Jews Give Muslims the Keys to Their Synagogue After a Fire Destroyed Their Mosque
Days after President Trump banned immigrants and visa holders from seven majority-Muslim nations, a kind act from Jews to a group of Muslims in Texas is proving that hate has no place in the U.S.
It began when a fire destroyed the Victoria Islamic Center during the early morning hours on Saturday morning.
“It’s sad to stand there and watch it collapse,” Shahid Hashmi, the Islamic center’s president, told the New York Times. “The fire was so huge.”
Posted by Victoria Islamic Center on Saturday, January 28, 2017
Officials are still investigating the cause of the blaze.
Posted by Victoria Islamic Center on Saturday, January 28, 2017
Immediately after the fire, messages of support and donations from Muslims and non-Muslims began to trickle in.
“Today our faith in humanity has been rekindled again,” the Victoria Islamic Center posted on Facebook. “The local support from our wonderful Victorians has been heart warming. People drove from Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Fort Worth to join our tearful and joyful gathering that was filled with love & hope.”
Today our faith in humanity has been rekindled again! The local support from our wonderful Victorians has been heart…
Posted by Victoria Islamic Center on Sunday, January 29, 2017
But perhaps the kindest gesture came from the local Jewish community. Members of Bnai Israel in Victoria handed the Muslims the keys to their synagogue so that they could have a place to worship during the rebuilding of their Mosque.
“Everyone knows everybody, I know several members of the mosque, and we felt for them,” said Robert Loeb, the president of the synagogue, told Forward. “This is sad for everyone in the community and as Jews we especially have to feel for the Muslim community. When a calamity like this happens, we have to stand together.”
Members of the Jewish community reportedly delivered the keys to one of the founders of the mosque in his home.
This act of kindness should come as no surprise given the support that many Jews have displayed towards Muslims in the wake of Trump’s controversial executive order.
"Untitled" #MuslimBan #chicago pic.twitter.com/Vvm4zo9Icp
— Nuccio DiNuzzo (@ChiTribNuccio) January 31, 2017
And the Victoria Islamic Center should begin the rebuilding process shortly. A GoFundMe account raised over $1 million — which surpassed the original goal of $850,000.
Your Daily Dish reached out to the Victoria Islamic Center.
