Friday, November 21, 2008

(The Dallas Morning News)By SAM HODGES / The Dallas Morning News
samhodges@dallasnews.com

Anyone wanting to experience something different in a Jewish worship service should go to Temple Shalom in North Dallas tonight.

A Muslim will be in the pulpit as part of a new North American initiative to confront anti-Semitism and "Islamophobia."

Azhar Azeez, president of the Islamic Association of Carrollton, accepted the invitation to preach at the 6:30 p.m. service at 6930 Alpha Road.

"We're excited and honored," said Rabbi Jeremy Schneider of Temple Shalom.

Fifty synagogues and mosques across the United States and Canada, representing about 100,000 Jews and Muslims, are holding what's called The Weekend of Twinning.

It's an effort to pair, or twin, Jewish and Muslim congregations for interfaith dialogue.

Temple Shalom and the Islamic Association of Carrollton are the Texas congregations participating.

The Weekend of Twinning grew out of the National Summit of Imams and Rabbis, held last year in New York and hosted by the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.

Rabbi Schneider, assistant to Temple Shalom's senior rabbi, Andrew Paley, was one of 10 rabbis and 10 imams invited to be part of that summit.

"The irrational fear of Islam is something that is prevalent in our community, and I'm proud to be part of programs that seek to confront this," he said.

Mr. Azeez will devote his sermon tonight to challenging members of both faiths.

"It's about time Muslims and Jews come together to speak out against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia," he said.

On Saturday, Temple Shalom will have what it calls Synaplex Shabbat, consisting of simultaneous programs.

A 9:30 a.m. session will feature Mohamed Elibiary, president and chief executive officer of the Carrollton-based Freedom and Justice Foundation, speaking on "Homegrown Extremism: Addressing Radical Islam in America."

Original Article URL: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/DN-twinn...