British Muslims Help Save Historic English Synagogue
It’s always good to see people doing it right, stretching out their hands to help each other instead of trying to smack each other down.
The BBC has an excellent short video that shows how beautiful the synagogue is and provides some comments from the people working together to save it (unfortunately, they don’t provide a way to embed their videos, so I’ll just link to it): Bradford’s last synagogue gets financial lifeline
From the JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency):
Muslim group helps save ancient English synagogue
(JTA) — A Muslim organization in northern England announced it would raise funds and lobby for the preservation of the last remaining synagogue in Bradford.
“…it was a challenge which didn’t take us long to decide on.” —Zulfi KarimThe Bradford Council for Mosques recently began working together with the local municipality to raise funds for the Bradford synagogue to ensure the building remains a sacred space for future generations, the Telegraph reported. The building was founded in 1880 and uses Moorish Victorian architecture.
“When the chair of the Bradford synagogue approached the Muslim community for help and assistance towards the maintenance of this building, it was a challenge which didn’t take us long to decide on,” said Zulfi Karim, secretary of Bradford Council for Mosques. […]
From Bradford’s local paper, Telegraph and Argus:
Community groups rally together to save Bradford’s historic synagogue
Bradford Synagogue
Zulfi Karim, secretary of Bradford Council for Mosques said: “In Bradford we are working hard to bring people of different faiths together, and to support one another as good neighbours.
“We are delighted by the way people have rallied to save the Bradford Synagogue, which is not only a work of art in itself, but represents so much in the way of Bradford’s heritage, faith and culture.” […]
Chair of the Bradford Synagogue, Rudi Leavor, said: “The contribution of immigrants to this region has been outstanding, and the current wave has followed in that tradition of mutual help, communal involvement and harmony. […]
Related Stories:
- An article from 2009 describing the plight of the Bradford Reform Synagogue MPs are told of synagogue plight
- Additional information about the history of the synagogue, from their website About the Synagogue
- An very interesting piece on the history of Judaism in Bradford by the BBC The Jewish connection!
