New Orleans Temple, Mosque Join for Twinning Weekend

This weekend, Temple Sinai in New Orleans is joining with the Mosque of the Merciful in a Weekend of Twinning. Coordinated by the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, the Weekend pairs Jewish and Muslim congregations in 25 countries. The events began the weekend of Nov. 16 and continue through the end of the year.

Last year, there were 125 such events worldwide. This is the fifth year for this program.
Rabbi Edward Cohn said the weekend’s purpose is to “underscore basic values and ethics which have been cherished for centuries by both Jews and Muslims.” The theme will be concern for the sick and lonely.

Today, Temple Sinai members are visiting the mosque for their Friday afternoon prayers, at 1:15 p.m. Tomorrow, mosque members will attend an abbreviated Shabbat morning service at Temple Sinai, starting at 10:15 a.m. After a light lunch, both congregations will visit nursing homes and hospitals. The event will end with a 3:30 p.m. musical program led by Cantor Joel Colman.

The twinning weekend is co-sponsored by the Mayor’s Commission on Human Relations.

The FFEU is “a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting racial harmony and strengthening inter group relations” and was founded by rap mogul Russell Simmons, Rabbi Marc Schneier and the late impressario Joseph Papp. Other initiatives include Black-Jewish relations and Latino-Jewish relations.

Two years ago, Beth Israel and the Abu Bakr Al Siddique Mosque participated in the twinning weekend.