Peterborough synagogue welcomes Muslims displaced by mosque arson

A Muslim group in Peterborough, Ont., will kneel andpray today at a local synagogue, where they will be welcomed after their own mosque was damaged in anarson attack earlier this month that police are investigating as a hate crime.

• Mosque arson 'totally out of character,' says mayor of Peterborough, Ont.
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"As Canadians we have to stick together," said Larry Gillman, president of theBeth Israel Synagogue, in an interview on CBC'sMetro Morning today. "It's not about religion, it's not about race. Canadians do this."

TheMasjidal-Salaam mosque was damaged in a fire set deliberately on Nov. 14, part ofa wave of anti-Muslim crimes aftertheattack in Paris a day earlier. A firebomb was placed in one of the windows of the mosque. The resulting fire caused $80,000 in damage.

The Beth Israel Synagogue will host two prayer sessions for local Muslims anda potluck dinner today.

It's a partnership betweenKenzu Abdella, thepresident of the Kawartha Muslim Religious Association, and Gillman.

As soon as Gillman heard about the fire atthe mosque, he reached out to his synagogue's board of directors to find out about sharing space with the Muslim congregation. They voted unanimously in favour.

"I hopethis can be some kind of small example to others," said Gillman.

Abdella wasn't sure what to think at first. "Can webe here?" he rememberedthinking.

"In the beginning, it was a shock," he said. "Within 24 hours, that changed.They walked to the mosque and told us that whatever we need, they will support us.

"Even though it came out of a tragedy, we are working together."

The invitationto the synagogue markedthe first meeting betweenAbdella and Gillman.

Since then, Gillman has given a speech at the Muslim Institute of Torontoand his synagogue has becomepart of an interfaith groupworking to sponsor Syrian refugees to come to Canada.

Abdellasaid there are political differences between Jewish and Muslim groups around the world, but the two are not that dissimilar.

"Wehave more similarities than differences. We haveso much common thedetails of worship and theceremonies. Even the stories we hear are similar,"he said.

"At the end of the day, it's a house of God."