Jews And Muslims In Europe: London Synagogue Raising Funds To House A Syrian Refugee Family, Report Says

A synagogue in London is raising funds to house a Syrian refugee family — likely to be Muslims, according to a report on Independent. The Jewish house of prayer is planning to convert a religious studies teaching room into a two-bedroom apartment and is seeking to raise $62,869 in funds.

“It’s very easy for religion and politics to get confused, and I think it is very important to recognize our common humanity and to help challenge perceptions slightly,” Alice Alphandary, the synagogue chair, told the Independent. “If you look at the rhetoric that was in the press maybe 150 years ago when there was a lot of Jewish immigration coming into the country, it’s not dissimilar to the language used today towards immigrants and refugees.”

However, the move has triggered concern among the Jewish diaspora. Michael Burd, a presenter at a Jewish radio station in Australia told the Jewish community to exercise more caution while helping refugees.

“We in Australia are forced to engage armed guards at our synagogues specifically because of fear of attack from extremist Muslims including Syrian, Palestinian and other Muslims. In fact, due to increased Muslim immigration some of our Jewish day schools and Jewish community centers are in the process of erecting bomb-proof walls in the event of Muslim-related attacks, deranged lone wolves etc. Jews in London must be very lucky and the only Jews in Europe not living under siege,” he reportedly said.

However, Alphandary is of the opinion that religion should not hamper people while helping others.

“It’s also important to distinguish between what is at the heart of a religion and what isn’t,” Alphandary said. “For so many people, it’s the chance to make a bit of a difference. It’s hard to make great change in life, but if you can just take one small positive action, it’s a good place to start.”