Skip to main content
Tags: jews | muslims | unite | donald trump | new york times

NYT: Concern Over Trump Uniting Jews and Muslims

NYT: Concern Over Trump Uniting Jews and Muslims

(AP)

Monday, 05 December 2016 06:07 PM EST

Many American Jews and Muslims are putting aside differences over fears of a Donald Trump presidency, The New York Times reports.

The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, a group that includes women of both faiths, has seen interest skyrocket since Trump's election on November 8.

A Sunday meeting at Drew University in Madison, N.J. brought 500 participants. The first meeting of the group two years ago had only 100 attendees.

One person there this year was Vaseem Firdaus, who is Muslim and has lived in the United States for 42 years. She asked a Jewish woman whose family fled Nazi Germany, "When did you know it was time to leave? The ones that didn't leave are the ones who went to Auschwitz."

Jewish women present assured Firdaus that despite her fears, no such thing would happen in the United States.

"If Muslims have to register, we're all going to register," Mahela Morrow-Jones told her. "You've got to believe it, sister."

Still, Firdaus is hedging her bets. Her family has dropped plans to buy a vacation house in Florida or elsewhere in the United States, opting instead to check out Canada.

The group cited anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic acts following Trump's victory as reason for their concern.

Among the incidents, The Orange County Register in November reported three California mosques receiving a letter warning them that Trump is "going to do to you Muslims what Hitler did to the Jews. You Muslims would be wise to pack your bags and get out of Dodge."

"It's the Trump effect," Imam Abdullah Antepli, who attended the New Jersey event with his wife, told the Times. "I see the Muslim community even more eager to reach out and to put aside the grievances of the past."

"Ignorance is one of the key triggers of hate," Sheryl Olitzky, who heads the group, said. "We need to show the world that we are Americans. We are here because we love each other and we’re overcoming hate."

Despite the new cooperation, Muslims and Jews still have differences, especially over Israel. The Anti-Defamation League has opposed Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, a Muslim, becoming chairman of the Democratic National Committee because of anti-Israel statements.

Also, some Jewish groups have voiced approval for Trump's choice of Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn as his national security adviser. Flynn, the Times notes, has called Islam "a cancer" and a "political ideology" masquerading as a faith.

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.

Politics
Many American Jews and Muslims are putting aside differences over fears of a Donald Trump presidency, The New York Times reports.
jews, muslims, unite, donald trump, new york times
401
2016-07-05
Monday, 05 December 2016 06:07 PM
Newsmax Media, Inc.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved