Matt. 5:9: Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called Sons of God.
A great story of 2 peacemakers in Texas!!! Interestingly, Habitat for Humanity is a Christian-based organization, so there is a kind of cross-section here of 3 faiths.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13003082&BRD=1994&PAG=461&dept_id=510175&rfi=6
| TYLER'S MUSLIMS, JEWS COME TOGETHER TO BUILD FOR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE | ||||||||
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| The idea of Muslims and Jews working together to build homes rather than destroy them may seem oxymoronic to the casual observer, but if local Muslims and Jewish faithful have their way, that image will soon change. Anwar Khalifa, Tyler homebuilder and spokesman for the East Texas Islamic Society, and Rabbi Neal Katz of Congregation Beth El are planning to involve their respective congregations to build "Abraham's House," a Habitat for Humanity project for a needy family. In the Bible, Abraham is the traditional father of both the Jewish and Arabic people, Katz said. Naming the house after their common ancestral heritage appealed to the men who are stressing common humanity rather than differences. The cost of the home, borne by the two groups, will be $45,000. "We've gotten churches together before, but nothing like this," she said, "and the thing is, it was completely their own idea," she said. The world's perception of Islam was on Khalifa's mind when he approached her with the project idea, she said. "He told me with all that was happening in the world, people needed to see something good from Islamic people." But the inclusion of Muslims and Jews in the charitable project was what took some by surprise. "It's a ministry in itself, and one of our callings to get churches to work together, but this is something else," she said. "Here is a chance to make a difference in the way these two communities interact here and perhaps nationwide and to impact the life of a Habitat 'partner family' at the same time." The motivation for the project is simple, said Khalifa, 43, a native of Egypt who came to Texas when he was 8 and later graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in chemical engineering. "A better life begins at home," he said. "Community involvement and charitable giving is so basic to Islam, so basic to all religions. If everyone, everywhere could just set their sights on making their communities a better place to live, think of what could be happening in the world right now." Katz agreed. "This project started from our mutual desire to make Tyler the best place to live in Texas," he said. "Then we saw that it would be a great way for Muslims and Jews to get to know one another. That's the way it should be everywhere." The anticipated benefit between the groups, as they build Abraham's house two days a week, is born from the relationship Khalifa and Katz developed from a year of weekly lunches together. When Katz, 30, came to Tyler a year ago after graduating from Hebrew Union College in Ohio, he spoke to Khalifa on the phone while looking for housing. "I found he was a Muslim, and I told him I was the new rabbi in town," Katz said. "I thought I'd better get to know him, since Tyler was my new home and Anwar might be selling me my new house." The two laughed their way through their first lunch meeting, and haven't stopped since. "We joke around a lot," Katz said, "and we give each other a long leash. It's better to get things out in small meetings like this than let things get out of control." The two have built bridges of communication, he said. "We both come from relatively insular communities, and we're in the process of learning," Katz said. "The things that get said makes you stop and think." At last week's lunch, Katz told Khalifa, "just wait until someone makes your religion a verb. You never hear of anyone saying, "I'm going to Muslim you down." "I'd never thought of that," said Khalifa. "I can see that happening to us (Muslims) eventually." Khalifa brought up the subject of German pastor Martin Niemoller, the Nazi resister who organized 700 Christian pastors to oppose Adolf Hitler. "Niemoller said, 'First the Nazis went after the Jews but I was not a Jew, so I did not object,'" said Khalifa. "I'm thinking the Muslims' time could be near." After a moment's reflection he added, "Well, I guess it is our time, right now." Katz agreed. "Anwar and I have become good friends, giving and taking on all kinds of subjects," he said. "In the climate of the times, I've come to see Muslim people are misunderstood and unjustly perceived from constant hammering in the media." When Ramadan and the annual Islamic Eid celebration took place last year, Khalifa invited Katz. "I was the only Jew there," said Katz, "but my family was very well-treated. I was honored to be their guest." RELATIONSHIP COUNTS During their weekly meetings, subjects like the Palestinian and Jewish homeland issues are routinely acknowledged, but not extensively dwelt on, they said. "Our relationship is what counts," Katz said, and the two regularly speak Arabic and Hebrew to each other and call each other "cousin." In their year of meetings, they said, they've made their points, occasionally dug at each other, explained cultural differences - and laughed a lot. It is nearly impossible to talk to the pair without a flurry of jokes, asides and double entendres flying through the conversation. "We understand each other, though," said Khalifa, who serves on the Texas governor's Human Rights Commission and is a volunteer chaplain with the Tyler Police Department. "The bottom line is we don't live overseas, we live here, together. We have to figure out how to make our own community as good as it can be." And that's his message to others of his faith, and to all people, he said. "I ask Muslims all the time, 'what are you doing for your own community?' That's what makes the difference. All people just want to raise their families, get a good education, make a living and help others. We're no different." But terrorism has "hijacked Islam," Khalifa said. "Those who kill innocent civilians who are trying to build a better world are not following the religion I do," he said. "That's another reason to build this house." The figurative and literal groundbreaking project beginning on Monday is attracting attention from city council members and state representatives, as well as leaders in the Christian community who will offer the benediction and invocation. Christians also will provide food for the builders during the project. "Everyone wants to be part of this," Ms. Payne said. "We're all excited about the partnerships that could result from this." Patrick Butler covers religion. email: [email protected] |