Thousands take part in world-wide twinning events of Muslim and Jewish institutions

21 November 2011

Thousands of Muslims and Jews across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa have participated  in the fourth edition of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding’s (FFEU) Annual Weekend of Twinning. Since 2008, FFEU has organized hundreds of these successful initiatives around the world in cooperation with the World Jewish Congress (WJC) and the Islamic Society of North America. The annual Weekend of Twinning brings together hundreds of synagogues and mosques, cultural centers, Muslim and Jewish university students and young leadership groups and Muslim and Jewish social action networks. According to the organizers these gatherings have helped Muslims and Jews in North America, Europe and around the world to nurture ties of friendship and trust.

The founding president of FFEU and vice president of the World Jewish Congress, Rabbi Marc Schneier, remarked: “We are proud to showcase these unprecedented international gatherings of Jews and Muslims.  The sheer magnitude of this year’s Weekend of Twinning reinforces our efforts to build a global movement of Muslims and Jews committed to communication, reconciliation, cooperation and understanding.”

Some events will continue through the end of December. Social action initiatives included Muslims and Jews feeding the hungry and the homeless in Boston, New Jersey, Toronto and Washington, DC.

The Weekend of Twinning kicked off FFEU’s Muslim Jewish programming for the upcoming year.  In February 2012, the second meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the Gathering of European Muslim and Jewish Leaders will take place in Europe.  In March, FFEU will host the first Mission of Latin American Muslim and Jewish Leaders to Washington, DC. 

Schneier said: “This historic outpouring of Muslims and Jews worldwide demonstrates that we not only share a common faith, but a common fate.  It is our single destiny that we must strengthen our bonds of concern, compassion and caring for each other.”

For further information about the twinning events click here.

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