Tensions have escalated in cities and on college campuses across the nation since the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel on October 7th. Last week, over 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested for camping out on Columbia University’s upper Manhattan campus. This week, the movement gained momentum as students nationwide set up encampments, occupied buildings, and defied demands to leave.
Amidst the unrest, members of the Muslim and Jewish communities in various parts of the country are uniting to bridge the divide. Many families will gather for the second seder of the Jewish holiday, Passover, on Tuesday evening. Notably, some Denver families will welcome Muslims to their tables in an outreach effort initiated by Imam Muhammad Kolila and Rabbi Joseph Black.
Imam Kolila and Rabbi Black initially met in 2019 through a state initiative by Colorado Governor Jared Polis to promote interfaith relationships. Their professional connection swiftly blossomed into a genuine friendship that has proved invaluable during these turbulent times. “I hate hate,” Imam Kolila asserted. “When people hate due to a lack of information, misinformation, or stereotypes, it can lead to significant future problems and catastrophic consequences.”
The two leaders have shared meals and attended each other’s religious observances. Following the Hamas attack on October 7th, Imam Kolila’s mosque held a vigil to honor the lives lost, and the following day, he joined Rabbi Black at his synagogue with members of the Muslim community to demonstrate solidarity.
This Passover, Imam Kolila and other Muslims were invited to participate in seders, and during Ramadan, Rabbi Black and his companions were welcomed into Muslim homes and mosques. “The message for everyone, for every human, is not about faith or religion or dividing Jewish and Muslim,” said Imam Kolila. “It’s about people seeking freedom. Exposure helps us see the nuances within each community.”
While neither Imam Kolila nor Rabbi Black claims to possess the solution to the unrest in the Middle East, they advocate for addressing its domestic repercussions through dialogue, understanding, and empathy. “Both our communities have extremists, and we both affirm that extremism is never the answer,” said Rabbi Black. “Healthy dialogue cannot occur if all that is exchanged is diatribe.”
