the last several weeks have been very challenging for both of us, and by the end of our short phone call, we both felt a little less sad, a little less isolated and alone. We instantly understood how valuable this interpersonal connection was, and how important it is for communities to stand up for one another when others try to make them feel as though they don’t belong. It was with her tremendous help that tonight’s show of solidarity was able to come to fruition, so thank you Shenaz for your years of friendship and for going along with many of my crazy ideas over the decade! I’d like to end with a Hebrew Prayer for peace. It is attributed to the Hasidic master Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav who lived from 1773-1810. Lord of Peace, Divine Ruler, to whom peace belongs! Master of Peace, Creator of all things! May it be thy will to put an end to war and bloodshed on earth, and to spread a great and wonderful peace over the whole world, so that nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. Help us and save us all, and let us cling tightly to the virtue of peace. Let there be a truly great peace between every person and their fellow, and between husband and wife, and let there be no discord between people even in their hearts. Let us never shame any person on earth, great or small. May it be granted unto us to fulfill Thy Commandment to “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” with all our hearts and souls and bodies and possessions. And let it come to pass in our time as it is written, “And I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down and none shall make you afraid...” God who is peace, bless us with peace!!!
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 18:30:00 +0000