Local religious leaders reach out to Muslims

In response to worries that the world is suffering from Islamophobia, a Five Towns rabbi and Far Rockaway pastor decided to invite one of Long Island's Islamic leaders to an interfaith Thanksgiving service last week to send a message of solidarity with the Muslim religion.

Habeeb U. Ahmed, chairman of the Westbury-based Islamic Center of Long Island, spoke on Dec. 2 at the 91st annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service organized by Temple Israel of Lawrence and The First Presbyterian Russell Sage Church of Far Rockaway about how terrorism or any unjust act against mankind goes against all Muslim beliefs. Ahmed quoted sections from the Koran for the attentive gathering in the sanctuary of The First Presbyterian Russell Sage Church as evidence that the Islamic faith does not tolerate terrorism. As an example, Ahmed quoted from Chapter five verse 32 of the Koran saying, “whoever kills a person unjustly it is as though he has killed all mankind and whoever saves a life, it is as though he has saved all mankind."

After the service Ahmed said he would like to see continued interfaith events with Long Island Jewish and Christian leaders. “The more you sit down with each other the better you will understand each other,” said Ahmed.

Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, spiritual leader at Temple Israel of Lawrence, approached Ahmed to speak at the interfaith Thanksgiving service and is hoping to have future dialogues with Muslim leaders to create better understandings between the different religions.

Four days after Ahmed's appearance at the Dec. 2 service, Rabbi Rosenbaum left for Paris to meet with rabbis and imams from across the globe. “It shows that we can enhance our relationships with each other through understanding and dialogue,” said Rosenbaum of why he is so active in organizing interfaith events with the Islamic community.

Fostering improved relations with the Muslim religion is also a cause that Dr. Benjamin J. Patterson, pastor of The First Presbyterian Russell Sage Church, feels strongly in. "It tells us that we can embrace each other and our communities through dialogue," said Dr. Patterson.